Kicking Off the MAcc Journey: Orientation Recap

Highlights from Our Three-Day Orientation

From Aug. 17 to Aug. 19, 2026, the MAcc program welcomed the Class of 2026 with a three-day orientation packed with learning, networking, and plenty of opportunities to connect. We learned more about the program and academic expectations, explored different career paths in accounting, and heard directly from faculty, alumni, recruiters, and industry professionals. At the same time, team-building and social events gave us the chance to get to know our classmates and start building our MAcc community. 

Below are some of the highlights from my perspective:

Career Panels

Throughout the program, we had the opportunity to attend several career panels featuring professionals from the Big Four, regional and national firms, as well as industry, nonprofit, and government organizations.

These panels gave us a better understanding of what recruiters are actually looking for in candidates, from the skills and experiences they value to what makes a resume stand out. Hearing directly from recruiters also helped us think more strategically about how to build our resumes and prepare for the recruiting process.

What I especially enjoyed was being able to compare different companies and career paths side by side. Panelists shared their perspectives on work-life balance, the types of clients they work with, and what day-to-day life looks like across different areas of accounting. Recruiters and alumni also discussed how AI may reshape the accounting profession, which gave us a broader perspective on how the industry could evolve in the coming years.

Stadium Tour

As someone who completed my undergraduate degree at Ohio State, I’ve been inside the stadium many times for football games and graduation ceremonies, but I had never actually taken an official tour!

The tour gave us a completely different perspective on the stadium. We visited several levels and saw the field from different angles, explored the VIP suites, and even got a look inside the players’ locker room. Since the field was being renovated, we were not able to step onto the grass, but we did get to touch it, which was still a pretty cool experience.

It was fun to see such a familiar place from a completely new perspective and discover parts of the stadium that I had never seen before.

Evening Social at Curl Viewpoint

The evening social at Curl Viewpoint was a great way to wrap up the day. We had dinner with some of the panelists we met earlier in the afternoon, along with other working professionals, which gave us more time to connect and continue conversations in a more relaxed setting.

It was a nice opportunity to ask questions, hear more about their experiences, and network outside of a formal panel environment. And to make the night even better, Brutus was there too!

Escape Room - Team Bonding Activity

The escape room was a great team-bonding experience and a fun way to get to know our classmates outside the classroom. We worked together to solve puzzles, share ideas, and figure things out under a little bit of pressure.

It was also a great reminder that teamwork is often about celebrating the small wins along the way, every clue we solved felt like progress. And of course, the biggest win was successfully escaping the room together!