Insights
At the undergraduate level, there's little evidence that attending a more elite school has much of an impact on future success. The most important thing is to earn a bachelor's degree from a solid, accredited, four-year institution, preferably within four years and with as little debt as possible.
Stuart Fujiyama '82
University of Southern California & University of California, Santa Barbara
BS Business Administration
MA Communication Studies
Stuart Fujiyama graduated from PCHS in 1982. He earned a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration from the University of Southern California and a Master's degree in Communication Studies from the University of California at Santa Barbara. He also holds the Chartered Financial Analyst and Certified Treasury Professional designations. Stuart worked in the financial services industry, starting as a financial analyst, then moving into middle management in information technology. He currently lives in Chicago, volunteering remotely for a number of organizations on the mainland and on Oahu, including HawaiiUSA FCU, Honolulu Sertoma, the Honolulu Hiroshima Kenjin Kai, and the PCHS 50th Anniversary Book Committee. Stuart prefers to correspond via email.
Other Advice/Information
I highly recommend reading Zac Bissonnette's (2010) Debt-Free U ( https://www.amazon.com/dp/1591842980/). Mainland high school students -- especially ones that go to private academies -- read a lot more of the classics (e.g., Homer) than we do. Taking accounting in high school helped prepare me for business classes in college. To broaden your experience, consider taking summer school at another high school; I took Algebra II and drivers ed at Waipahu. Weigh the costs and benefits carefully before enrolling in time-intensive, GPA-slashing college honors programs. If you're eligible for a "full ride scholarship," read the terms carefully so you know, by heart, the things that might cause your scholarship to be reduced or eliminated prior to your earning your degree.
