Area(s) of focus within degree program: Technology Management/Communications Career goal(s) after degree completion: Information Systems/Cybersecurity Favorite experience at the Zicklin School of Business: The community. Here I have the opportunity to meet ambitious and well-rounded professionals in many industries different from mine. We focus on our common interests rather than our individualities. During my first year, I joined the MBA Club and the Zicklin Graduate Ambassador Program, hosted events, and mentored incoming graduate students. Advice for incoming graduate students: Start networking as soon as possible. Don’t wait to connect with current students and alumni. Are you affiliated with any graduate student clubs or organizations? President of MBA Club Why did you decide to pursue your MBA degree and what is it specifically about your program that attracted you? I decided to pursue a career in Information Technology (IT) after I realized how critical an understanding of technology is in any business. As my experience grew, I discovered IT suits me well. I want to be an IT leader with the foundation of an MBA degree, who appreciates our increasingly technological world as a user and as a builder. Post-MBA, I plan to join a top-tier global company as a IT Project Manager. In the long term, I hope to become a Chief Technology Officer focusing on international innovation projects for emerging market clients. Why did you decide to get your graduate degree from the Zicklin School of Business? I look forward to exploring current and emerging issues with other professionals from diverse backgrounds. Together, we can use class offerings such as International Marketing, Business Communication, and Information Technology Strategy to better understand how we can lead corporations to reach their business goals. I am excited by the opportunity to grow my professional and personal network to include the Zicklin community.

Area (s) of focus within degree program: Accountancy

Career goal (s) after degree completion: After completing my MBA in Accountancy, I plan to take the CPA exams and join a public accounting firm in an assurance role. Long-term, I hope to make partner by working hard, networking, and climbing the ranks steadily. I also hope to be a lifelong learner, and I plan to continue my learning after I complete my degree, whether through CPE courses, other degrees or certifications, reading, or simply challenging myself to complete projects outside my comfort zone. Lastly – and this is advice I would give to all graduate students – while these are my goals, I keep a flexible mindset and am open to whatever opportunities come my way.

Favorite experience at the Zicklin School of Business: One of the best decisions I made in my Zicklin journey was joining the Zicklin Graduate Accounting Society (ZGAS). Not only did the club help me network and meet professionals from numerous firms and industries, it also helped me build my soft skills, such as teamwork, communication, and creativity. These skills are invaluable no matter where I take my career. Even during the pandemic, we at ZGAS continued to plan events to help students network and build their skills, and we continually checked in with each other, even just to catch up or play a virtual game. The ZGAS board has become part of my extended family, and I would encourage all graduate students to look for a club where they can both contribute and grow professionally.

Advice for incoming graduate students: Network, network, and network. Also, visit the career center – they’ll help you network more effectively.

Are you affiliated with any graduate student clubs or organizations?  Zicklin Graduate Accounting Society (ZGAS)

Why did you decide to pursue your MBA degree and what is it specifically about your program that attracted you? I knew I wanted to study accounting. Accounting is the language and foundation of business; all other functions – marketing, financing, sales – tie back to an organization’s accounting and financial statements. However, as a liberal arts undergraduate student, not only did I lack the credits for a Master’s in Accountancy and the CPA exam, I also had limited academic business knowledge and expertise. An MBA in Accountancy gave me the credits I needed to take the CPA and transition from my former career into accounting, and it also gave me a broad background in other core business areas, including strategy, marketing, and data analysis. The MBA in Accountancy curriculum contained the accounting and other core business skills I wanted to build to prepare myself for my new career.

Why did you decide to get your graduate degree from the Zicklin School of Business? Baruch College in general, and the Zicklin School of Business in particular, are known as accounting powerhouses, placing students across the globe in both public and private accounting roles. Beyond its strength in accounting, Baruch has over 145,000 alumni, and I was eager to tap into this network. Thankfully, the alumni I’ve connected with have all been helpful and supportive, which is another factor that attracted me to Zicklin, namely, the quality of its students. Zicklin students are bright, hardworking, and humble, and it’s a pleasure to have such peers both professionally and personally. To top it off, Zicklin is located in NYC, “the Capital of the World”; is there a better place to pursue a business degree?

Area (s) of focus within degree program: Data strategy and analytics

Career goal (s) after degree completion: Working at the intersection of data analytics and consumer insights. I would love to utilize data analysis in order to uncover insights for companies about their consumers and competitors.

Favorite experience at the Zicklin School of Business: As much as the coursework and the job hunting are the cornerstones of the MBA program, in being in the full-time cohort structure, my favorite experience has been getting to know my cohort members and making new friends and gaining a personal and professional network of people. In being with a cohort, you take all of your classes together the first year and you get a chance to learn about who your classmates are, where they used to work, and their insights about class topics. In addition, there is a built in network for job opportunities, career advice, and class help. Of course, there is also a fair share of hanging out in the MBA lounge, getting happy hour, and becoming genuine friends with members of your cohort!

Advice for incoming graduate students: My advice would be to really understand your own time management skills and methods, and prioritize what is most important to you from the degree and the program. You may have an exam and a job interview on the same day, or friends may want to go out after class when you have a networking event you can go to – these decisions are ones you may be faced with, and only you can know what is best for your to do based on what you are looking to get out of the program.

