Taylor Kinney, MAcc '20
Taylor started her accounting journey in the University of Mississippi's general business program. After taking an introductory accounting class, Taylor realized where her true passion lay. She continued taking accounting courses and decided she wanted to become a CPA. To do that, she knew she would need to earn a total of 150 credit hours to sit for the exam, and that a master’s degree would be the most efficient way to reach that goal.
While researching master's programs, Taylor came across the Michigan Ross Master of Accounting program. “It has always been a dream of mine to attend U-M,” she said. “When I found out about the top-ranked Master of Accounting program at Ross, it became a no-brainer.” She traveled to Ann Arbor during her senior year to check out U-M’s campus and immediately fell in love. She was impressed by the friendliness of the students and faculty she met. “I knew that I wanted to finish my academic career in Ann Arbor,” Taylor said.
Once joining the program, Taylor was surprised at how quickly she transitioned into a new setting. Coming to U-M not knowing anyone, she was nervous that she’d only make a few friends. Fortunately, Taylor didn’t hesitate to get involved; she became the president of the MAcc Student Association (MSA), an organization that brings accounting students together through collaborative, philanthropic, and informative activities. She was shocked at how inclusive the environment at Ross felt. “Never did I feel lost in the crowd.” She quickly became close with her classmates through bonding events the MSA put together, the cohort feeling a lot more like family than classmates. One of her favorite memories was being able to attend tailgates and football games with her cohort. She’s always been a Michigan football fan, but being able to go with classmates made it even more enjoyable. “For the early games, we would host a brunch and make breakfast for everyone before heading to the stadium. Most of the later games, we would host tailgates at someone's house,” she said. “It was great to spend Saturdays with our class while cheering on the Wolverines.”
This has been the most defining and exciting year of my college career.
When it came to classes, she found that professors were more than willing to help address any questions or concerns outside of class. For Taylor, one of the most unique experiences she had during her time with Ross was the ability to take elective classes as a MAcc student. “One of my favorite electives was an MBA course on negotiations. Since I was in a class where I was the only MAcc student, I got insight from students that think differently than I do.” She sees opportunities like this to understand others' perspectives on problem-solving and group collaborations as beneficial to herself and her career.
Though Taylor received a job offer before she attended Ross, she says her decision to pursue a MAcc degree and complete her CPA certification has benefited both her career and her employers. After finishing her degree, she’ll be returning to her home state of Texas to start her career with Deloitte in their multistate tax practice. She previously worked with Deloitte as an intern and is thrilled to begin her full-time journey with a Big Four accounting firm.
As her time at Ross comes to an end, Taylor is excited to continue her journey while staying connected to her fellow classmates. Taylor’s advice for those looking into the MAcc program? Apply. “This has been the most defining and exciting year of my college career. I am wrapping up the 2020 school year wishing that the MAcc was a two-year program and that I was able to spend more time with the extraordinary faculty, professors, and my classmates that I have met this year.”