Articles

Over spring break, I had the opportunity to travel to Iceland. In a country where sheep outnumber the population of people, it felt like I was in a different world. My weeklong journey was completely different to my daily life as a graduate student at Ohio State. In the midst of my final semester in the MAcc program, I went into this trip as a way to reset and reflect before the last weeks of classes and projects. Here are the three biggest takeaways I had from my trip to Iceland and how they connect to life as a graduate student in the MAcc program: 

Over the past 4 years, I competed as a Division I soccer player at Cleveland State University while I pursued my undergraduate degree. I balanced long weeks of training, games, and travel along with a full course load. Every day was structured and filled with tasks I needed to complete in order to succeed on and off the field. 

As we all know, February is the month of love, and I was genuinely excited to attend the OUAB Valentine’s Day Ball at The Ohio State University. The theme was Casino Royale, and for one night, the usual winter grad-school uniform of backpacks, heavy jackets, and sweaters was replaced with tuxedos, gowns, and everyone fully leaning into the theme.

One of the reasons I chose the Fisher College of Business for my Master’s in Human Resource Management was its strong alumni network and sense of community. From the very beginning of my journey, I have experienced how intentionally meaningful connections with peers, professors, and alumni are cultivated.

Before beginning the Specialized Master in Finance (SMF) program at Ohio State, I remember feeling both excited and uncertain. I knew graduate school would move quickly, but I wasn’t sure exactly what I could do to prepare. Looking back, I realized that building confidence in the fundamentals of finance benefit me the most.  

After completing my undergraduate degree at Ohio State, I felt I had a strong grasp of the technical basics. However, entering the MAcc program has shifted my focus from simply knowing "how" to record a transaction to understanding the "why" behind complex accounting actions. As I prepare to begin my full-time role in public accounting audit this fall, this shift in perspective has been the most valuable part of my graduate education. 

I came into my MBA program with a clear intention: to grow from being technically strong in accounting and finance into someone who can think more broadly about strategy, value creation, and long-term business impact. I wanted transformation not just in what I know, but in how I make decisions. The first semester provided a shared foundation across core disciplines and gradually trained me to see everyday problems through a business lens.

The MBA program is full of a variety of courses, and each offering unique perspective of business. Some of the courses are elective, meaning one has the option to pick and choose those courses, and while others are core courses designed to build a strong foundation. One of the core courses in the second semester of the Full-Time MBA program is Strategy Formulation and Implementation.