First Gen Graduate Student Accepts Offer at a Big 4 Accounting Firm

By Victoria Wu

About Lauren Furbur: 

Furbur is a first-generation graduate student from Hugo, Minnesota. She completed her Bachelor of Business Administration in Banking and Financial Economics in May 2023. She was actively involved in Student Government, Student Involvement and Parent Programs, and the Pancratz Mentor Program during her undergraduate years. As she approached the end of her undergraduate studies, she realized that her career goals and interests aligned more with accounting. Consequently, she applied for the Fundamentals M.Acc. program. Furbur is in her final year of the program and is set to graduate in the spring of 2025.

The Non-Traditional Accounting Path:

The University of North Dakota (UND) offers a distinctive program for students interested in obtaining a master’s degree in accounting without any prior accounting coursework or experience. The M.Acc. fundamentals-focused program is tailored for individuals seeking to switch to accounting. With this program, Furbur can graduate in less than 2 years. Moreover, this program is offered online, allowing her to study and apply for internships.

Internship Experience:

Furbur was guided by Brianna Black, the Career Coach at the Nistler College Pancratz Center, in landing her first internship in the spring of this year at Baker Tilly in Minneapolis. She worked with the Real Estate and Construction Audit and Assurance team. Then, in the summer, she interned at EY in Minneapolis in Audit and Assurance and had the privilege to go to Chicago to attend training and celebrate National Intern Day. During both internships, she was able to meet clients and work at client sites, which helped her identify areas where she wanted to specialize. Furbur believes that working alongside experienced professionals allowed her to build a network of contacts in the industry. These relationships have been invaluable for her career development and have provided her with mentors who continue to offer guidance.

Next Steps:

Furbur is very grateful to have received offers from both firms at the end of her internship. She had to make a difficult decision regarding where to start her career. Ultimately, she decided to go with EY as it aligns more with her long-term career goals. It was not an easy decision, as both firms would have helped her grow immensely in her professional accounting career. Once Furbur graduates this spring, she will be studying for the CPA and starting full-time in September 2025.

Advice as a First-Generation College Student:

“Make sure to be best friends with the Pancratz Center! It’s a fantastic resource for Nistler students. The center has greatly helped me kickstart my career in accounting. Also, take advantage of the resources that UND provides on campus! Lastly, stay involved and meet as many people as you can!”