My Accounting Journey: UC Davis Community Support Leads to Role at EY

I always wanted to attend graduate school after finishing my bachelor's degree but choosing which school to attend can be a difficult decision. Becoming a CPA and succeeding in the accounting industry were some of my biggest goals, and I knew a master's degree would help me achieve them.

After researching programs and looking at schools in California, I knew the UC Davis was the right choice for me. 

What made the UC Davis Master of Professional Accountancy (MPAc) program stand out was its supportive, world-renowned faculty that truly wants you to succeed. On top of that, I wanted a cohort experience that would stay together from the beginning to the end.

Early Support and Guidance from Faculty

From my first interactions with the faculty during orientation, the professors and the MPAc team were genuinely invested in our success. Before classes even started, professors were having conversations and joining lunch with us to learn our names, backgrounds and ask why we chose UC Davis.

They offered me valuable academic and career advice before classes even began! Their advice helped me prepare for meeting accounting recruiters at the Meet the Firms event. and job interviews.

Learning about their credentials, expertise and research assured me that I was going to be taught by top professors and practitioners in the accounting field.

I was nervous when I started the MPAc program since I was new to UC Davis, but my professors constantly assured me that I belonged here.

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Small Classes Encourage Collaboration  

During my undergraduate experience, I was accustomed to having large classes where it was easy to feel like just a number.

However, at the Graduate School of Management, the classroom experience feels much more personalized, and professors know us by name. They actively engage us in participation and encourage collaboration with our cohort.

Within our cohort, I practically know everyone by name, and it’s impossible not to have multiple meaningful conversations in a single class session! 

Whether it’s helping each other study, doing group assignments, discussing career prospects, or simply just wanting to hang out, I can always rely on my MPAc classmates. Because of this program, I have formed connections that I know will last a lifetime.

Hands-On Learning with Industry Tech Tools

My favorite classes are Audit Data Analytics and Accounting Information Systems, both led by MPAc Academic Executive Director Janie Chang. I’ve been able to get hands-on experience with programs such as Alteryx, SQL, Access, PowerBI and Tableau.

Before this, I had never used these tools before. Now I can navigate them with ease. These tools are constantly being used in the accounting industry, so this experience will benefit my future career.

Other classes that have had a profound impact include Visiting Professor Steven Gill's Tax Reporting and Analysis class and Assistant Professor Xinlei Li’s Managerial Accounting class. Both were challenging but rewarding courses. I also felt that both classes were relevant and beneficial in my CPA journey. 

I'm thankful to be part of the MPAc community, not only for their academic support but also professional support. Without their help, I wouldn’t have landed a career at EY, where I plan to join their financial services operations tax team in San Francisco this summer.

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