Are you affiliated with any graduate student clubs or organizations?  Data Science and Analytics Society Zicklin Student Ambassadors Zicklin Women in Business

Why did you decide to pursue your MBA degree and what is it specifically about your program that attracted you? I decided to pursue an MBA degree as my career at that point where I could continue in an industry that did not have much upward mobility without a graduate degree, so I had to decide if I wanted to continue in that industry to pursue something else in graduate school. The skillset of the MBA was very attractive to me, learning things like Accounting and Finance, so that I could learn about and operate in the business world; since my undergraduate degree was in the humanities, I was excited to learn these new skills. The full-time program was a big commitment since I had to stop working full-time, but since I was pivoting careers, I knew if I could get it done in the two years and start a new career, it would be better in the long run.

Why did you decide to get your graduate degree from the Zicklin School of Business? Zicklin provided a lot of opportunity for me in obtaining an MBA. A lot of other schools I was looking at really focused on finance and banking industries for their students when it came to alumni networks and networking events, which did not align with what I was looking to pursue. Zicklin really celebrates having a diverse cohort with different education, work, and life experiences which enriches the class discussion and opens up what companies come to Baruch to recruit. In addition, I appreciated the amount of women in the MBA program as the ratio of men to women in the program is relatively equal. Of course, the cost of Baruch compared to other highly rated schools in New York cannot be overstated, and I felt it was the best choice for me financially to go to Zicklin and jumpstart a new career.

Area (s) of focus within degree program: Business and Operations Management Competitive Strategy Project Management Supply Chain and logistics Innovation and Entrepreneurship

Career goal (s) after degree completion: Work in my field of interest for a few years and gather valuable industry experience – Start my own business and/or expand my current family business

Favorite experience at the Zicklin School of Business: The best part of experience at Zicklin School of Business has been making amazing friends. Generally people have the impression that graduate schools are highly competitive (which they are) and that you do not make friends but my experience here has been completely different. I met some great people in my Cohort and ended up with amazing friendships. Everyone in my Cohort was always very supportive and offered help in anyway they could. I also enjoyed the in-class learning experience with the professors and the students. Baruch is very diverse and students in my cohort are from different parts of the world. Hearing about experiences from others in class was a great learning opportunity and offered great insights.

Advice for incoming graduate students: Coming back to school after a few years is never easy. You might think that it will be an easy transition but for many people it may not be. I began my MBA after a gap of 4 years. During that time, I was working, making money and then I had to stop because working while doing Full Time MBA (at least in the first year) is not possible due to the times of the classes. Just prepare yourself mentally, it is literally going to feel like going back to school. Get back into the habit of reading again because trust me, there is going to be lots and lots of reading to do.

Are you affiliated with any graduate student clubs or organizations? – Zicklin Graduate Student Ambassador – Member of Zicklin School of Business – CUNY Startups 

Why did you decide to pursue your MBA degree and what is it specifically about your program that attracted you? Prior to my MBA, i got bachelors in Industrial Engineering and worked as a project manager. During that time, I realized I lacked some expertise on other subjects like finance and marketing, along with knowledge on entrepreneurship, which was very important for me in working towards starting my own business. The cohort based style at Baruch was very interesting along with with the flexible schedule in terms of selecting my own courses or electives based on my career interests was one of the key in choosing Baruch.

Why did you decide to get your graduate degree from the Zicklin School of Business? Baruch has an entrepreneurship field center through which I wanted to work with and work towards the idea of starting my own business. Baruch is also based in New York City, the city with ample opportunities in different fields and is the financial heart of the country. There is no other city with as many opportunities to offer than NYC. There is a separate room designated just for MBA students which allowed us more space to work and have group discussions. Furthermore, the role of the GCMC was very important. Coming from a different country, it is hard to adjust to a new city where you do not have a strong network or connections. The GCMC and the services they offered was very helpful in adjusting to the city. Furthermore, the GCMC designated an individual with every student as a mentor which was also very helpful in seeking new opportunities and working on the resume for jobs and internships.

Area (s) of focus within degree program: MBA with a focus on Real Estate

Career goal (s) after degree completion: Commercial Real Estate, Property Management

Favorite experience at the Zicklin School of Business: What I have enjoyed the most so far is meeting people from so many different backgrounds. On each team project, I get to work with students with various work experiences, industries, origins, etc. I also enjoy learning from professors that have such a deep expertise in their field. As many professors work full time and teach in the evening, having that first-hand experience provides great learning opportunities for students.

Advice for incoming graduate students: For the part-time MBA students, I would recommend mixing and matching classes each semester, so not to overload yourself. For exemple, taking a class like Statistics or Finance, that requires more analytical thinking, with a soft-skill class like Strategy or People Management that will require a lot of reading. I also encourage incoming students to create a roadmap to graduation by planning the full curriculum. Pencil in classes you definitively want for each semester and have a couple of alternatives ready. You can always change your mind as you progress in your degree, but that preparation will go a long way when registration time comes (and do register for classes as soon as enrollment opens, spots fill out quick!)

Are you affiliated with any graduate student clubs or organizations?  Zicklin Graduate Student Ambassador Program

Why did you decide to pursue your MBA degree and what is it specifically about your program that attracted you? I have been working for a long time in management level positions and I wanted to get the education to match my experience. As my goal is to continue climbing the corporate ladder, obtaining a MBA became a necessity. It provides knowledge in Communication, Finance, Accounting, and Management, which are needed to become a well-rounded leader.

