College of Business: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Luci Cui
Senior Associate, Assurance
Ernst & Young, LLP
(4 years of tax-related experience)

Being immersed in the audit side of public accounting for four years in Singapore solidified my interest in taxation and exposed me to the enormous potential of this field. As a result, I decided to relocate to Chicago to pursue an MST degree, a perfect academic supplement to my background. I was accustomed to interacting with faculty and others in small groups rather than giant classroom lectures, so this program was a perfect fit for me. The intimate class setting, along with the program’s lyceums and workshops really helped me overcome the cultural shock of moving to the US and enabled me to more easily learn and understand the fundamentals of U.S. business. I was also impressed and benefited from the close relationship between the program and local accounting and tax community. After graduation, I returned to auditing with the benefit of the more comprehensive knowledge base that the MST has given me. This base will enable me to more thoroughly understand my client’s business operations, and as a result, enhance my auditing skills.

Randall Dykema
Associate - International Corporate Tax
KPMG, LLP
(2 years of tax experience)

I had been working in investment accounting and decided to change my career focus to taxation. I was looking for an MST program that provided the schedule and support that would allow me to continue working and yet have the prestige that only an academically rigorous program taught by top faculty could offer. I found all of these things and more at the University of Illinois. I was extremely impressed with the professional stature of the faculty and the quality of the teaching. The instructors possessed a mastery of their respective subjects not just as experts in tax policy but as actual writers of tax policy. The enthusiasm that the instructors brought to class, as well as the well chosen and diverse group of serious students, really made attending class a pleasure. Interacting with my classmates broadened my mind while the intimate size of the class and groups allowed me to have easy access to the instructors. My colleagues offered a mix of experience levels from across business lines as well as country borders. I felt that being chosen to attend this program was quite an honor because of the focus that my classmates brought to the subjects. In addition, I had fun and forged some long-term friendships in the process. When I was looking for a tax program, I was not looking for easy, I was looking for challenging but manageable. That is exactly what the Illinois MS Tax Program is and as a result, I feel I have earned a highly respected Masters Degree from a top university and the skill set to make that evident throughout my career.

Michael McMasters
VP and Director of Tax Services
US Bancorp Fund Services, LLC
(17 years of tax experience)

My goal upon entering the MS Tax Program was to fill in gaps and strengthen my tax technical foundation in order to maximize my performance as a Vice President and Tax Director of a financial services firm. I became interested in the University of Illinois Champaign-Urbana MS Tax Program because of a number of recommendations I received from colleagues in the tax industry, the wide range of tax technical areas that are covered in its core curriculum, and the scheduling of classes on Fridays and Saturdays. The Program exceeded my expectations in many ways. Not only were all the instructors outstanding in terms of their dedication to working directly with each student, they were also very experienced tax professionals which enabled them to offer effective, real business-world examples within their areas of specialization. In addition to providing the in-depth tax technical content I was looking for, the program also had a strong focus on developing each student’s presentation skills and ability to work effectively within a team structure – two areas that are critical to the success of any tax professional. I enjoyed the small, personalized setting created within the program and really appreciated the dedication of all the MS Tax staff in providing an environment that is geared toward helping each student succeed.

Lovelyn Oribello
Senior Tax Associate
PricewaterhouseCoopers, LLP
(4 years of tax experience)

Prior to applying for the program, I felt that obtaining an MST was the next step to progress further in my career and achieve my long-term goals. Through the experience of the University of Illinois MS Tax Program, I was able to further develop, refine and sharpen my overall tax technical knowledge. As the program's one year executive-style format is tailored for working professionals, I was also able to continue progressing in my professional career while, at the same time, developing my academic skill set. I am now well equipped to better serve my clients, as I have become more aware and obtained the overall tax knowledge needed to assist them in meeting their needs. I truly enjoyed the University of Illinois MS Tax Program. In addition to the knowledge I gained, the networking and camaraderie with my classmates throughout the program was priceless. I feel that obtaining my MST from the University of Illinois has made me into a better, more well-rounded tax professional.

Jay Sanders
Managing Partner
Professional Business Consultants, Inc.
(25 Years of Tax Experience)

For several years I had contemplated getting an MST to make me a better tax accountant and to obtain credentials to teach at the college level. I chose the University of Illinois (U of I) for two reasons. First, no accounting program in the nation enjoys the U of I’s reputation and prestige. I’m confident that wherever I go, the U of I diploma will be revered. Secondly, I liked the one-year intense standardized format. The other MST option was a traditional program where it could have taken two to four years to complete. For me, carving out and focusing one year of my life was actually easier than making work and personal accommodations over several years, albeit at a less demanding pace. I am happy to say that the U of I more than exceeded my objectives and expectations. The faculty is incredible, from nationally known accounting and economics professors from Champaign, to adjunct faculty that include some of Chicago’s most respected tax professionals from the top firms. In addition, the support and cooperation from the staff was incredible. I would strongly encourage any tax professional considering an MST to look closely at the University of Illinois program.

Rosalind Talarico
Director, Corporate Tax
Discover Financial Services
(22 years of tax experience)

Given the demands of my current position as well as my family responsibilities, I was a little apprehensive about going back to school. Balancing a career and family is hard enough. The Illinois MS Tax Program, however, is the best program out there for tax professionals, at any and all levels, to advance their careers. It provides the highest degree of education while encompassing a complete range of topics. The program exceeded my expectations in many ways. Even with significant tax experience, it really helped me fill in the gaps in the tax areas I had never encountered, as well as, those I had only touched on in my career. In addition, timely topics on Capitol Hill were addressed and discussed, so you are up to date in all respects. The workshops and Lyceums were also excellent additions to the regular classroom instruction and provided further guidance and insight from various tax professionals, as well as excellent networking opportunities. It was truly a rewarding experience. The staff at the Illinois MS Tax Program does everything it can to make sure all of the little things are taken care so that you are only focusing on what you need to. It is a true executive-style program in every sense. The Illinois MS Tax Program was an extraordinary commitment both in class and out, but time well spent. It enabled me to become a stronger tax professional and utilize my newly-acquired skills and knowledge immediately in my current position. It was truly a rewarding experience, and the best career decision I ever made.