Kaitlyn Selfridge received her degree in Accounting from Indiana University with a co-major in Digital Technology Management in 2023.
Why did you choose to major in accounting?
The biggest reason I picked accounting as my major was because I liked that it left a lot of doors open after graduating. Accounting lends itself to such a wide variety of career paths and opportunities because the knowledge you will have about the business world is extremely valuable. This aspect was super appealing to me because I couldn’t pin down what I wanted to do in the future and I like knowing I can pivot into a so many different roles.
I was also initially drawn to accounting after really enjoying my experiences in A100 and A304, and finding that the logic of why accounting works.
Was there a course/project/group/interaction, etc. at Kelley that has been particularly helpful to you in your career?
I think audit was the most helpful course I took at Kelley. The topics covered in that class helped me develop a solid foundation for auditing and the work I would be doing after graduating. It also helped prepare me for that portion of the CPA exam. I also think Accounting Research was helpful because it introduced me to the accounting guidance that would become very important once I started auditing. Learning how to search through the different resources to answer any accounting question, has been an extremely valuable tool in both the work I do now, as well as the CPA exams.
What was your favorite part of being an accounting student at Kelley?
My favorite part of being an accounting student at Kelley were the friends I made in my classes. When the classes would be challenging or while preparing for an upcoming exam, it was nice to have people to study and go over material with. I started to see similar people in my classes, and it made it easier and more enjoyable to complete group projects when you are friendly with people in class.
Drawing on your career experiences, what advice would you give to future Kelley Accounting students?
I think the biggest piece of advice I could give to future Kelley accounting students would be that it’s okay to be intimidated by the accounting major, but don’t let that stop you from pursuing it. Intimidation is not a good enough reason to not study accounting. Truthfully, I was a bit intimidated by the courses, but it is not anything you cannot handle if you are willing to put the work in! The accounting courses can be challenging at times, but between the amazing professors and other students in your classes, there will always be someone there to help you along the way. This major was super rewarding and I’m extremely happy that I chose to study accounting.
What was your favorite accounting class at Kelley?
I have two favorite accounting classes that I took at Kelley. I really enjoyed A100 with Professor Vivienne Winston, and Cost Accounting with Professor Jeff Clark.
Professor Winston was the perfect person to introduce someone to accounting because she explained things in a super approachable manner and had a tried-and-true method to helping you understand the fundamentals of accounting.
Professor Clark made cost accounting easy to grasp and he was always super accommodating with his office hours. He wanted all his students to succeed and to leave his class with a better understanding of the topic, and he was always willing to go the extra mile to get students there. I was nervous going into this class after struggling with managerial accounting and this class helped build my confidence and gave me encouragement that I could do it.
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