After graduating from college, Jason Finger spent two years as a management consultant with a national consulting firm. While he wanted to obtain an advanced degree, he says, “I felt that an MBA might be redundant with my experience, so I opted to go for a JD. I still wanted to stoke my passion for business, so Vanderbilt’s dual-degree program was perfect because it allowed me to have my cake and eat it, too.”

Vanderbilt’s rankings (for both Owen and the law school) were a draw, and what Jason describes as “a pretty nice scholarship” helped seal the deal. It also helped that Vanderbilt is situated in “a ‘real' city, as opposed to a college town.” The Atlanta native is now at home enough in Nashville to recommend a favorite gym (On the End Crossfit), a favorite bar (The Crying Wolf in East Nashville), and the best place for tacos (El Jaliciense). And it did not go unnoticed that, even though he visited in the midst of finals, “everyone was excited to welcome me to campus and show me around,” Jason says. “That definitely left a lasting impression.”

During his first two years in law school, Jason was selected for membership to the law journal and earned a summer internship with the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit and the United States District Court for the Western District of Tennessee. The joint program’s third year—when the focus shifts to finance—equipped him with both skills and direction. “Participating in the MSF program,” he says “has given me key insights into what practices I want to join, as well as giving me a deeper understanding of financial fundamentals that drive my future clients’ key decisions. Cherrie Wilkerson has been instrumental in helping me to develop a curriculum that suits my interests. And the coaching [through the Leadership Development Program] definitely gave me a framework to assess myself and my career choices.”

Fun Fact: In the summer before arriving at Vanderbilt, Jason quit his consulting job and spent 10 weeks backpacking around the world.

The MSF program has given me key insights into what practices I want to join, as well as giving me a deeper understanding of financial fundamentals that drive my future clients’ key decisions.