Why did you decide to get your graduate degree from the Zicklin School of Business? I was looking for an in-class and affordable MBA program in New York City from a reputable school. As I work full-time, I also needed a part-time program that provided flexibility. Baruch came naturally to mind: centrally located and close to both my home and work, it is ranked one of the best schools, and it is reasonable priced. I am able to select my schedule each semester and there are so many classes to choose from for electives so I can customize my MBA to meet my career goals.

Area (s) of focus within degree program: Marketing

Career goal (s) after degree completion: To maximize my earning potential and be a more valuable asset to my organization, perhaps even make the transition to brand management after establishing my career in media.

Favorite experience at the Zicklin School of Business: I’ve really enjoyed meeting new people in my time in Zicklin. The diversity of culture, thought, and personality is really broad and I’ve made connections that I never would have had the opportunity to make at my job or in my social circles. As a part-time graduate student who was approaching 30 when I enrolled, I figured it would be impossible to meet people and definitely didn’t expect to make friends. As I approach graduation, I am happy to report that I have made numerous invaluable connections and even made a few friends along the way!

Advice for incoming graduate students: If you’re enrolling in the Evening MBA program, get really good at time management! That was my biggest challenge throughout my time in the program. You will have to get really good at time management but if you can hone those skills before you enroll that will be helpful. No matter your program of study, come in with an open mind and enjoy the journey. You’re going to learn a lot and sometimes it’s hard to not give in to stress, impostor syndrome, exhaustion, and any number of other emotional struggles. Lean on the people you are close to for support and never be afraid to ask a fellow student for help if you need it!

Are you affiliated with any graduate student clubs or organizations? 

I’m really only affiliated with the Graduate Student Ambassadors but that experience alone has been as enjoyable and fulfilling as being in 10 other clubs!

Why did you decide to pursue your MBA degree and what is it specifically about your program that attracted you? I came into my career in entertainment marketing unexpectedly with no business education whatsoever. After a few years in my job, I realized that I could turn it into a career and that it would probably be a good idea to go back to school and get a business degree. I’ve always been the type of person who likes to learn, and I knew a master’s degree in business would help me be a more competitive candidate for my next job and would help maximize my earning potential over the course of my career. I enrolled in the Evening MBA program because I needed to continue working and couldn’t afford to attend school full time. I loved that there was a lot of flexibility in the Evening program as far as credit loads per semester, so that I could take as many or as few classes as I could handle, depending on what else I had going on in my life.

Why did you decide to get your graduate degree from the Zicklin School of Business? Living in New York City, I had a lot of options for my MBA. Ultimately the biggest deciding factor for me was affordability. My undergraduate degree is from a SUNY so I was already aware of the value that the public school system in New York provided. I spoke to people in my network about their experiences with various MBA programs in the city and ultimately felt like Baruch was going to give me the education I needed at a price I could afford.

Area (s) of focus within degree program: Corporate finance

Career goal (s) after degree completion: Make a career switch from accounting to finance. 

Favorite experience at the Zicklin School of Business: The Cranberry case study in my management class. It was a simple destroyer of minds and friendships. 

Advice for incoming graduate students: Some of the courses have valuable applications. So, study not to pass exams but to learn.

Are you affiliated with any graduate student clubs or organizations? Zicklin Graduate Student Ambassadors Program 

Why did you decide to pursue your MBA degree and what is it specifically about your program that attracted you?  I wanted to enhance my learnings from passing the CFA exams by studying concepts and applications that weren’t covered on the CFA exams. Gaining access to professors who have real world experience was a big draw.

Why did you decide to get your graduate degree from the Zicklin School of Business? Flexibility. I can work and get an MBA at the same time from one the top rated schools in New York.

Area (s) of focus within degree program: 1) Corporate Finance 2)Valuation 3)International Financial Market

Career goal (s) after degree completion: Being an international student, after completion of Master’s , I want to experience the American Corporate Environment and then To set up my Investment Company offering in my Home Country

Favorite experience at the Zicklin School of Business: I had a great couple of semester here at Baruch but within one month of me coming here everything went online due to the pandemic. There was a sense of frustration and anxiety about how the course will progress and how other things will turn out in future but kudos to Baruch for a seamless transition to Online mode.

Advice for incoming graduate students: One very important thing that took me a while to pick up: sometimes the real value is in the journey itself and the person you become for taking it. Definitely learn to enjoy the process just as much as the outcome.

Are you affiliated with any graduate student clubs or organizations?  Graduate Student Ambassador Program

Why did you decide to pursue your MS degree and what is it specifically about your program that attracted you? I have a bachelor’s degree in finance & accounting and a diploma in Finance.. So it was a natural progression for me to do a Master’s degree too . I was always sure that I had to come NYC for my masters because it’s the global and finance capital of the world

Why did you decide to get your graduate degree from the Zicklin School of Business? I selected Baruch because of its excellent alumni network and their course work was something that appealed to me the most .The school has a great asset in the form of GCMC.They will give you a direction about how to network , how to find a job , how to brush up your resume to make it more appealable to recruiters

Area (s) of focus within degree program: Accounting, Auditing, and Taxation

Career goal (s) after degree completion: Upon graduation, I will be joining one of the largest public accounting firms I would like to learn and grow with the firm. I would also like to complete my CPA within the next year.

