Guiding Students to the Right Career Fit at the University of San Diego 

Hear Directly from Stath Karras

The Solution

To better guide students, the BMC introduced McQuaig as a way to connect individual behavioral strengths to specific career paths within real estate.

Drawing on years of experience using McQuaig in the private sector, the team built benchmarks based on what success looks like across different roles in the industry. These benchmarks are now used to help students understand where they are most likely to fit and thrive.

“If we could match someone's behavioral characteristics with the job, the likelihood that they would enjoy what they were doing was very high,” Karras says.

Students are encouraged to complete the assessment early in their program. The results give advisors a clearer picture of how each student is wired and make career conversations more focused and productive.

“If you really want me to help you," Karras says, "you should do the McQuaig, because it will give me some insight… and that insight will allow me to give you a lot better feedback."

This approach allows the team to move beyond general advice and provide more personalized, practical guidance. Instead of guessing where a student might succeed, they can use behavioral insight to recommend paths that align more closely with how each individual works best.

The Results

By combining behavioral benchmarking with individual assessment, the BMC has created a structured way to guide students toward roles where they are more likely to succeed.

The impact within the program has been significant. Since implementation, the Center has delivered:

• Personalized career guidance for hundreds of students 
• A 90% participation rate among graduate students
• A growing participation rate among undergraduate students
• A 97% agreement rate from students that the assessment accurately reflects them

Student response remains consistently strong, with accuracy continuing to drive trust in the process.

“I've reviewed well over 2,000 of these now… and I would say 99 plus percent of the time… they say this profile is representative of me,” Karras says.

This level of accuracy allows advisors to move quickly from insight to action, helping students make more confident, informed career decisions.

The long-term impact is clear. Students who pursue paths aligned with their behavioral profile tend to be more engaged and successful, while those who do not often return for further guidance.

“If there's a match between their behavioral profile and the job, they’re there longer, they’re happier, typically more successful and more productive,” Karras explains.

The program has also strengthened the BMC’s connection to industry. Employers increasingly request McQuaig results when evaluating candidates, and many have gone on to adopt the tool within their own hiring processes.

Looking Ahead

Looking ahead, the BMC continues to expand how it uses behavioral insight to support student success.

McQuaig has become a real part of how the program delivers value to both students and employers. As the demand for measurable outcomes in education grows, tools that connect student strengths to real-world roles are becoming increasingly important.

“McQuaig is definitely one of the ways we differentiate our program… and one of the different ways we add value to our students,” Karras says.

That value is being recognized beyond the university. Other institutions are beginning to adopt similar approaches, and employers are increasingly incorporating behavioral insight into their own hiring and development processes.

“I think you’ll see more and more universities… start to bring this on as a tool,” Karras says.

With a continued focus on aligning students to roles where they can succeed, the program is well positioned to support stronger outcomes for both graduates and the organizations that hire them.