By his senior fall at WashU, Shane Pellegrino had a clear plan—finish strong in the classroom and on the baseball field, then pursue a master’s in finance at Notre Dame to accelerate a future in private equity.
But having a plan is different from being able to bring it to life, especially when it requires articulating your own story with confidence, clarity and intention in a competitive admissions process. That’s why Pellegrino turned to the Center for Career Engagement, where he met Career Coach Zach Schulte, who helped him connect his goals, values and experiences in a way that felt both compelling and authentic.
Pellegrino, an economics and finance double major from Sugar Land, Texas, chose WashU for its “elite blend of academics and athletics.” Baseball grounded his weekly rhythm, while the Finding Finance Club sparked his interest in modeling and forecasting.
A summer internship in private equity, where he created revenue projections to evaluate potential acquisitions, solidified that interest and clarified his next steps as he learned that private equity is difficult to enter directly from undergrad.
“Typically, you need two or three years of investment banking or a master’s program to get the technical skills,” he said.
He opted for the latter, drawn to Notre Dame’s reputation and the opportunity to expand his network beyond his already strong WashU network.
In those early conversations with Schulte, Pellegrino was introduced to tools like the STAR method—Situation, Task, Action, Result—to add clarity and structure to his behavioral interview responses.
“It helped make my answers compelling and clear, and let my interviewer connect with me,” Pellegrino said. “I used to ramble through my answers, but this gives me a practical framework to stick to.”
For Schulte, though, STAR is just a starting point. The deeper work is helping students articulate their story.
“The model type isn’t the focus as much as understanding a student’s brand or story and how their ‘why’ aligns with their choices,” he said. “Then we practice scenarios and questions, but it’s not about performing a script. We walk through answers, pause, and ask, ‘What did you want me to see?’ ‘What outcome did you want me thinking and feeling?’”
By the time Notre Dame called for his admissions interview, Pellegrino felt ready.
“All the questions they asked, I’d already practiced with Zach,” he said. “I wasn’t nervous at all.”
His interviewers confirmed it, telling him he had very strong answers, and soon after, Notre Dame offered him admission and a scholarship.
“Without the Center for Career Engagement, I would have been completely lost,” Pellegrino said.
Pellegrino’s next transition starts June 9, likely days after baseball’s postseason. After his year long master’s program, he’s considering financial consulting or private equity in Houston or Chicago. And thanks to the work he did with Schulte, he’s moving forward with more than a plan. He’s moving forward with his own story, one that clearly articulates who he is, connects his experiences to his goals, and confidently shows why he’s ready for what comes next.
Career Development is one of the Division of Student Affairs’ five anchors that deliver a transformative student experience. Student Affairs aspires to distinguish WashU as a place where students discover and create pathways to meaningful and competitive employment opportunities throughout their lives.