Cassie is a recent graduate of the M.S. Finance program at Niagara University. During her time at NU, Cassie was a graduate assistant for the office of Graduate Studies. Before graduating, Cassie had already been offered several positions in her field. Read more about her experience at NU.
Completing my graduate degree at Niagara University has been one of the most rewarding decisions of my life. Between the wealth of knowledge and endless opportunities it has continuously provided me, I know I made the right decision. Having to say goodbye to Niagara after graduation has not been easy but am thankful for the five years I spent there.
When searching for a graduate school, the three main priorities I was looking for were flexibility of classes, tuition assistance, and valuable experiences. Niagara was able to offer me those three things and more. By staying at NU, I was able to enroll in the 4+1 MS Finance program and complete my graduate degree in one year! This program offers a mix of night classes, Saturday classes, and online classes. This was perfect for me as I was hoping to work during the weekdays. As for tuition assistance, I was fortunate enough to be awarded a graduate assistantship position in the Graduate Studies Office at NU to help lessen the burden of the cost of graduate school. This gave me the opportunity to work during the days at the university I was taking classes at. By working in this position, I learned many new skills that help make me more well-rounded not only as an individual but as a working professional. I learned how to use social media in the business world and how to apply different marketing skills to increase graduate enrollment. I was able to communicate with many potential students and various faculty across campus through email, phone calls, and in person. Lastly, NU was able to offer me the most valuable experiences needed for my future career. As an accounting and finance student, the graduate programs offer courses that help students prepare for their certification exams and even help pay for the cost of the study materials. I was able to take a CPA exam prep course and an SIE exam prep course. Both have been extremely valuable in my studying journey and helped me to achieve my goals of passing parts of these exams before graduation.
NU checked off my three main priorities I was looking for in a graduate program and even went above and beyond to help me post-graduation. Being a graduate student provided me with new opportunities to network with working professionals and build my personal brand. I was introduced to so many coworkers through my graduate assistant position that were able to help me solidify my future plans. I am excited to share that I was offered not one, but two amazing full time opportunities post-graduation. Without the help of the amazing faculty, staff, and career counselors, I would have never been offered these positions or have been able to decide between the two.
Through a previous internship, I was offered a full time position as an Auditor with Deloitte in Buffalo. I was super excited about this opportunity and couldn’t wait to work there! However, I have lived in Buffalo my whole life and deep down I knew I wanted to travel and experience new places. So when Handshake notified me that the Defense Contract Audit Agency (DCAA) was hiring in Boston I knew I had to apply. It was a tough decision but with the support of my coworkers and career services staff at NU, I ultimately decided to make the jump and accept the job as an Auditor with the DCAA in Boston.
As you can see, the support system that NU graduate school provides is unmatched. They have helped me to make so many life decisions even just in the last year! From deciding where to go to graduate school, to which business concentration to focus in, and finally to which career path to go down. Between the professors, faculty, and students, I am proud to say that I have made lifelong connections and am proud to be a part of the NU family.
For more information on the M.S Finance program, please contact us or call 716.286.8596