BUS-X 496 Honors Capstone · Spring 2026

In and Out of the Kelley Bubble

A research-backed guide to clubs, workshops, business fraternities, and career outcomes at the Kelley School of Business — written from 35 student interviews.

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Answer 6 quick questions and get a personalized four-year plan — which clubs to join, when to rush, and how to prepare for recruiting.

100+ organizations mapped 35 student interviews 24 workshops with timelines Personalized path builder
KEY FINDINGS

What we found

Comparing 26 involved students to 9 not involved. Involvement is correlated with better recruiting outcomes — but it isn't free.

+51%More job offers
(2.36 vs 1.56 avg)
2.6×Higher offer conversion
(23% vs 9%)
−44%Fewer applications needed to land an offer
(involved: 36 vs not involved: 63 avg)
+219%More mentors
(11.35 vs 3.56 avg)

Source: BUS-X 496 Capstone workbook, Statistics sheet, n=35 coded responses (26 involved, 9 not involved).

Reviewed by Kelley Student Engagement Office
Kelley Honors Program · BUS-X 496
EXPLORE

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FAQ

Common questions

Primarily Kelley underclassmen (freshmen and sophomores) navigating their first involvement decisions — but upperclassmen, transfer students, and faculty have found value in the data too. If you're wondering which clubs matter, when recruiting starts, or how to build a network at Kelley, this is for you.
35 Kelley seniors were interviewed one-on-one between December 2025 and April 2026 using a standardized question set. Interviews lasted 20–40 minutes and covered involvement history, recruiting outcomes, mentorship, and advice. Participants were split into two groups: 26 "involved" (3+ organizations) and 9 "not involved" (0–2 organizations).
Students with membership in 3 or more Kelley-related organizations (business fraternities, consulting clubs, finance clubs, honors programs, workshops, etc.) were classified as "involved." Students with 0–2 were classified as "not involved." This threshold was based on the natural break point observed in the interview data.
Yes! If you're a current or recent Kelley student and want to share your involvement story or recruiting experience, reach out to bewhitem@iu.edu. Additional perspectives help make the guide more comprehensive and representative.
This is an independent BUS-X 496 Honors Capstone research project. It has been reviewed by the Kelley Student Engagement Office and the Kelley Honors Program, but it is not an official Kelley School of Business publication. The findings represent one student's research and should be considered alongside other resources.
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CREDITS

Acknowledgments

This project was made possible by the Hutton Research Grant and the people below. Thank you to every advisor, contributor, tester, and interviewee who shared their time and experience.

Project Team

BW
Ben Whiteman '26 Founder & Project Lead Created In and Out of the Kelley Bubble as a BUS-X 496 Honors Capstone — conducting the 35 interviews, building the platform, and leading its development. bewhitem@iu.edu
AP
Anjali Panchedula '27 Co-Project Lead · Research & Interviews Carrying the project forward — leading the next round of student interviews and expanding the research behind the platform. apanched@iu.edu
WC
Will Chen '27 Co-Project Lead · Outreach & Engagement Carrying the project forward — leading outreach to Kelley organizations and growing the platform's reach among students. wc31@iu.edu

Faculty & Research Advisors

SM
Professor Stephanie Moore Faculty Advisor · Senior Lecturer, Business Law & Ethics · Kelley Ombudsperson Guided this project from its first proposal through final submission. Served as BUS-X 496 faculty advisor, provided the recommendation letter for the Hutton Research Grant, and connected the project to key contacts across the Kelley administration.
CM
Cassie Mead Research Methodology Advisor · PhD Candidate, IU Sociology Shaped the interview guide, IRB protocol, and research framework from the project's earliest stages. Referred Ben to Professor Koji Chavez, whose feedback redefined the core research question. cassiemead.com

Contributors

Nick Moon '26 Conceived Website Concept & Guided Early Development AKPsi, Cybersecurity Club
Graham Korensky '27 Coined the Project Title TAMID, IU Mock Trial, 812 Consulting gkorenski@iu.edu
Evi Schwartz '27 · UIUC Security Audit & Research Methodology Review evischwartz91@gmail.com

Beta Testers

Ted Nitka '29 AKPsi, BSG, CMC, FPA, IUDM Morale tnitka@iu.edu
Tia Sarkar '26 Data Visualization Club, AKPsi, KSG, Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life tiasarkar@gmail.com
Nuwara Usman '29 AKPsi, HLS Student Gov, IUDM, Hutton Honors Ambassador, HLS GD Consulting nusman@iu.edu
Nora Khan '29 AKPsi, Hutton Honors, Women's Network, AMA nwkhan@iu.edu

Interviewees

35 Kelley students shared their involvement stories and career journeys. Those listed below gave permission to be credited.

Camille Kuru '26 PFC, PSE, Kelley Kickstart, 3+1 MSM camillekuru1@gmail.com
Charlie Montalto '26 CRW, Real Estate Club, Balance at Kelley, Spikeball Club, PE Fund Comontalto@rockbridgeholdings.com
Conor Daniels '26 HCN, Toastmasters, AKPsi, CW, Camp Kelley, Sailing cjdaniels@gmail.com
Danielle Furman '26 AKPsi, WIB, WFA, Women in Accounting, Woodworking Club, BLI daniellefurman4@gmail.com
Dave Jankelowitz '26 KSG, TAMID, DIB, AKPsi, CW, Camp Kelley, Crimson Equity Partners, Undergraduate Research davejankelowitz@gmail.com
Emily Sun '26 Ascend, TAMID, Trockman Microfinance, CBA, Scholars of Finance, REM, TCW sunemily72@gmail.com
Jack Chiasson '26 PGN, Toastmasters, CW jack.e.chiasson@gmail.com
Jay Kadire '26 DSP, ECMG, FIR, PMC, FSC, KC, RXDI, CEP, PEW Jay.kadire04@gmail.com
Jeremy Holland '26 PMC, ECMG, KC, DSP, Sigma Nu jeremyholland1@yahoo.com
Jonny Sasson '26 FSC, Toastmasters jonny.sasson@gmail.com
Lauryn Adamski '26 AKPsi, Women in Accounting, Accounting Workshop laurynada2348@gmail.com
Michael Morin '26 AKPsi, IUSG, Kelley Guide morinmichael810@gmail.com
Neel Deshpande '26 PCT, FSC, RXDI, Corporate Law Club neel.desh@icloud.com
Paige Settersten '26 AKPsi, Women in Accounting, Accounting Workshop, Civic Leadership Development psettersten@gmail.com
Ryan Weisman '26 AKPsi, ECMG, FIR, IBW ryweis1@outlook.com
Viraj Lakhotia '26 ECMG, CMC, Scholars of Finance, PMC, Knall Cohen, IMW, AAA, Chess Club virajlakhotia30@gmail.com
Ben Sharabi '26 FIR, FSC, ECMG, AKPsi, IBW
Garv Bhargava '26 TAMID, SRSA, 180DC, CW
Jatin Chirra '26 TAMID, FSC, CW, Banking and Trading Association, Esports
Neha Tokala '26 180DC, PGN, CW, IUSG, IndianaMUN
Yashas Pradeep '26 TAMID, Kappa805, PEVC
Brandon Stein '26