Lexi Dubreuil, MAcc '20
After reviewing her options, Lexi knew exactly where to go.
Already familiar with the reputation the Master of Accounting program had, Ross was her first choice for pursuing an accounting master's degree. “MAcc at Ross ranked number one among the mid-sized MAcc programs in the U.S. and the program has some of the highest CPA exam pass rates in the nation,” said Lexi. She knew she’d have a hands-on learning experience that would directly transfer to her role as a CPA. Other factors also played into Lexi’s decision to stay with Michigan Ross: the program’s 8-month duration gave her time to strengthen her accounting skills and gave her the ability to reach the 150 standing credits she needed for her CPA exam.
Lexi had always admired the Ross faculty; professors were succinct, collaborative, and well-prepared. “Our professors are super passionate. Even when some material isn’t the most exhilarating, they know how to keep us engaged and it’s clear how applicable everything is to our future careers.” Professors taught from experience, bringing the knowledge they learned from working in the field to the classroom. When asked about the culture of MAcc, Lexi commented on the amount of support and connection her fellow students have displayed. “It’s nice to have such a supportive connection with everyone in my program.” For Lexi, it was interesting to be in a cohort of individuals from different backgrounds and age groups, allowing her to gain an array of different perspectives. But beyond getting to know each other in the classroom, MAcc students bonded through student-run events. Students attended football tailgates together, held holiday parties, and participated in their own version of Iron Chef America. “We picked a MAcc student board at the beginning of the semester and they’ve done an amazing job of keeping the program close and providing us with so many extra-curricular and social activities.”
Our professors are super passionate. Even when some material isn’t the most exhilarating, they know how to keep us engaged and it’s clear how applicable everything is to our future careers.
Even before the program started, students had the ability to bond and get to know each other when they traveled to the nation’s capital. The EY Accounting and Public Policy Symposium is a unique experience that allows students to have face-to-face conversations with policymakers and Washington D.C. insiders. Hearing from and talking to from the country’s leaders made a difference in learning for Lexi. “We could discuss public policy issues in class in Ann Arbor all semester; however, hearing about a wide array of issues, across the span of three days, from leaders in D.C. was invaluable. It is so important to realize how integrated accounting and public policy issues are.” As an accountant, Lexi believes it’s critical for her to hold herself accountable for understanding the policies that shape the accounting profession. “While we may not be directly dealing with these issues as associates, the public policy issues we spoke about in D.C. are top of mind for our future firms and their leaders.”
After finishing up her term in April, Lexi will be traveling to Chicago to start her new position with PwC in transfer pricing. She’s excited to work with a group of new people, with diverse academic backgrounds. Lexi’s advice for admitted students? Get as involved as possible. For Lexi, being a part of the MAcc Graduate Student Staff connected her with passionate individuals with great work ethics. “Even if you aren’t part of any formal extracurriculars, go to the social events and make connections with the people who are going through the same process as you.”