Vol. 10 [Features] UT Alumni on Studying in the US, Academic Programs, and Career Paths

• The second week of July was designated as our “Program Interview Spotlight Week,” during which we gathered advice on studying in the United States, as well as in-depth perspectives on academic fields and career paths, from alumni across a range of disciplines.
• The participating alumni represented the following UT programs: MBA, MPA, Computer Science, Electrical and Computer Engineering, and the College of Liberal Arts.
• These interviews offer valuable insights for anyone interested in studying in one of these programs at UT or pursuing a related field.

Program Overview

MPA

A point consistently emphasized by all of the MPA alumni we interviewed was the program’s longstanding recognition as one of the top accounting programs in the United States and its strong record of connecting students with successful career opportunities.

Each year, major employers actively visit campus to begin recruiting students. The Big Four accounting firms and hundreds of global companies come directly to the university to hold information sessions and interviews. According to the alumni, “the graduate employment rate reaches approximately 97 to 99 percent each year, with most students receiving job offers before graduation.”

One MPA alum described it as a program that develops “the ability to understand accounting and finance.” Another characterized it as “a top-tier, one-year master’s program designed to train accounting professionals,” in which students “move beyond undergraduate-level accounting to acquire advanced, practice-oriented knowledge of accounting and business.”

The core curriculum includes courses that form “the foundation of accounting, including financial accounting, managerial accounting, auditing, and taxation.” The program also places a strong emphasis on “practical training and professional certification preparation,” featuring “case-based courses, internship opportunities, and a tailored curriculum designed to help students pass the CPA examination.”

Students may select a concentration based on their intended career path. Available tracks include:

• Financial Reporting & Assurance: A track for students seeking careers in external audit and financial reporting
• Taxation: A track for those pursuing expertise in global taxation and corporate tax law
• Managerial Accounting & Control: A track for students interested in corporate financial planning, consulting, or eventually becoming a CFO
• Generalist: A flexible track that allows students to combine a variety of business electives

One MPA alum also highlighted the program’s STEM designation as a key distinction from many other MPA programs. For international students who are not U.S. citizens, this designation provides up to three years of Optional Practical Training after graduation—two years longer than the OPT period available to graduates of non-STEM business degree programs.

Computer Science

A Computer Science (CS) alum explained that CS can be understood less as an engineering discipline and more as a natural science—or even as a form of linguistics.

“I think it is helpful to begin by understanding why CS belongs to the College of Natural Sciences rather than the School of Engineering. CS is a program that teaches students to understand the philosophy and logic of the computer as a human creation, and to communicate according to that logic. Some professors even describe it as a form of linguistics rather than engineering.”

Electrical and Computer Engineering

An Electrical and Computer Engineering alum pointed to the program’s broad foundation as a key difference from Computer Science.

“Unlike Computer Science, which focuses on software from the beginning, ECE students are required to complete coursework in both hardware and software through their second year before selecting an area of concentration in their third year.”

The alum added:

“I think this structure helps students discover the areas that genuinely interest them.”

Who Should Consider These Programs?

Regarding the MPA program, alumni recommended it for “those who hope to work at an accounting firm, including the Big Four,” and for “those who want to complete the CPA eligibility requirements and pass the examination within a relatively short period of time.”

One MPA alum also offered the following recommendation:

“If you were a McCombs student and did not find Accounting 101 unbearably painful—if you do not dislike accounting—this is definitely a program worth considering.”

Experience and Skills to Build Before Enrolling

An MBA alum emphasized that “an outgoing personality and the courage to approach unfamiliar people are essential.” The alum further stressed the importance of actively participating in conversations and pursuing networking opportunities:

“In the United States, there are many opportunities to join conversations. However, if you hold back in those moments, it can be difficult to become part of the community. Business schools, in particular, offer a wide range of events, and those events can lead to valuable opportunities. I would strongly recommend developing the confidence to step forward before applying.”

When asked what mathematical or coding experience would be helpful before entering a Computer Science program, a CS alum offered the following advice:

“Because linear algebra and statistics are used extensively, studying them in advance would be very helpful. With AI becoming such a major topic, reading books related to Turing machines may also help when taking courses such as automata theory. For coding, participating in programming challenges such as those used in the ACM International Collegiate Programming Contest as a hobby can help develop the mathematical thinking needed to write efficient code.”

What It Takes to Complete the Program Successfully

An MBA alum cited spending time with local friends as one of the habits that contributed most to successfully completing the program. Because the alum had chosen to study abroad in order to explore “different career paths and experiences,” maintaining “a lifestyle focused on adapting to American culture rather than remaining primarily within Korean culture,” together with “a regular daily routine,” helped make it possible to sustain the demands of the program.

A Computer Science alum identified “mathematical thinking” as the most important ability, and “participation in group work and collaboration” as the most important attitudes and behaviors.

The alum explained:

“Most departments that require CS professionals participate in projects where people from different departments and roles must collaborate within a fixed period of time. Success ultimately depends on how effectively the team can produce an outstanding result by the deadline. Since more than half of course assignments are completed in teams, it is important to develop the ability to work well with different types of people, define your role, and earn recognition for your contribution. I recommend not limiting yourself to spending time only with other Koreans. Make friends from other countries, spend time together, understand their cultures, study together, and create a wide range of experiences.”

Career Paths After Graduation

An MPA alum explained that although many graduates join one of the Big Four accounting firms, they are by no means limited to public accounting. Graduates may also pursue “a wide variety of roles in industry, including accounting, finance, financial planning and analysis, and internal audit.” The alum added that “accounting knowledge is highly transferable across industries, so graduates tend to have a broad range of options.”

An MBA alum observed that “career outcomes ultimately depend on the career goals each student sets, and the program provided significant support in increasing the likelihood of achieving those goals.” In addition to entering the financial sector, graduates may gain professional experience at a financial institution and later pursue a doctoral degree and a career in research.

A Computer Science alum noted that graduates can “pursue opportunities in any industry that involves mathematics or has an IT function.” The alum also explained that graduates from the same program have entered a wide range of careers, including medicine, fund management, and consulting. For those who find it difficult to commit to a single path, the alum suggested “building a career as a digital consultant, identifying the role that best suits you, and then taking on a new challenge.”