Haley received her undergraduate degree (double major) in Accounting and Entrepreneurship & Corporate Innovation in 2022 from Kelley. Haley also received her graduate degree in Accounting at Kelley in 2023.
Why did you choose to major in accounting?
When I first came to IU, I was just majoring in entrepreneurship. I wasn’t entirely sure what I was interested in, but I had seen the fulfillment and financial freedom that members of my extended family found in owning their own small businesses, so I figured I’d give it a try. After taking A100, A304, and A306, I discovered that I really enjoyed accounting and decided to pick up a major in it. I find accounting really rewarding because it’s satisfying to solve challenging, complex problems. I like the stability that accounting offers and the fact that accountants are needed in every industry, so the job possibilities are endless.
Was there a course/project/group/interaction, etc. at Kelley that has been particularly helpful to you in your career?
In undergrad, Taxes and Decision Making (A329) with Professor Geisler really solidified my interest in going into tax. In grad school, the most helpful class was Taxation of Partnerships, LLCs & S Corporations (A531) with Professor Rego, because it’s most relevant to my work at KSM in the Real Estate Services Group.
What was your favorite part of being an accounting student at Kelley?
My favorite part about being an accounting student at Kelley was studying in groups with other accounting majors. Since the coursework can be challenging at times, it’s nice to have a group of people that are going through the same program and are willing and able to explain things to each other.
Drawing on your career experiences, what advice would you give to future Kelley Accounting students?
My biggest advice is to believe in yourself and don’t get discouraged or caught up in measuring yourself against others. Business school can feel very competitive sometimes, but it doesn’t have to be – make friends within your classes and support each other and it’ll be so much easier!
What was your favorite accounting class at Kelley?
This was a tough question for me, but I’d have to say my top two were Advanced Management Accounting (A437) with Professor Sprinkle in undergrad and Advanced Financial Accounting (A562) with Professor Hoffman in grad school. I liked A437 because I love managerial accounting (shoutout to my A306 students) and Professor Sprinkle is genuinely one of the kindest people I’ve ever met. I liked A562 because, although financial accounting is not my favorite subject, Professor Hoffman cares a lot about the success of his students and makes attending class much easier with his great sense of humor.
Learn more about Haley on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/haleypolk01/
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