Favorite experience at the Zicklin School of Business: The opportunity to be involved in any school activities, whether that is through doing work-study at school, participate in leadership positions, or being an ambassador and representing Baruch. I have received advice from the career center regarding my job search process and being emotional support. I engage in club activities to build leadership positions and interact with other club members, professionals, and alumni within the network. The exposure to recruitment from different companies within my field of interest and Zicklin courses allow us to get ready in the job field.

Advice for incoming graduate students: Take complete advantage of GCMC and handshake. Zicklin has some of the best resources in the accounting industry. Don’t forget to make friends!!!

Are you affiliated with any graduate student clubs or organizations?  Zicklin Graduate Accounting Society – VP of IT Zicklin Graduate Student Ambassador

Why did you decide to pursue your MS degree and what is it specifically about your program that attracted you? I pursue an MS degree because it helps me gain specialized knowledge and be able to advance my career field, increasing credibility. It allows me to be more competitive in our field of industry. The program provided the opportunity to be completed within either one year or two years depending on our own availability/flexibility. Additionally, for accounting majors, the accounting program met the NYS requirements to sit in for the CPA exam which is your intention for entering the master’s program.

Why did you decide to get your graduate degree from the Zicklin School of Business? The graduate program allows me to pursue my course whether that is full-time or part-time and be able to adjust to my schedule as needed. Baruch is located in the city, with great exposure to different firms who recruit at Baruch college. It is also a strong brand in the business school and has received one of the top-ranking schools in NYC among public institutions. Even though, now it’s virtual classes but before pandemic the convenient to be able to work in the city and go to school at the same time.

Area (s) of focus within degree program: I am currently pursuing an MS in Information Systems, with a concentration in Data Analytics.

Career goal (s) after degree completion: After graduating from Zicklin in May 2021, I will be joining Ernst & Young (EY) this summer in their Consulting Development Program: Technology Consulting Practice. I hope to continue my passion to work at the junction of business and IT, and help companies implement new and innovative strategies to lead their digital transformations.

Favorite experience at the Zicklin School of Business: Too many to list. One of my favorite experiences at Zicklin is taking the introductory IT Strategy course for my curriculum. My professor was a former CIO of a large company, and he was able to bring in a wealth of industry experience to add value to our education. I also absolutely love being a part of the Zicklin Graduate Student Ambassadors Cohort, a group of students who are passionate and willing to help promote the school’s mission and resources among the Zicklin community. I also had the opportunity to sit as an orientation speaker in the Spring 2020 orientation, and I always love to meet new students and share my story. I have been able to make a bunch of awesome friends through the program and Zicklin. It truly is a great community!

Advice for incoming graduate students: Network, network, network! Business schools have an academic component, but is also a great place to network and make meaningful connections that could last a long time. Be courteous and cordial to everyone you meet, and be deliberate in your networking strategies! Also, attend career fairs – they are a great way to meet companies and people who are in the same boat as you. Continuing the theme of networking – network with the people you meet at these fairs! Not just the recruiters, but the students as well, because you never know who and what they could be doing someday!

Are you affiliated with any graduate student clubs or organizations? 

1. Zicklin Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Task Force – Task Force Member 2. Zicklin Graduate Student Ambassador Cohort – Ambassador 3. Graduate Beta Alpha Psi – Executive Vice President

Why did you decide to pursue your MS degree and what is it specifically about your program that attracted you? I hold a BS in Physics from The City College of New York. I really enjoyed the challenging curriculum, but I realized the PhD path in Physics was not right for me. I ended up having a conversation with someone who told me to pursue a master’s degree at a business school, and that they are always looking for people from diverse backgrounds (for example, from the sciences). I ended up deciding on a degree in Information Systems because I feel that it is a good balance between the IT and science background that I have, and the business skills that I have yet to gain at that point. The MS in Information Systems program also have specific concentrations, and I really like that there are specific opportunities to blend the coursework between theories (such as the technologies and methodologies) and applications (such as coding courses).

Why did you decide to get your graduate degree from the Zicklin School of Business? The quality of a Zicklin education at the price that you pay is really a huge selling point. As someone who has been a CUNY graduate for undergrad, Baruch has always been on the radar as a potential future school for me. In addition to Zicklin’s affordability for a top-notch education, as they always say in real estate, location, location, location! Baruch and Zicklin’s centralized location in the heart of midtown makes it perfect to network with different companies in between classes (and to easily access internships!) Additionally, Zicklin’s Graduate Career Management Center publishes career outcomes for its students, and students get consistently placed in full-time offers at many reputable firms around the city.

Area (s) of focus within degree program: Data Analytics

Career goal (s) after degree completion: I am working towards making a career pivot to a role where I can apply the knowledge that I’ll gain at Baruch and employ my critical thinking and problem-solving skills to power the development of ideas that would drive a positive change in the world.

Favorite experience at the Zicklin School of Business: I enjoy being part of student-led organizations. They connected me with other students who are ambitious, curious, and supportive. One of the most rewarding was becoming a peer-mentor in a program designed by Graduate Beta Alpha Psi. I was matched with two phenomenal ladies that were facing the same challenges in navigating career decisions as I had. It was great to relate my experience to theirs, help them identify new opportunities, and simply learn from each other.

