LETTER: Accountancy at USU worthwhile, experience top-notch

To the editor:

    I recently had a conversation with a friend, and she explained how she loved her major, but her department was weak. She despised how the faculty ran the program, and was frustrated over how poorly they taught the material. She felt that the whole program had been a waste of her time.
    I am graduating this spring from the School of Accountancy and my experience has been completely different. I have taken a class from nearly every professor in the department, and I have positive things to say about all of them. Many of the professors have received degrees from notable universities and have several years experience in the public accounting. Their classes have all been high quality; none of them fall into the realm of a “fluff” class. Outside of the classroom setting, they have helped me with career advice and with my applications to graduate school.
    The School of Accountancy has given me multiple opportunities. The clubs and organizations within the school have offered ample opportunities to network with professionals. I have also been involved with working as an Undergraduate Teaching Fellow, which has helped deepen my understanding of the business world.
    The School of Accountancy is a strong program. According to a National Association of Colleges and Employers survey in 2008, USU accounting graduates received more than 400 job offers last year. According to the National Association of the State Boards of Accountancy, USU ranked with the 5th highest percentage of graduates passing the CPA exam on the first try. James Quigley, CEO of Deloitte (the largest accounting firm in the nation), is a graduate from Utah State’s accounting department.
    If anyone is considering a career in business, particularly in accounting, I would recommend USU’s School of Accountancy. It has been a very worthwhile experience.

Nathan Needham