This post was written by Ayanna Davis, B.A. ’24, M.A. in Integrated Design student.
Seth Perlow didn’t have a clear picture of where his future was headed when he lost his job in 2023.
He was willing to seek guidance, explore new possibilities and trust where those opportunities might lead.
That’s how Seth arrived at The University of Baltimore, where building connections became an important part of finding his place and preparing for what comes next.
After graduating from Franklin High School in 2020, Seth explored several career paths, including real estate, customer service and direct support services.
When he lost his job in 2023 working as a direct support professional in healthcare, social assistance and human services, he turned to a Baltimore County career center for guidance. A counselor recommended a career assessment; the results pointed toward business administration and finance.
“Almost every single one of them required either a business admin or a finance degree,” Seth recalled. “So, I was like, maybe this is a good path for me.”
That prompted him to research universities offering those programs, and UBalt caught his attention. Its smaller campus, affordability, flexible course offerings, and proximity to public transportation appealed to him.
Seth enrolled at UBalt less than a month later pursue a B.S. in Business Administration with a specialization in finance.
Over his time at UBalt, he has found that some of his most meaningful experiences at UBalt have come from opportunities outside the classroom.
During his first semester, Seth attended a discussion with University leadership where students could raise concerns about campus resources. He wanted to ask about the campus gym’s closure.
Seth took the opportunity to advocate for re-opening it for current students and with support from UBalt staff, he met his goal just one semester later.
“It’s definitely one of my prized achievements for advocating for students,” he said.
His willingness to speak up also helped him become more involved in the campus community.
During the 2025-26 academic year, Seth served on the Student Government Association’s finance committee, helping develop the annual budget used to allocate funding to student organizations allowing him to work with budget spreadsheets and financial data.
He also participated in the University’s Middle States accreditation process after one of his professors, Dan Gerlowski, now interim dean of the Merrick School of Business, invited him to serve as a student representative.
The experience gave him a chance to review institutional reports and student data to help document how UBalt was meeting accreditation standards.
“He trusted me to do that,” Seth said.
Along the way, Seth continues to recognize the importance of making connections and taking initiative.
At a networking event, he received advice from an accounting professional who encouraged him to volunteer for additional responsibilities to build trust and distinguish himself professionally.
“I feel like I unintentionally was doing that already at UBalt by making myself known,” he said.
Seth encourages incoming students to take an active role in their UBalt experience rather than waiting for opportunities to find them.
“Tap into all the different resources that UBalt has. Get connected with people and find out about different things. It can be a great networking experience,” he said.
His involvement has complimented the skills he’s developed in the classroom, where courses in financial analysis and Excel have given him experience evaluating and working with financial data and applying formulas. He is also a member of Beta Gamma Sigma, an international business honor society.
As his graduation approaches, Seth hopes to pursue a career in financial planning and analysis, helping companies develop financial projections while maintaining a healthy work-life balance.
“For me, getting my degree means that I can get a career that I am fulfilled in. It’ll unlock a lot more opportunities,” he said.