With an undergraduate major in finance, Isabella Thomsen knew she wanted to pursue a master’s degree. The only question: Which one?

Because she wanted to make the jump directly from college to graduate school, she chose the MSF program. Several of her professors recommended Vanderbilt, and she was drawn to the school’s reputation in finance. “I was particularly impressed,” she says, “with the electives that offered flexibility and allowed me to explore new areas of finance previously unavailable to me.”

Isabella was equally drawn to Vanderbilt’s smaller class sizes and opportunities to build close relationships with professors. Those advantages proved similarly critical to her experience in the MSF program. “Professors consistently follow up and check in outside of class,” says the Sarasota, Florida, native. She credits Professors Wendy Liu and Robert Whaley with helping her immensely during her job search and interview processes. Professor Liu, she recalls, gave her guidance and helped her build her network. “She was a fantastic mentor,” Isabella says, “and I look forward to staying in touch with her after graduation.”

Professor Whaley, meanwhile, gave Isabella an opportunity to serve as a teaching assistant. “I was able to view his course and teaching from a unique perspective,” she explains, “while also being able to discuss the material with him. And I expanded my network by connecting with his guest speakers.”

The supportive alumni network proved important in helping her secure her full-time position after graduation. The network was also “foundational,” Isabella says, in helping with career discovery, since she decided to change tracks midway through the program. “While exploring various paths in finance, I heavily leveraged the network to gain an understanding of different careers.

“It’s also empowering to know there is a supportive network behind me, always available for help and guidance, even after graduation.”