Freshman Kylie Smith leaps into academics, athletics

A gymnast since the age of four, freshman Kylie Smith has leapt into the Carlson School with the same passion she has for her sport. After winning the Oklahoma State Gymnastics Championship and receiving a scholarship to the University of Minnesota,Smith has come a long way in the sports arena. She has an enthusiasm for her academics as well.

Graduating with a 4.5 high school GPA, Smith chose to attend the Carlson School for a number of reasons. She knew she wanted a reputable business school in a good city, along with a chance to be on the gymnastics team. “If for some reason you couldn’t do your sport, you would want to still be happy with your school choice. I’d definitely still be happy,” she says.

Luckily, Kylie has been able to excel in gymnastics since joining the team at the U of M. Her favorite event to compete in is the floor routine because she says it allows your personality to shine through and you can have some fun. As an athlete, she looks up to the 1996 Olympic team members, who as a whole, piqued her interest in gymnastics. “They kindled my love of the sport,” she says.

The transition from high school to college was a bit shocking, though. “Classes are more infrequent, but once you get into a routine and everything settles down, it’s a lot easier,” Smith says. To accommodate for travel time to out-of-town meets, she tries to avoid taking Friday classes. “The professors are very understanding of my schedule.”

Outside of spending time with girls on the gymnastics team, Smith credits Welcome Week and the Carlson School orientation for getting to know her classmates better. “The Carlson School gets each class together right from the start,” she says, “It’s a gorgeous facility that offers us so many new opportunities. If you need something, they will help you find it – from what classes to take to finding internships,” Smith says of the Carlson School. She is also looking forward to taking her immersion core classes in fall 2009.

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