Advice for incoming graduate students: Your experience at Baruch is as good as you make it! Connect with your peers, professors, faculty staff, alumni; join the student-led organizations; explore all the opportunities the college has to offer.

Are you affiliated with any graduate student clubs or organizations?  Recruitment Chair at The MBA Club Graduate Student Ambassador Research Assitant for Prof. Anne-Laure Winkler

Why did you decide to pursue your MS degree and what is it specifically about your program that attracted you? I was excited to learn from the experts in the field how to apply managerial and technological skills to solve real-life problems. I also wanted to advance my project management skills and learn business modeling, data architecture, and data mining. I thought MS in IS with concentration in Data Analytics was a great choice to help me achieve these goals. I also appreciated the flexibility of designing my own curriculum along with the availability of evening classes.

Why did you decide to get your graduate degree from the Zicklin School of Business? First, disclaimer: I got my Bachelor’s Degree in Finance at Baruch (class 2019). So, I experienced firsthand the dynamic nature of the student body and engaging curriculum. I especially appreciated the professors as they did not only effectively explained the material and showed real-life applications of book theories but also offered practical career advice. This was one of the main reasons why I chose Baruch to continue my education. The other reason is the reputation of Baruch being one of the “Best Graduate Schools” in the U.S.

Area (s) of focus within degree program: general track concentration

Career goal (s) after degree completion: After completing my MSIS degree, I will be starting full time at Deloitte as an Audit/ Assurance Staff.

Favorite experience at the Zicklin School of Business: My favorite experience at Zicklin School of Business is the copious recruiting opportunities made available to the students. There are networking opportunities for all majors and careers.

Advice for incoming graduate students: One advice I would give to incoming graduate students is to network and attend as many events as possible.

Are you affiliated with any graduate student clubs or organizations?  Zicklin Graduate Student Ambassador Program, CUNYCAP Participant.

Why did you decide to pursue your MS degree and what is it specifically about your program that attracted you? I decided to pursue the MSIS degree so that I can diversify my technical skills and gain more knowledge on information systems. Additionally, I need to complete 150 credits to sit for the CPA; this degree allows me to get the additional 30 credits and study for the CPA on my free-time.

Why did you decide to get your graduate degree from the Zicklin School of Business? I attended Baruch college as an undergraduate degree under the Zicklin School of Business. The school has great professors and majors to choose from, which is why I chose to pursue my masters at Baruch college as well.

Area (s) of focus within degree program: Corporate Finance, Mergers & Acquisitions, Equity Research

Career goal (s) after degree completion: Become a financial analyst and try my hand at Investment Banking

Favorite experience at the Zicklin School of Business: My first semester was the best part about my experience here. First, because it was in person and secondly because I was new and had a lot of things to explore which made me even more excited about it and I participated in many on campus events and got to meet new people. The classes were full of people and I had a good experience of how a masters class is.

Advice for incoming graduate students: Get on it right from the first day. Don’t wait for the last year to work hard, instead do a little every day and it’ll show

Are you affiliated with any graduate student clubs or organizations?  Zicklin Graduate Bet Alpha Psi – Member Development

Why did you decide to pursue your MS degree and what is it specifically about your program that attracted you? To increase my knowledge about the field and get better career opportunities. MBA is  usually for a working professionals and I chose masters because it more specific and tailor made for aspiring students who want to strengthen their base in that particular field or changing their field.

Area (s) of focus within degree program: N/A

Career goal (s) after degree completion: My career goal is to complete my career change transition from working in legal and compliance to real estate.

Favorite experience at the Zicklin School of Business: Given that my experience has been restricted to two semesters of full online classes, I would say that my favorite part is the case study competitions I enter with other fellow students. I was able to make close friends this way, which also evolved into business partners.

Advice for incoming graduate students: Specifically for career changers like myself: network, network, network. Without it, you’re already at a huge disadvantage if you’re trying to enter a competitive job market missing the work experience needed. Enter case study competitions to help enhance your resumes.

Are you affiliated with any graduate student clubs or organizations?  Zicklin Graduate Student Ambassador Program

Why did you decide to pursue your MS degree and what is it specifically about your program that attracted you? I chose to pursue an MS degree as I had difficulty getting accepted into a real estate position with my previous unrelated background. (I think I answered the “what attracted me” in the next section so I would be repeating myself)

Why did you decide to get your graduate degree from the Zicklin School of Business? I chose Zicklin School of Business due to its location in NYC, my ex-colleagues recommended the school having going to Baruch for undergrad, learning how to use Argus Enterprise and being able to obtain the certificate after taking the course, and it’s well known by real estate companies based in NYC and surrounding locations.

Area (s) of focus within degree program: Cybersecurity & IT assurance

Career goal (s) after degree completion: Building a career as an auditor

Favorite experience at the Zicklin School of Business: My favorite experience at Zicklin School of Business is that I have met so many talented professionals. They were my classmates, professors, club members, peer ambassadors, and mentors from networking events. I have gained valuable advice on my career path. And that actually helped me to build my career better. Besides that, I also have a good network that I would bring with me out of school.

Advice for incoming graduate students: Get involved as much as you can!

