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From Internship to Impact: Wake Forest MSA’s Paid Tax Season Internships

In today’s competitive job market, theoretical knowledge alone often isn’t enough. Employers actively seek graduates who possess practical, real-world experience, allowing them to make an immediate impact upon hire. 

Wake Forest University’s Master of Science in Accountancy (MSA) program uniquely addresses this demand by integrating a robust, optional paid tax season internship program directly into its curriculum, creating a powerful pipeline from hands-on experience to full-time career opportunities.

Unrivaled Connectedness to The Market

The Wake Forest MSA program offers a two-semester curriculum, but students have the option to extend their degree by an additional semester to participate in an optional nine-week paid internship position.

These internships are strategically timed to coincide with the busy tax season, providing students with invaluable real-world experience prior to graduation. This direct exposure to the demands and intricacies of accounting and financial services firms is a critical differentiator.

Crucially, these internships often serve as a direct springboard into full-time roles. In fact, many students receive employment offers directly from these internships. This seamless transition underscores the quality of preparation students receive and the strong relationships Wake Forest maintains with leading firms, where the School boasts a 97% employment rate at the time of graduation for the Class of 2023 and a 100% employment rate for the Class of 2024 at six months.

The Impact of Real-World Experience

The impact of these internships, coupled with the immersive and market-refined curriculum, on MSA students is multifaceted, where benefits include:

  • Practical Skill Development: The internships allow students to apply classroom concepts to complex, real-life scenarios. Chantal Mosley, an MSA graduate, emphasized that the program’s classes were thoughtfully designed to offer realistic scenarios, which she now encounters in the workplace each day. Similarly, Summer Xia, an MSA Ambassador, found the “Analytics in the Accounting Profession” and “Forensic Accounting” courses highly valuable for providing a solid foundation of practical skills.
  • Confidence Building and Market Readiness: Hands-on experience boosts student confidence in their abilities. MSA Ambassador Imani Hillmer chose Wake Forest because she wanted to feel ready for the corporate market and contribute immediately and effectively in my job. Jodi Katti, another MSA Ambassador who came from a non-business background, noted that the program embraced her unique background and provided hands-on experience which significantly boosted her confidence.
  • Refined Career Goals and Specialization: Direct exposure to different accounting and financial services functions during an internship can help students confirm or adjust their career aspirations. Tim Inman, an MSA Ambassador, pursued the Tax Consulting track, stating that he had interned in tax multiple summers and this solidified the area I want to begin my career in. The program’s three distinct tracks – Assurance Services, Financial Markets & Transactions, and Tax Consulting – allow for specialized experiences based on a student’s preferred career path and interests.
  • Networking and Professional Connections: Internships facilitate invaluable networking opportunities with professionals in the field, which can lead to future mentorships and job prospects. The program also hosts “Meet the Firms” events twice a year in April and July, providing additional chances for students to network with leading accounting financial services firms and “make invaluable connections.

Experience Comprehensive Support While Earning Your Wake Forest MSA

Complementing these practical experiences, Wake Forest’s Center for Market Readiness & Employment offers extensive resources, including one-on-one career coaching, mock interview sessions, resume review, and network building through strong alumni connections. 

Learn how earning your MSA at Wake Forest can translate experience inside and outside the classroom into successful career launches.