Study in Zagreb, learn in the world

I have always felt a close connection to economics. Growing up with an entrepreneurial mother, stories about clients, meetings, and business dealings were a part of my daily life. It all became second nature to me; I listened, absorbed everything, and eventually realized I was genuinely interested in the field. I graduated from the iconic V. Gymnasium in Zagreb with excellent grades. Like most high school seniors, I had to decide on my next step. Most of my peers went on to study at FER (Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computing), Medicine, or PMF (Faculty of Science), which is a logical path after a mathematical gymnasium. However, I was simply drawn to finance and economics, and that didn’t change regardless of my grades or others’ expectations. I’ve always believed that economics is the absolute foundation of society—something we simply cannot do without.

How did I find out about ZSEM?

I started exploring my options during my junior year of high school. I was skeptical about economics faculties in Croatia and considered studying abroad, but I wasn’t ready to leave Zagreb entirely—I loved this city then, and I still do. During my research, I came across ZSEM (Zagreb School of Economics and Management). At an open house event, I realized that ZSEM offered exactly what I was looking for: a high-quality education and the chance to participate in exchange programs at top-tier international universities, all while keeping my home base in Zagreb. I was particularly drawn to the Business Mathematics and Economics program. I also saw ZSEM as the perfect environment for networking and opening doors within Croatia. That is how I made my decision, and so far, I haven’t regretted it.

First Year and Next

I finished my first year of studies with a 5.0 GPA, which I was extremely proud of. It was a clear confirmation that hard work comes naturally when you are finally studying what you love. However, the highlight of my first year was undoubtedly the relaunch of Next. Toward the end of the second semester, my colleague Jakov Petrović and I decided to revive the Next Student Consulting Club. Our vision was to work on real-world projects, gather a team of top students, and see what we could achieve. We took the leap, successfully recruited a group of outstanding students, and got to work. It was challenging but incredibly engaging—it gave us something concrete to focus on, moving beyond just textbook theory. I have no doubt that more success is on the horizon.

Exchange in Spain

For my second year, I decided to go on an exchange program to IE University in Madrid. It is a highly prestigious and top-ranked business school in Europe—currently ranked 17th globally for employability by Times Higher Education and among the top in Europe by the Financial Times—and I was selected based on my academic performance.

I opted for more demanding courses such as Macroeconomics, Corporate Finance, and Probability and Statistics because I wanted to test my knowledge against some of the best students in the world. The results were excellent; I scored over 90% in all three core subjects, which gave me a real boost in confidence. However, the exchange was about much more than just grades. I met many new people, took up padel as a serious hobby, and even traveled to Morocco for a week with friends. Overall, it was an incredible experience.

Return and balancing

I am now back in Zagreb, interning at Marčinković & Partners, a firm specializing in financial consulting. I primarily work on feasibility studies involving CBA (Cost-Benefit Analysis), which allows me to see how classroom theory is applied in the real world. I am still learning to balance my university coursework with a job, but it’s manageable—it is much easier when you are genuinely interested in both. As for Next, we are still very active in the club, handling concrete projects for actual clients. We are successful, and I have no doubt we are moving in the right direction. There is still a lot to be done, but I am confident we are on the right track. We are young, ambitious, and not afraid of hard work—I believe that is the combination that will take us far.

Beijing and beyond

My next exchange program will be this September at Tsinghua University in Beijing. It is the #1 university in China and is highly prestigious globally, currently holding the 18th spot in the 2025 Academic Ranking of World Universities (Shanghai Ranking). Honestly, I am thrilled about this opportunity and can’t wait to see what the experience will be like.

Why ZSEM?

If I had to pinpoint why I’m satisfied with my decision to study at ZSEM, it would come down to these three things: the opportunity for high-quality international exchanges, the chance to work on concrete projects and gain practical experience, and a student community with similar interests and ambitions. ZSEM made it so I didn’t have to choose between Zagreb and a world-class education. I can study here while going on exchange wherever I want. I can build something in Croatia while being part of a global story.

I don’t have some grand life lesson to offer—I’m still a student, and I’m still learning. But if someone is considering ZSEM and isn’t sure, I can say that it is an excellent decision. The school provides plenty of opportunities, but you must be ready to seize them. It’s not a place where you just show up and pass, but if you’re willing to put in the effort, the payoff is immense.

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