Are you affiliated with any graduate student clubs or organizations?  GBAP, Zicklin Graduate Student Ambassador Program

Why did you decide to pursue your MS degree and what is it specifically about your program that attracted you? I learned that information system knowledge is in great demand for auditors. When I was looking for a Master’s program to land my career as an auditor, I found out that Baruch MSIS offers exactly what the companies look for. They allow MSIS students to follow the CPA track. Also, they have IT audit as a concentration. I was certain that this program will definitely backfill my qualification.

Why did you decide to get your graduate degree from the Zicklin School of Business? There are a couple of reasons why I chose Zicklin school of business for my graduate degree. The first reason is the curriculum, it was exactly aligned with why I pursued a master’s program. They focus on teaching information systems in the sense of accounting/audit/business. The second reason is Zicklin has a great reputation in NYC companies, especially Big 4. That attracted me a lot, and so many Baruch alumni I met who are in the fields were awesome mentors.

Area (s) of focus within degree program: Corporates Taxation, Partnership Taxation, State and Local Taxation , Estate and Trust Planning, Personal Financial Planning.

Career goal (s) after degree completion: My goal after graduation is to join a public accounting firm as a corporation-tax specialist.

Favorite experience at the Zicklin School of Business: My favorite experience at Zicklin School of Business is definitely the people. I meet a lot brilliant people here include faculties, classmate and student representatives. I often run into the situation that I’m confused or had some issue with class materials/ exam format and professors are always response promptly and clearly to answer my questions. I also find that it is easy and comfortable to reach out to student representative in Zicklin whenever I had academic or career questions. I understand that it might be hard to start graduate program without knowing anyone in the school but faculties and student representatives here are always helpful.

Advice for incoming graduate students: Be proactive, join club and various event hosted by Baruch GCMC.

Are you affiliated with any graduate student clubs or organizations? Zicklin Tax Society

Why did you decide to pursue your MS degree and what is it specifically about your program that attracted you? I decide to pursue my master in taxation degree for various reason. First, I want to fulfill the 150 credit requirement for the CPA Exam. In addition, I also want to gain some basic tax knowledge before I started work in real life. Finally, I believe taking master classes is a great way to meet other tax professionals and expand my network. Overall, I would say it is very beneficial for me to take the master of taxation program as I’m almost graduate now.

Why did you decide to get your graduate degree from the Zicklin School of Business? I decide to obtain my graduate degree from Zicklin School of Business for various reason. First, in term of cost-benefit, the affordable tuition is the biggest reason why I choose Baruch Zicklin School of Business. In addition, Zicklin has many spectacular faculties, many professors in MS taxation programs are partners from big four and other renown accounting firms. I’m often impressive by their profound knowledge in taxation areas. Last, since Zicklin school is located in Manhattan it make me commute to work fairly easy.

Area (s) of focus within degree program: IT Security -Cybersecurity -Programmer -Project Management

Career goal (s) after degree completion: As of now, I’m thinking to tap in the project management field. I love collaboration and working with people.

Favorite experience at the Zicklin School of Business: My first semester at Zicklin is online, so I never went to the building although I really want to have the graduate school experience. But, the professor, advisor and events at Zicklin really helps me to interact in this new normal.

Advice for incoming graduate students: 1. Explore your options! The world has so much to offer, don’t get stuck in one industry and be open minded about other industries. 2. Network! Ask questions, make friends with whoever because network is everything nowadays.

Are you affiliated with any graduate student clubs or organizations?  Zicklin Graduate Student Ambassador Graduate & Teaching Assistant

Why did you decide to pursue your MS degree and what is it specifically about your program that attracted you? After I’ve worked for a year in the finance field, I’ve realized finance is not for me. I want a career change and tap into IT field. But then I’ve realized again, I’m not totally comfortable to be a programmer. I need something in between IT and business. That’s the reason I chose MSIS because Information System is the bridge between business and IT people.

Why did you decide to get your graduate degree from the Zicklin School of Business? First of all, I need to pay for master’s degree by myself as an International Student and Zicklin School of Business fits my budget. Also, the class is at night so I can work in the day time.

Area (s) of focus within degree program: Accounting

Career goal (s) after degree completion: After graduation, I plan to start out in Public Accounting while also preparing to take the CPA exam. I’d like to stay in the public sector for a few years then eventually go “in-house” for a company.

Favorite experience at the Zicklin School of Business: The best part so far has been the flexibility a remote environment allows. Most of the professors will post recordings of the lectures so it’s much easier to go back and cover something again that didn’t make sense during class. While I do miss the camaraderie that comes with being in person, some professors will have group projects which double as a way to meet some classmates.

Advice for incoming graduate students: Find out what classes from your undergrad can be waived and really do your research on it so you don’t end up taking the same classes from undergrad again. It’s also on you to make sure what classes you need to take. It’s very tough to get in touch with an advisor so be sure to do your own research on what you actually need to get done.

Are you affiliated with any graduate student clubs or organizations?  Zicklin Graduate Accounting Society – Marketing Committee

Why did you decide to pursue your MS degree and what is it specifically about your program that attracted you? I decided to go back to school as part of a career pivot after working in the professional sports world. Accounting was always in the back of my mind and once the whole shutdown happened it created an opportunity for me to pursue it. Since I had an undergrad degree in business, I was able to get most of the courses waived. And thanks to those waivers I’m taking almost exclusively accounting courses at this point.

