Mia Wilutis is an asset wealth management tax associate at PwC in Boston.
Key Takeaways:
➔ The BC MSA’s tailored coursework allowed Mia to build a strong accounting foundation despite coming from a non-accounting background.
➔ Supportive faculty pushed Mia to understand the reasoning behind concepts, preparing her directly for the CPA exam and her role at PwC.
➔ Classmates and career advisors connected Mia to lasting friendships, the BC alumni network, and her current position at PwC.
Why did you choose to pursue your MSA at Boston College?
One of the biggest reasons is that the BC MSA program welcomed students from all academic backgrounds. I wasn’t an accounting major as an undergraduate, so I wanted a program where I could build a strong foundation in accounting without feeling as though I was starting behind everyone else.
BC tailored each student’s coursework to their previous academic experiences, and professional goals allowed each of us to build theknowledge we needed while still being challenged as we progressed through the program.
Learning alongside classmates who, like me, hadn’t studied accounting as an undergraduate, as well as those with more extensive accounting backgrounds turned out to be one of my favorite parts of the program. We all came in with different strengths and perspectives, and rather than feeling behind, I found that each of us had something different to contribute. We helped each other through challenging classes, studied together, and built really strong friendships along the way.
What was it like building connections within your program?
Because the classes are relatively small, I really got to know my classmates and professors, and those relationships became one of the most meaningful parts of my time at BC. Some of my closest relationships in Boston came out of those classes because we were all in it together. We would book study rooms for hours, grab dinner together, and spend some very long days working through the material.
Even when the work was challenging, we found ways to have fun and support each other through it. Being surrounded by people who were working just as hard and genuinely wanted to see each other succeed made such a difference in my experience.
How did your professors affect your experience in the program?
One experience in particular has stuck with me. I had a professor whose class I found the most challenging. I spent a lot of time studying and going to office hours. At the end of the semester when I turned in my final exam, she told me I was going to do really well on the CPA exam. At the time, I wasn’t nearly as confident as she was, but when I began studying after graduation, I realized how much I actually knew. Topics that had initially seemed intimidating were familiar because I had learned them so thoroughly in her class. That experience gave me a lot of confidence and made me appreciate why my professors had pushed me as hard as they did.
How did BC help you in your career search?
The BC MSA program supported career search beyond preparing me academically. There were frequent opportunities to meet firms and professionals on campus, and Career Development staff were very proactive about connecting students with alumni at companies they were interested in.
The career office was incredibly helpful during the application and interview process, whether that meant reviewing my resume and cover letters, helping me prepare for an interview, or making an introduction.
How has the BC MSA impacted your professional life?
The mindset I gained at BC has carried into my role at PwC. In tax, knowing how to complete a process is only part of the job. Understanding why you’re doing it allows you to approach unfamiliar situations with confidence, ask better questions, and continue learning as you take on new responsibilities. BC helped me become much more comfortable with the process of working through something challenging until I truly understand it.
One of the most valuable things I gained from the program is the BC community itself. I made great friends, some of whom I’m lucky enough to now call coworkers and built relationships with professors I still keep in touch with today.
I’m also now a part of an alumni network that extends well beyond campus. Whether I’m working in Boston or meeting people elsewhere in my career, I continue to come across fellow BC alumni, and there is an immediate sense of connection. Having that community behind me has been an incredibly meaningful part of both my experience at BC and my professional life since graduating.