Her Campus Princeton:Did you have a prospective major in mind when you were a Princeton student?
Mick Hagen: Computer science. I loved the internet and I know I wanted to be doing web startups. But I only lasted one year at Princeton so I didn’t get very far.
Her Campus Princeton:How was your overall Princeton experience?
Mick Hagen: Great. I love Princeton. It was a year that transformed the trajectory of my life. I met friends that’ll last a lifetime. And the inspiration for Zinch all started there. We wouldn’t be where we are today without that Princeton experience. I’ll cherish those memories forever.
Her Campus Princeton:What activities were you involved in?
Mick Hagen: I was in BodyHype and loved it. I was never trained as a dancer, but I always enjoyed hip hop dancing just with friends and stuff. I played Club Basketball (I love sports). I was in Business Today. I did a lot of freelance graphic design, web design and photography. That’s kinda how I made money. I really didn’t focus a whole lot on school and my grades would definitely show it. I was more interested in things happening outside the classroom. I loved the people, the experiences, the learning (from people). It was such a positive experience for me.
Her Campus Princeton:Why did you decide to leave Princeton? Do you have any misgivings?
Mick Hagen: Nope. I’ve always been one to follow my passions. I’ve always been a little reckless and irresponsible in that way. I almost didn’t graduate high school because I started an online community for high school students in my area. It started taking off and I just couldn’t go to class anymore because of it. I didn’t get to walk with my class (cap and gown, etc). I had to take packets during the summer so I could graduate. I’ll always love Princeton and my experience there. But the opportunity with Zinch was just too big. I couldn’t pass up on something like this.
Her Campus Princeton:Tell us about Zinch
Mick Hagen: We connect young people with opportunities. So what that means for high school students is that we connect them with colleges and scholarships. We’re focused on helping students find their perfect fit, get in, and actually pay for it. It’s a community of more than 3 million members and more than 900 colleges and universities. It’s a great place to connect with people at the school like current students and admissions officers. You can learn the real scoop of what campus is really like and what it takes to get in. For anyone looking for an edge in the admissions process, Zinch is the place to be.
Her Campus Princeton:What was the most important lesson you learned at Princeton (in or out of the classroom)?
Mick Hagen: Embrace serendipity. Embrace the moments that seem unimportant or unmeaningful. I know this sounds silly, but Zinch wouldn’t be where it is today had I not joined BodyHype. The first week I was at Princeton there was a frosh fair at Dillon Gym, where all the clubs and organizations would highlight themselves and try to recruit new folks. As I was leaving the gym, a really attractive girl said, “Hey do you like to dance?” I said sure. She gave me a flyer for BodyHype auditions. I figured it would be a good experience and at the very least i’d get to meet some hot girls, so I went. I got in and I met a few folks in that group with whom I started thinking about college admissions and the huge inefficiencies. Had I not joined BodyHype, I would not have met these people. Had I not met these people, Zinch would have never been started (or at least I wouldn’t have been involved). Sometimes the most random and what seem like silly moments lead us down a path where we meet people that’ll alter the course of our life. You never know when those moments will be.
Read Mick’s blog post about his Princeton experience here!
Visit his homepage here!