Why did you decide to get your graduate degree from the Zicklin School of Business? One of the biggest reasons why I chose Baruch was the price. Compared to a lot of other programs my wallet fell in love at first sight. Another reason was that I would be able to graduate in less than 2 years thanks to an abundance of course waivers. It’s also right in the heart of NYC which makes getting in front of certain employers a lot easier.

Area (s) of focus within degree program: Data Analytics

Career goal (s) after degree completion: My career goal after completing my degree is to become a data scientist in either a management consulting company or financial institution.

Favorite experience at the Zicklin School of Business: I’ve had many pleasant experience at Baruch so far. One of my favorites would be the access to different analytical competitions in data that allows you to learn on the spot and showcase your analytical skills. Such events allowed me to gain much exposure in how businesses used data to solve their problems and grow. Another great experience I’ve had as a grad student in the Zicklin School of Business would be to be a Zicklin Ambassador. This role allows me to share with many the quality of the school and its programs offered as well as welcoming new students.

Advice for incoming graduate students: If you have been accepted in Zicklin, you already have what it takes to succeed on and off campus so don’t be nervous, do your best and things will go your way.

Are you affiliated with any graduate student clubs or organizations?  Member of the Data Science Club.

Why did you decide to pursue your MS degree and what is it specifically about your program that attracted you? During the completion of my BBA in finance at Baruch, I realized that to be more competitive in the job market I had to expend my skillset in an area that was highly demanded. I therefore decided to pursue an MS in Business Analytics with a focus in data, as this program not only teaches you how to code and to program but mostly shows you how data analysis can make the difference in a business and helps it grow. Another advantage of the MSBA program is that it really offers a wide range of opportunities upon graduation in so many industries as data scientists/analysts are highly demanded everywhere. Moreover, you do not need to a strong technical background to enter the program as it teaches you everything you need from scratch.

Why did you decide to get your graduate degree from the Zicklin School of Business? Being a Zicklin student during my undergrad, I was already aware of the top notch quality of education given by the school and its great amount of resources offered to be successful both on and off-campus. This has been proven by the recent rankings that placed Baruch College’s MSBA program as one of the best in the country. Besides the top quality of education, Zicklin’s geographical position in the city offers student a great exposure to the energy of NYC. Furthermore, the Career Graduate Center offers a wide range of resources which enables students to shape their career goals and helps them preparing their next steps. So for all these reasons, I decided to pursue my education and obtain my graduate degree from Zicklin.

Area (s) of focus within degree program: As an MS in Accountancy student, I have the thirst to explore the skills adopting the evolving technologies circulated in the current competitive market. I want to quench this thirst of my interest to be savvy with perfection in the expertise in the field of accounting by grooming my analytical skills with regular involvement in challenge oriented learnings. Talking about my area of focus in the graduate program, I want to dive deeply towards the depth analysis in financial statement and accounting standard.

Career goal (s) after degree completion: After my graduate degree, I want to accomplish CPA certification as well. Working as an auditor has always been my dream job, I see myself gaining the experience as an auditor. I always believe in research and learning in depth, I want to continue studying in PHD program after gaining the real market experience. I am quite impressed toward the Baruch PHD program in business.

Favorite experience at the Zicklin School of Business: I really like the flexibility of the classes offered. Most of the classes are offered from 6pm to 9pm in the evening which makes it easy to balance work and study schedule. Despite the fact being everything virtual, I had been really amazed with the school being kept up so nicely without compromising the quality. There are so many events organized ranging from improving your soft skills, technical skills, networking events, career fair, job fair, etc. This is my second semester in the school and I have got so many good networks.

Advice for incoming graduate students: Get involved with the club and volunteer for the event. This is the great way to have some friends and build the network. Don’t rush toward graduating early. Utilize the great resources the school has offered, along with the classes.

Are you affiliated with any graduate student clubs or organizations?  Zicklin Graduate Accounting Society (ZGAS) Zicklin Graduate Student Ambassador

Why did you decide to pursue your MS degree and what is it specifically about your program that attracted you? Right after my undergrad, I moved to New York for my further studies. Coming from an accounting background and key desire to get certified as CPA, I felt like the MS in Accountancy course offered by Zicklin School of Business was the right fit for me. This course has the shortest path to get CPA with business elective waivers. And of course, the tuition fees for MS program is much lower as compared to MBA program. Zicklin has always been my dream school to go and I am very much proud of being here today.

Why did you decide to get your graduate degree from the Zicklin School of Business? When I was searching for the good school to brush myself with strong career buildup carrying numerous questions in my head, worried about my future, I was very much convinced with the session for counselling and career advice offered by Zicklin before admission. Continuing through my research and haunting period, the affordable tuition fees and flexible class schedules attracted me toward Baruch. Being one of the best public universities in the US for business related studies along with its most attractive and feasible location situated in the heart of Manhattan, I decided to get enrolled at Zicklin college to achieve my career goals.

Area (s) of focus within degree program: Data Analytics

Career goal (s) after degree completion: After graduation, I will begin my career as an Audit Staff at EisnerAmper. My goals are to become a CPA and ascend within my field.

Favorite experience at the Zicklin School of Business: My experience at the Zicklin School of Business has been wonderful. My favorite part is that each week is different, with opportunities to meet peers or learn something new. In one busy week during fall 2020, I attended more than five professional events, participated in the virtual career fair, and redesigned the newsletter for the Zicklin Graduate Accounting Society. Zicklin makes it possible to participate in a variety of enriching activities while taking classes.

