I’m Kaitlyn -Taking on the NC State MAC Program for a Year

Author: Kaitlyn

About Me

Hi everyone! I’m Kaitlyn and I recently arrived at the wonderful city of Raleigh and the great NC State University where I entered the Poole College of Management’s Jenkins Master of Accounting program. I grew up in the small town of Mount Airy, NC, and went to Campbell University for my undergraduate studies in the even smaller town of Buies Creek, NC

While at Campbell, I received my bachelor’s degree in accounting. I was also a member of the Division I swim team for four years and served as captain my senior year. During the spring semester of my last year at CU, I participated in NC State’s fellowship process and secured a job for next year with EY in Raleigh in assurance services. Currently at State, I am concentrating in Enterprise Risk Management (which I will blog about) and I am the vice president of the MAC Student organization. The organization organizes activities for the MAC Class of 2014, including socializing and community service.

Besides school, I enjoy anything active! I love swimming (obviously), hiking, white water rafting, cross-fit, yoga…you name it. I also enjoy spending time with my family when I can. I have three younger sisters and we always have a blast when we’re together.

Why NC State & the Jenkins MAC Program?

I love Raleigh and I love the MAC program at State, but I will break down my decision making process for you.

Choosing the Location

I knew I wanted to stay in North Carolina. I’m a born and raised Carolinian and it’s where I want to be. If you’re interested in a Master of Accounting program, make sure you do some research. I researched several schools in N.C. and heard from several master of accounting graduate program reps who came to talk with us at Campbell, so be on the look out for these kinds of sessions at your school! It’s a great way to learn more about a program, so you can decide if you’re interested or not.

Cost of Attendance

I know this is not something you want to consider when you’re thinking about the school of your dreams, but if it is expensive look into scholarships and financial aid that will ease the burden. Also, some undergraduate programs offer graduate scholarships so ask around!

Quality of the Program

Most students are in school for one reason – to come out with a job lined up. So ask yourself questions like, “Does this school have a good reputation among employers?” “Which employers participate in the recruiting process?” “Will the skills I learn throughout this program be valued and applicable in the workplace?” All of these questions will help you narrow down your selection.

Is it the Right Fit?

When you meet people from a university, you get a sense of whether your personality and interests will match theirs.

To be honest, I only applied to NC State. After going through the decision process above, I decided it was the right place for me and here’s why:

• The location was perfect
• The program had superb faculty and staff
• The recruiting process was successful and well known among many firms
• The quality of information and knowledge that I will gain will be useful in the working world and when taking the CPA exam.

NC State made my decision easy.

What to Expect

I am about to start my fourth week in the MAC program and we are in full swing. I will be updating you on my classes, MAC program events, and tips about studying for the GMAT and the CPA exam. My fellow MAC blogger Ashleigh and I will also be tweeting so follow us @ncstatemac. I look forward to blogging about my adventures throughout this program! If you have any questions, comments, or topics you would like me to discuss in future blogs, please feel free to comment!