MAcc

Wow, welcome to my last blog as a MAcc student at The Ohio State University. Thank you for reading and following along with my journey. If you are still deciding or preparing to take part in the MAcc program, here are three things I wish I knew before I began as a graduate student. 

As my final year at The Ohio State University comes to an end, I reflect on my time in the MAcc program. Throughout this year, not only have I improved my technical skills and accounting knowledge, but I have also made connections, set boundaries for work life balance, and explored Columbus.

As the finish line for the MAcc program officially comes into view, I have entered my fourth and final quarter of courses. When I was scheduling these classes, I did so with two specific goals in mind, preparing for the CPA exam and laying the groundwork for my professional career this fall.

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. 

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. 

When I first started the MAcc program at The Ohio State University, I was unsure of several things. From career outcomes and course rigor to connecting with new people, I wasn’t sure what to fully expect.  Coming from a finance undergraduate background and transitioning into accounting, many questions surfaced early on. Would I need to complete an accounting internship before pursuing full-time roles? What would the recruiting process and timeline look like? And would I be able to balance all of this with my course workload?

Before the MAcc Program When I started my undergraduate journey at Ohio State, I knew I wanted to be an accounting major. However, the biggest question wasn’t what I wanted to do, but how I would get there, specifically, how to reach the 150 credit hours required for the CPA exam.

The Master of Accounting (MAcc) program has given me a great opportunity for professional and personal growth. I have learned so much in the first semester, and I cannot wait to continue learning in the spring semester. Throughout the fall, there are a few main takeaways that resonate with my personal MAcc journey.