When Kai Aronson arrived at Stetson University, he knew he wanted to break into a field that accepts few applicants.

Originally from Connecticut, he chose Stetson for the Roland George Investments Program, where students manage a real multimillion-dollar portfolio of stocks and bonds in the School of Business Administration. He majored in Finance and Economics, and spent the past two years in RGIP. 

Before he graduates in May, the senior already has landed a job with CIT Group, Syndications Team, in New York City after at least five rounds of interviews.

“I’m happy to say it’s my dream job,” he said. “The industry has roughly a 2% to 3% acceptance rate, and I was told after being hired that CIT hired only 14 out of its over 500 applicants.

“It’s a true honor to have this position and to know my hard work and sacrifices paid off,” said Aronson, who minored in Marketing. 

He credits RGIP and his professors, including Matthew Hurst, PhD, interim director of the Roland and Sarah George Investments Institute; Alan Green, PhD, chair of Economics; and Carolyn Nicholson, PhD, chair of Marketing, for going above and beyond to help him to reach his goal.

Hurst described Aronson as “one of the most tenacious and determined students I have ever taught. He set his mind on investment banking and sent out more than 100 applications.”

Aronson said he interned for Varagon Capital Partners and GarMark Partners, which allowed him to be a competitive applicant for his new position. He starts in July with CIT Group as a syndications analyst, responsible for underwriting and portfolio management to facilitate investment in syndicated bank debt, used by borrowers for leveraged buyouts, acquisition financing and general corporate needs, he said.

“Since coming to Stetson, I’ve known the direction I’ve wanted to go career-wise. In fact, I remember writing a paper in second grade about how I wanted to follow in my father’s footsteps and work in his industry, which was middle-market leveraged finance,” he said.

Aronson was also active at Stetson, serving as a volunteer with the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program, and as a member of the Omicron Delta Epsilon, Economics Honor Society; Phi Eta Sigma, National Honor Society for first-year students; and the Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity, among others.

“At Stetson, you will get out what you’re willing to put in, while at the same time being supported by an amazing, kind and talented community,” he said.