Monthly Archives: August 2014

Austin, Events, Max, Recruiting, Student Life

1st and 10

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1st and 10The MPA program completed Orientation last week. It was a crash course on many of the academic and career resources available to students. (These resources and the flexibility they allow were the leading factors in me choosing to attend the UT MPA.) There were also 3 major recruiting events: Etiquette Dinner, Networking Reception, and Career Fair. It was a wonderful opportunity to meet various organizations and gauge mutual interest. As a friend put it, it was like “Employer Rush.”

Despite how interesting this past week was, there’s only one thing on anybody’s mind right now: FOOTBALL! College football kicks off its season this Saturday, and pro ball not far behind, so while afternoons may be filled with class, evenings are now dedicated to finalizing tailgate plans and fantasy lineups. (And homework, of course!)

Pre-class discussions are quickly turning to the ball that bounces funny, intercollegiate ribbing is taking place between undergraduate rivals, and everyone is becoming their own fantasy expert. People are discussing the new college football playoff format and how it compares to the BCS. Amidst all the excited, there’s one large, looming question: How are the Longhorns going to be under a new coach?

Despite all of Charlie Strong’s attempts, expectations are still high for him and his team. You can be sure that the UT faithful will flood Austin in droves to see how the new regime begins against North Texas and BYU. You can also be sure that the MPA students will be in the stands in Orange and White to cheer on the Longhorns as we get to take part in the school’s storied tradition.

Having received my undergraduate degree from The University of Georgia, I am excited to experience Game day at another perennial powerhouse. I look forward to watching the football team’s journey throughout the fall. Much like them, I will have the chance to set off on a new journey this semester, face new challenges and climb to new highs; I can revel in the excitement of a new future as I put the T back in Taxes! 🙂

Academics, Max, Student Life

Reality Check

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BackpackStudents entering the tMPA program who did not major in accounting for their undergrad are asked to attend class for a 5-week summer session in order to get up to speed for fall courses. At first blush, it sounds somewhat hard to believe: take two accounting classes and catch up to students who took two years’ worth of accounting. Not only have these summer courses taught me more than I thought possible in this short amount of time, but also they have revealed the intentions of the program and the expectations of the students.

Having taken a couple of summer courses in undergrad, I expected Financial Accounting and Introduction to Taxation to follow a similar, relaxed pace. Boy, was I wrong! They are much more grueling than even my toughest undergraduate courses. Truly, I am glad to have found my study group so quickly (thanks to the MPA-sponsored pizza party the week prior to class) because we have had 4 tests in the past 4 weeks and are preparing for 2 more tests and 2 projects over the upcoming week. Thankfully, we’ll have a couple of days off before Orientation starts, and then we get to meet the rest of our class.

While dealing with the blistering pace of summer courses, however, I’ve realized I am not here to make easy A’s. In fact, I’m not at this program to check a box and take 30 hours. I chose the Texas MPA because I have only one year to get the best education I can. Additionally, it gives me the chance to recruit with top firms, work alongside the smartest students, and learn from a superb faculty. If such an opportunity means late nights and early mornings, then I will take those gladly because I know many people would gladly trade places with me right now.

Austin, Olivia, Student Life

Adventures at the Gym and a Gallery

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We’re into in our fourth week of summer classes, which means our five week jaunt is drawing to a close. We had two exams already and have two more this week. There are  projects due in both classes next week, and finals aren’t far away. It has been somewhat challenging to make time for non-academic ventures but I certainly have not been holed up exclusively with my textbooks. One of my favorite activities has been going to aerobics classes at the gym. I have tried kickboxing, zumba, yoga, and pilates. Kickboxing was absolutely hilarious—there was so much choreography and I had no idea what I was doing so it was entertaining to say the least. All in all, the gym facilities are great and Gregory‘s proximity to McCombs can’t be beat. The TeXercise pass is definitely worth it. I also went to the outdoor lounge pool last weekend, (there are 3 outdoor pools) which has a small waterfall and a water sprayer that feeds into it. It is a nice spot to relax right on campus.

Totem Installation by Karen Hawkins at Gallery Shoal Creek

Off campus, I really enjoyed an art opening called “Texas Soil” at Photo Méthode gallery which is in the Flatbed Press building. Flatbed Press rents out space to a few galleries and as a result, the building is really unique and the art diverse. Karen Hawkins’s Totem Installation at the Gallery Shoal Creek was quite visually stunning. The totems hung from the ceiling and were made from deconstructed books. It was a lot of fun to walk among the sculptures. The photographs in Texas Soil, which I ventured out for, were fantastic as well and it was such a treat to be able to chat with the artists. I guessed correctly that one of them had used a Hasselblad film camera for his shots but was a bit disappointed to learn that he scanned his negatives instead of making prints in the darkroom. It is really unfortunate how few people still print in the darkroom as the materials become more scarce and cost prohibitive. It is a very meditative and special practice that will soon be all but lost. Nothing beats the smell of developing chemicals and the buzz of the red safe light, or in the case of color printing, being confined to your own closet sized printing room that is completely sealed off from any light whatsoever. I am very lucky to have been in the last color film class at UPenn before they demolished that darkroom. This show reminded me that I need to shoot and print more soon. Nonetheless, I will definitely be going back to Flatbed and believe they are a part of the East Austin Studio Tour which I will be checking out in November.

Admissions, Max

Back to School!

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Back To School

Over twelve months have passed since I decided to apply to the MPA program, and I’m finally here! I wanted to take a quick moment to discuss my admissions journey.

While looking for programs that would best set me up for future job advancements, I investigated a variety of different options, including MBA and JD programs. Ultimately, I found myself deciding between an MBA and an MPA degree. My personal thoughts were that an MBA would develop soft skills while a Master’s in Professional Accounting would concentrate more on hard skills. Clearly, I chose to hone my technical skills, but I wholeheartedly believe it is in an environment where soft skills are just as much a priority.

Like Olivia, I found the Live and Learn blog instrumental in understanding the program better. The Admissions blog is also very clear and very easy to understand,  providing a lot of valuable information directly from the admissions team. In the end, both the Live and Learn blog and Admissions blog are excellent resources to leverage in order to gain first-hand knowledge of the program.

The most influential decision I made, though, was coming out to Austin and visiting campus during the fall. I met with the MPA program staff, toured the business school and campus, and fell even more in love with Austin, Texas. Not only did I find the program to truly be the best in the country, but I found Austin’s entrepreneurial spirit captivating and full of opportunity. (In case you haven’t heard, it’s not exactly a boring city either!)

At the end of the day, my decision came down to fit. Do I complement the personality of the program, and does the character of the program (and town) match up to my needs and wants? Through reading Live and Learn and visiting campus, I figured out what life was like at the MPA—difficult, fulfilling, and fun—and that it would be a good fit. After that, the Admissions blog gave me all the information I needed for completing a successful application. To my fellow classmates, congratulations on making it through each of your unique journeys, and to any prospective students, I encourage you to use the resources at your disposable to make the best decision for you!