While earning his undergraduate degree in finance, Drew Martin was also the quarterback of Tennessee Tech’s football team. After graduation, he joined a private wealth management firm, where he passed the Series 65 exam and became an investment advisor representative. His success led him to seek a graduate degree in accounting.   

“I originally decided to pursue my master’s degree in accounting to help advance my career in private wealth,” Drew says. “But at Owen, I was exposed for the first time to what a career at a Big 4 accounting firm could look like.”

In fact, Drew’s year at Vanderbilt changed his career trajectory. “I’d heard of the Big 4 firms by name but had virtually no knowledge of exactly what they did or the wide range of opportunities they provide,” he says. “I would not have had the opportunity to intern at PwC or receive a full-time job offer if I hadn’t attended Vanderbilt.”

Drew is a Nashville native, but he stresses that Vanderbilt’s Nashville location wasn’t the program’s biggest draw. “Vanderbilt’s MAcc Valuation program is one of a kind,” he says. “There’s no program exactly like it in the country. That—and Owen’s prestige—were the biggest factors for me.”

In addition to receiving thorough preparation for the CPA exam, Drew found the students and faculty to be the program’s biggest benefits. “The smaller size of the MAcc program creates an environment where everyone becomes very close throughout the year,” he says. “I had the opportunity to meet everyone in my class, and I’ve built lifelong friendships here.”

He also benefited from the Hogan Assessment and the Leadership Development Program. “Vanderbilt provided the perfect mix of academic and technical knowledge, professional skills, and career progression,” he says. “And we had an all-around good time!”