Alumni Update: Katie
Katie McCaffrey, Class of 2021, has always understood the value of community. It’s what first shaped her as a student at Carrollwood Day School, where she started at just three years old and stayed all the way through graduation. And it’s what drew her to Boston College, where she found a campus that reminded her of home, and where this fall, she’ll return once again, this time as a student at Boston College Law.
At CDS, she was all in. From the debate team and Beta Club to National Honor Society and the State STEM Fair, she took advantage of every opportunity to grow. She credits the IB program with laying the foundation for her work ethic, saying it helped her develop strong writing and critical thinking skills that made the transition to college smooth. “The strong work ethic I possess today is a direct result of what I learned through the IB program,” she said.
When it came time for college, Boston College offered the academic challenge she was looking for with the kind of community that felt familiar. “No matter where I was in the hallways, I would always run into someone I knew, and I always felt a sense of belonging,” she said. “Everyone was there to support one another, creating an environment where I felt like I had hundreds of people in my corner cheering me on.”
Katie joined the Division I cheerleading team and quickly got involved in student government. As a freshman, she became a senator and focused her work on the student life committee, where she helped create policies to support mental health and improve day-to-day experiences for her classmates. “I truly experienced what it means to be part of a community,” she said. “I always felt a sense of belonging.”
My experience as a student at CDS was nothing short of amazing,” Katie shared. “Words alone cannot fully express how much this school shaped me into the woman I am today.
By the end of her sophomore year, she was competing at nationals in Daytona with the BC cheer team. But heading into junior year, her focus began to shift. She applied to study abroad and was one of only five BC students accepted into the yearlong program at the London School of Economics. “The program was instrumental to getting to where I am today,” she said. Surrounded by a global community, where more than 60 percent of LSE’s student body came from international backgrounds, Katie’s interest in international relations began to take root. She also joined RAG (Raising and Giving), LSE’s fundraising organization, where she helped organize events and Giving Tuesday campaigns.
By the end of the year, law school was becoming a serious consideration. Katie returned to the U.S. and spent the summer as a wealth management summer analyst at Bank of America Merrill Lynch, gaining firsthand experience in finance and business. She knew she wanted to take this knowledge and apply it in the world of law.
Back at Boston College for her senior year, she stepped away from cheer to focus fully on her next steps. She began work on her senior honors thesis, a project inspired by a public policy course she took while abroad. Her thesis, titled "Closing the Gender Wage Gap in Developing Countries: The Impact of Inward FDI on Labor Market Outcomes in Bangladesh," explored how foreign direct investment affects labor markets and wage equity. The research earned her the Bourneuf Award, given to the most outstanding economics major in her graduating class.
Through all of this, Katie never lost touch with her roots. She still sees her CDS friends regularly in Boston and Tampa, and she remains close with teachers who helped shape her path.
Mrs. Hollingsworth, who was the Beta Club sponsor when my best friend Meredith and I served as club presidents in high school, is one of the kindest, most dedicated, and most supportive women I know,” Katie said. “She continues to show her support today, always eager to hear my updates.
Looking back, some of her most treasured memories come from CDS traditions. “Participating in the Fall Festival and Spring Fling performances with the elementary classes were among my fondest memories,” she said. “We always poured our hearts into these shows, striving to deliver the most energetic and spirited performances for our parents.” She still remembers the pride of performing “Dancing in the Street” on risers behind the portables during the construction of the new lower school, or finally getting to sing “50 Nifty United States” in fifth grade. And she’ll never forget the day her team won the State Beta Club Quiz Bowl. “I vividly recall the pride and sense of accomplishment we felt when Carrollwood Day School was crowned the champion.”
Now, as she prepares to begin law school, Katie carries with her the values, discipline, and sense of belonging that have guided her all along. From the early days at Carrollwood Day School to the lecture halls of Boston College and the global classrooms of London School of Economics, each step has shaped her into someone ready to make her mark. She steps into this next chapter knowing exactly where she comes from, and has a clear vision of where she’s headed, and we could not be prouder.
We love sharing our CDS alumni achievements and are delighted to share Katie's updates with the alumni community. If you are a CDS Alumni and would like to share your accomplishments, please contact our Alumni Engagement Coordinator, Carli Gauthier Mianne '16 at and let us know what you have been up to since leaving CDS. We look forward to hearing from you!