Though Lily Rippner had already earned an undergraduate degree in accounting, she was looking for more preparation to give her an edge. “I wanted not only to deepen my technical knowledge,” she says, “but to sharpen my leadership and thinking skills as I prepared for the next stage of my career.”

In fact, Lily was so sure about what she wanted to achieve—and where she wanted to achieve it—that she applied to the MAcc Valuation program at Vanderbilt during her junior year in college. “Vanderbilt was the perfect place,” says the North Carolina native, “because I could also gain eligibility to take the CPA exam while in the program.”

Another part of the program’s design that strongly appealed to Lily was the Leadership Development Program. “A lot of people don’t get executive coaching until they’re executives,” she says. “And then it’s too late. The LDP prepares you to be an executive.”

But what she believes added the most lasting value of all are the people. “The small cohort experience is invaluable,” Lily says. “There were 38 students in the MAcc program, and fewer than 10 in the Valuation track. It provided an opportunity to get so close with these people. You’re going through everything with them. You’re going through your early 20s; you’re going through your courses; and you’re going through the transition into adulthood and your career. Doing it with people you know inside and out makes it all the better.”

Likewise, Lily found her relationships with professors to be rewarding. “I formed genuine connections with so many of the faculty,” she says. “They go out of their way—inside and outside of the classroom—to ensure students are comfortable in their new home here.”  

As an example, she cites research she conducted on small to mid-size public accounting firms. “I had a professor connect me with professionals across the industry to set up interviews for a project that wasn’t even connected to his class,” Lily says. “Another professor gave me career advice when I was at a crossroads and helped me make a decision I am proud of.”

What Lily is most proud of, after landing a job in New York City, goes back to why she initially chose Vanderbilt. She passed the CPA exam's Financial Accounting and Reporting section while still in the program. “It was a huge confidence booster,” she says. “Balancing CPA prep with business school taught me discipline, time management, and the value of perseverance.”