During her junior year at Centre College, Rachel Matherly began an internship with a local construction company. “Their accounting department,” she explains, “just needed someone to help for a few months with some of their daily operations.” The 2-month gig turned into 2 years, and working directly with the CFO, she gained enough experience and insight that she knew she wanted to pursue a career in accounting—a path she had not previously considered.

When Rachel began applying to graduate business programs, she found the process a bit intimidating. But Vanderbilt stood out. “With Vanderbilt, I always felt supported every step of the way,” she says. “Owen invests in its people, even applicants who aren’t yet in school. In particular, I felt encouraged and comforted by the student admissions ambassadors; even if I felt my question or concern was silly, they were more than happy to help me.”

Because of her experience, Rachel became a student admissions ambassador herself after arriving at Vanderbilt. “I wanted to be the voice of encouragement for others going through the same process as I did,” she says. “I feel like I was able to be a resource for prospective students, and it felt rewarding to give back to the program that has given so much to me.”

During her year in the MAcc program, Rachel immersed herself in connecting with new people and new experiences. “Participate in everything you can,” she advises future students. “Try all the new things and meet all the new people. Every experience is meaningful and only adds to your learning and growth moving forward.”

In fact, “connections” is the word that she believes best describes the Vanderbilt Business experience. “Whether it’s connections to peers, professors, alumni, or anyone in between, each of these connections is valuable. The faculty and staff genuinely want you to succeed and are more than willing to help you in any way they can. I appreciate all the connections Vanderbilt has brought me, and I know they will last a lifetime.”

Fun Fact: A yoga lover, Rachel has studied abroad in Mexico, Spain, and Morocco.

With Vanderbilt, I always felt supported every step of the way.