In academia, there's a seemingly clear path laid out for students. The journey is well-defined from preschool to kindergarten, middle school to high school, and then onto an undergraduate degree. But then you graduate college, and suddenly, the road ahead isn't so clear. Now what?
Pursuing a master's degree is a common next step, but it's not always an immediate one. Financial constraints, time commitments and the sheer level of dedication required can make students hesitant to take the plunge, even when they're eager to accelerate their professional growth.
Today, having that clear path to professional success is more valuable than ever. That's where the Daniels School of Business’ new Pathways Program comes in. Through this program, students can earn a master’s degree within a year of completing their undergraduate degree, and the transition is seamless.
The Daniels School Pathway Program began with the Master of Accounting program since CPA certification requires accounting majors to acquire the same number of credit hours as a master’s degree. To improve student experience, the Daniels School eased the transition from undergraduate to graduate programs by reducing application materials. Then the Daniels School expanded the Pathway Program to its five other residential master’s programs — marketing, business analytics and information management, finance, global supply chain management and human resource management.
The Daniels School Pathway Program is open to Purdue and non-Purdue undergraduate students, who will want to begin planning as early as their sophomore year.
The Pathway Program allows students to increase their marketability and broaden their network by taking their education one step further. Within 12 months, students can gain specialized training and increased entry-level credentials with the added benefit of having their GMAT score, recommendations and interview requirements waived.
"The Pathway Program made it easier to achieve my end goals. It made the process of getting into the program much simpler and is currently allowing me to reach my future objectives as an HR professional more effectively and efficiently," says Victor Pacheco, who graduated with a bachelor's in economics and another bachelor's in chemistry. He used the Pathway Program to transition into the Master of Human Resource Management program.
When Sara Fortman (MSGSCM '22) decided to dive into graduate-level courses during her final undergraduate semester, she accelerated her academic timeline, and with a taste for graduate courses, she knew she wanted to learn more. Armed with a bachelor’s in supply chain management, Fortman had a strong understanding of various business functions ranging from finance to accounting, as well as the processes involved in the complete product cycle. She viewed this degree as key to mastering the engineering and technical details of supply chain management, motivating her to aim higher in her career.
“It is not often that you see employees this well-rounded,” explains Fortman, as she reflected on the benefits of being able to contribute to her future projects with a more holistic and comprehensive line of thinking.
Other students experienced similar outcomes.
“When I first came to Purdue I didn’t intend to do a master’s degree. However, early in my freshman year, when I went to the master’s office and found out about the Accounting Pathway program, I learned how easy it was to transition from being a bachelor’s student to a master’s student,” shares Calei Kelly (MS Accounting ‘22). Today, Kelly’s master’s degree has proved to be instrumental in her journey toward becoming a certified public accountant (CPA).
In classes such as MGMT 63410, Communication for Accountants, Kelly uncovered the intricacies of communicating regularly with external investors and creditors. She also developed her written and oral skills for improved conciseness and clarity.
Outside of her classes, Kelly also wrote sample CPA essays for practice and transformed her weaknesses into her strengths. Through the guidance of her professors, the exam process was less overwhelming and more engaging.
“Every summer, professors work in conjunction with Becker, a CPA prep software to help prepare for the exam. Every few weeks, I engaged in intensive classes where I met with professors who helped walk me through important CPA materials. I also had my afternoons free to study.”
Aside from aiding Kelly in her CPA-related aspirations, Kelly gained tremendously from the career services office. Through the center’s frequent career fairs, Kelly was also able to land an internship with Deloitte.
“I was able to go in and fix my resume. I came in with it being an absolute mess, and they helped me make it better. When it was time to apply for internships, working with and learning from the center helped me look more professional than I felt,” says Kelly.
Another aspiring CPA, Rachel Camargo (MSA ‘22), benefited from her Purdue degree when she met with the employers who helped her land her job in New York City. “Employers are very familiar with the Daniels School education. I had an interview with BKD in their NYC office and the partner of the firm commented on how good the program is. The partner was not an alum of Purdue, but he knew the type of students that came out of the program. I believe the Purdue name and reputation helped me land my job in NYC,” shares Camargo.
The Pathways Program prepares students like Kelly and Camargo to feel and be ready for their future. By providing them with a safe space to build relevant skills and meet a variety of qualifications, the residential master’s programs make the pursuit of higher education easy.
If you would like to receive more information about pursuing a business master’s at the Mitchell E. Daniels, Jr. School of Business, please fill out the form and a program specialist will be in touch!
