If you are considering a major in mathematics in college, have you ever wondered what kind of job you will be prepared for when you complete your bachelor's degree? I did, and I was still wondering when I walked across the stage to receive my BA degree from Potsdam College in upstate New York in May 1986.

When I missed most of the companies who were visiting the Potsdam campus to recruit in the fall of my senior year because I was studying in England that semester, I knew I had to take my own course of action to find a job. I have always loved the ocean, so I moved to the Boston area and began answering ads in the Boston Globe for positions that sounded interesting.

After being a finalist for a job I really wanted and didn't get, and crying my heart out for a few minutes, I sent my resume and a cover letter to Bay State Health Care for a financial analyst position. In competition with some applicants with MBAs, I was interviewed by several people, shown around the company, and eventually offered the job.

At first I spent most of my time working on a personal computer, setting up spreadsheets and doing some analysis. I assisted with premium-rate development for our marketing groups involved with the health maintenance organization. I also interacted closely with the management information systems area to design and tailor reports for use in our department.