Q&A with Emily Marino ’26S (MS)

This interview was conducted by Kelly McGarry ’26S (MS), admissions ambassador and fellow MS in Accountancy student. 

Tell me a little bit about yourself.

I did my undergraduate degree in business economics with a concentration in financial management from a state school here in New York, and then I spent two years working in private accounting.

What made you choose Simon and the MS in Accountancy program?

I really love how it’s a one-year program. My cousin had also gone to the University of Rochester for the MBA program, and she raved about it and said that all the professors were amazing. I heard that it was an incredible program, and it lived up to all the hype, so it was amazing.

How was your transition from working full-time to Simon Business School?

It was definitely a bit crazy, just in the way of how much my life shifted from going to a 9-to-5 every single day to just having a few classes spread out throughout my week. You have a lot more time in your schedule to get everything done and work on top of that, which was great. It’s a very diverse program, so you get to communicate with classmates from different backgrounds and places around the world. Being on teams with people who think differently based on their unique experiences was really enlightening.

What clubs and extracurricular activities were you a part of at Simon?

I started with joining Simon Women in Business, and I attended a few events throughout the semester. Then I was on the board of the Simon Accounting Association. I was the vice president of events. In the spring semester, I became the project manager for Simon Vision Consulting. I also joined Simon Uncorked, a social club.

What was your most memorable experience at Simon?

The most memorable experience fun-wise was the Blackjack Ball. Educationally, I was recognized as the outstanding student for the MSA program. The New York State Society of CPAs hosted an award dinner for all of the local students, and they choose one student from each Master of Accounting Program. I was recognized this year, which was incredible…I will never forget it.

What was your favorite class at Simon?

I really liked ACC 424 (Financial Reporting II) because I found it so rewarding. It’s one of the hardest classes in accounting you can take, so you go into it with all this pressure, but it was so rewarding to put the effort in. Additionally, it was great to have Professor Huels teach the material because he makes it so understandable.

What skills have you developed, strengthened, or improved at Simon?

I feel 10 times more confident now going into my career in accounting and knowing what I love about accounting and where I want my career to go in the future. I’ve also developed my communication skills—we did many project presentations throughout the program, so these are important skills.

In what ways have you been able to utilize the skills you’ve gained at Simon toward your upcoming job at Withum?

Within the first week of school, there was an event where we got to meet all of the local firms—Big Four, national, and regional. I secured a job from that. I had four interviews with four different companies, and I got offers from all of them, just because of how much we were able to communicate on that first day that Simon held the event. All the skills that I learned were geared toward being successful in my career. In addition, I learned so many accounting skills, including the importance of good communication, the technical aspects of the job, and the regulations within the industry.

In what ways have you been able to utilize the skills you’ve gained at Simon toward studying for your CPA exams?

There are a lot of exams because you’re taking four semesters worth of classes within one year. It helps you quickly figure out how you best learn. I learn best by repetition, so knowing that, I plan to focus on the Becker study program. I now know that I am the type of person who learns from video, interaction, and repetition, versus reading everything and just trying to take it in on my own. So that has probably saved me so much for the CPA; instead of trying to spend months studying ineffectively, failing a test, and then trying to re-figure out how to study.

If you could give one piece of advice to incoming Simon students what would it be?

Be consistent. I know it’s a lot to get through in one year, but if you remain consistent and you’re constantly putting in work instead of cramming at the end of the semester, that will save you so much time and stress. Don’t waste time, try your best not to procrastinate, and get everything done as quickly as possible.

Rigorous Thinking.
Real Transformation.

Simon Business School develops analytical thinkers and adaptive problem-solvers who lead people, ideas, and industries into the future.

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