Q:What skills are you building at D'Amore-McKim that you will use in your future career?
A:Some important skills that I've developed at D'Amore-McKim are teamwork and communication. Especially as an auditor, it is really important to be able to work in a team and communicate throughout the entirety of projects.
Q:How has the abbreviated, 7-month length of the program benefitted your career progression?
A:For me, I had to start in September due to an internship I had in the summer. So, from about January to May I was able to focus on the CPA exams, which was helpful. Graduating in August also allowed me to start work two weeks after graduation, which I really liked because I was looking forward to starting my career after being in school my whole life.
Q:Is it important to you that your professors have real-world accounting experience?
A:I think it is extremely important. My undergraduate professors did not have that experience and I could definitely tell the difference. Having professors with their CPA and audit practice helps give them creditability. I'm most likely to trust a professor who has been in my shoes before.
Q:Where do you see yourself in 5 or 10 years?
A:In 5 to 10 years I imagine I might be thinking about going to a smaller accounting firm, somewhere I can see myself long-term. I think there are many different paths I can take after getting my CPA and a few years of experience, and although I haven't quite figured that out yet, I'm positive and open to new things!
Q:What would you say to a prospective student considering D'Amore-McKim for their accounting degree?
A:My best advice is to take advantage of the whole experience. You can't receive an education like this anywhere else. In Internal Audit, presenting to a real client about a project you helped initiate into their company is the most “real life” experience you'll get in a classroom. I took so much out of that one class, and all of the classes in general. Don't be afraid to ask questions; all the professors want to see you succeed, so just work hard and have fun with it!