Advice for incoming graduate students: Take advantage of the resources and opportunities that Zicklin provides. Schedule an appointment with an advisor from the Graduate Career Management Center to have your resume reviewed or to receive career coaching. Look for any upcoming events on Handshake (the job search portal that Zicklin graduate students have access to) that interest you. Attending events helps you to network, connect with firms, learn about an industry, and build professional skills. I also recommend attending the Zicklin Graduate Club Fair at the beginning of each semester. It’s a great way to learn about clubs’ offerings and open leadership positions they have. Regardless of your intended career path, getting involved with a club can help you to develop your communication and leadership skills.

Are you affiliated with any graduate student clubs or organizations?  Communications Committee Member, Zicklin Graduate Accounting Society

Why did you decide to pursue your MS degree and what is it specifically about your program that attracted you? When I took my first course in computer information systems at Baruch a few years ago, I had a great professor who showed how data and technology are intertwined with business and can be leveraged to make decisions. The subject area has fascinated me since then and I knew that I wanted to study it further. To complement my BBA in Accounting, I decided to pursue an MS in Information Systems. The program’s flexibility and diverse coursework attracted me. Gaining technical skills, working in project teams, and learning about information systems from a business perspective have prepared me to succeed professionally.

Why did you decide to get your graduate degree from the Zicklin School of Business? I loved my undergraduate experience at Baruch College and so I knew that I wanted to pursue my graduate degree at the Zicklin School of Business. Zicklin offers affordable, high-quality education with experienced faculty and a well-rounded curriculum. Equally important, Zicklin offers resources to grow outside of the classroom. I have been benefited from career advising at the Graduate Career Management Center, numerous events centered on networking and professional development, and the opportunity to be a member of the Zicklin Graduate Accounting Society. Through on-campus recruiting, I was able to connect with firms at the career fair and ultimately earn five full-time job offers.

Area (s) of focus within degree program: Data Analytics

Career goal (s) after degree completion: I want a position where I can leverage my business knowledge, data analysis and visualization skills to provide meaningful information that helps companies make better decisions.

Favorite experience at the Zicklin School of Business: The activities and opportunities outside the class have really interesting as you are always meeting new people. I have participated in boot camps, data challenges every semester that have helped me apply my academic knowledge, learn from experienced professionals and learn more about new tools and programs being used that have helped me expand my skillset.

Advice for incoming graduate students: Being involved on campus is important as it will really help you understand how your skills are used in various industries and get valuable advice from professionals as well. Participate in challenges and case competitions, information sessions as they will really help you complement what you learned in class. Also, participate in Zicklin’s Virtual Cafes where you would have an opportunity to meet people from different programs and get to interact with Zicklin Student Ambassadors

Are you affiliated with any graduate student clubs or organizations?  I am part of the Data Science and Analytics society

Why did you decide to pursue your MS degree and what is it specifically about your program that attracted you? I attended to Zicklin School of Business initially for a BBA in Finance. After graduating, I felt there was there an infusion of data analytics across various industries. I felt that the Business Analytics program has helped me complement my business background with cutting-edge technical skills across programming languages, databases, data mining and big data technologies that are becoming an important part of making intelligent business decisions.

Why did you decide to get your graduate degree from the Zicklin School of Business? The faculty and people have been the reasons I decided to attend Zicklin. All my professors had decades of real-world experience and were published in leading business journals. This made my academic experience the most enjoyable part of Zicklin. I have had group projects in all my classes that have really helped me collaborate with people across the globe with diverse backgrounds that really improved the quality of the work.

Area (s) of focus within degree program: Software Engineering

Career goal (s) after degree completion: To be a successful Software Engineer

Favorite experience at the Zicklin School of Business: There are many good experiences at Zicklin. In the first semester, as one of the student representatives I got selected to join ULI conference hosted in Washington, DC. In the second semester, I was being selected as one of the Zicklin Graduate Student Ambassadors. In the third semester, landed my first job and also became a Co-Founder at another technology company. They are all good experiences for me.

Advice for incoming graduate students: Willing to try, to explore different opportunities. Don’t be afraid to get rejected by other people, either for work, or life, or study. Choose the right direction you believe is right, and work hard, try to smile more, just wait to succeed.

Are you affiliated with any graduate student clubs or organizations?  Zicklin Graduate Student Ambassador Program

Why did you decide to pursue your MS degree and what is it specifically about your program that attracted you? I know I always wanted to get involved in the technology field, but as a former English Major, I have limited skill sets to achieve my goals. That is why I chose Zicklin MSIS prrogram, to expand my existing knowledge field to allow me succeed in the tech world. The general track of Master of Science in Information Systems program offers a variety of technology-related courses help students to achieve their goals based on customized needs.

Why did you decide to get your graduate degree from the Zicklin School of Business? Many instructors teaching in Zicklin have much real-world experience, so that students can learn from their real cases and apply knowledge learned from class to real work in the future. Also, Zicklin has a large alumni network in the nation, especially in the city of New York. For me, every company I have worked for in the city, they all have Baruch alumni in the company, either my supervisor in the company or clients, or mentor, they all have direct connections with Baruch. The alumni network really helped me to succeed in the workplace and my future career development, and personal growth.