Master’s in Accounting: Adam Adelstein, Indiana University (Kelley)

Student Name: Adam Adelstein

Graduate Business School: Indiana University Kelley School of Business

Describe Yourself In 15 Words: A passionate self-starter who combines technical skills and creativity to help businesses improve and grow.

Master’s Graduation Class: 2020.

Undergraduate School and Major: Indiana University Bloomington, Accounting and Technology Management.

Current Employer and Job Title: Mackinac Partners, Analyst.

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: While navigating the beginning of my career during the summer of Covid, I had the opportunity to help run a 200-employee dermatology practice. The CEO is a fantastic mentor, and I enjoyed helping the company build out a suite of KPIs and deal with the cash flow pressures brought on by the lockdowns.

Describe your biggest accomplishment as a graduate student: I recorded a couple songs with some of the musicians in the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music, which has always been a dream of mine.

What was the key factor that led you to choose this business school and why was it so important to you? Indiana University offered me the opportunity to grow as a professional and as a person. Kelley is a great place to gain an understanding of the business world, and the professors provided an engaging learning experience. At the same time, there was space for me to continue with my passions of music and athletics, and I was able to meet a diverse group of people that widened my perspective of the world. 

What led you to choose a specialized master’s in Accounting (3/2 MBA) instead of waiting until later in your career to pursue an MBA? There were a couple of reasons at the time. I had older friends who were struggling to decide whether they wanted to go back to school in their late twenties, and I did not want to be stuck making that same decision. I also had a couple mentors who had gone through the program, who spoke highly of their time in 3/2. Lastly, the alumni network gave me the opportunity to jumpstart my career and learn from those who came before me.

Now that I am finished with graduate school, I think the biggest benefit was the real-world experiences 3/2 provided. I constantly worked in small teams, and we provided consulting assistance and research for local companies as part of the program. The feedback I received was invaluable in preparing for my first job. 

What has been your favorite course and how has it helped you in your career? My favorite course was “Game Theory.” My professor pushed me out of my comfort zone and challenged me to take my learning outside the classroom. Because of the structure of the 3/2 program, the professors in my concurrent classes utilized the game theory concepts in their own coursework. This class changed the way I solve difficult problems and interact with others. I am better equipped to consider multiple perspectives while balancing opportunity costs and benefits. On the job, this enables me to generate more efficient and effective results. 

What role did your school play in helping you to land your first job out of the program? The 3/2 program was integral in my first two jobs. I connected with my first employer through their CEO, a fellow 3/2 alumnus. He brought me on as an intern, and I was able to obtain a full-time offer. For my current job, I networked with a director who was also in the 3/2 program. He helped me learn more about the company and got me in touch with management.

How did your classmates enhance the value of your business school experience? I appreciate my classmates because they created an atmosphere of competition and support. Thanks to the program’s diversity, I was exposed to cultures from around the world. I am happy to have my classmates as business connections as well as personal friends.

Who was your favorite faculty member and how did this person enrich your learning? My favorite faculty member was Dave Greene. He met with me before I started the program and helped me start to define my career path. He taught multiple classes and always shared practical wisdom during his lectures. He encouraged me to get involved as a graduate assistant and be a mentor for subsequent 3/2 cohorts.

What is your best advice to an applicant hoping to get into your school’s graduate Master’s program? The 3/2 program is best for people with a drive to succeed and a willingness to step outside of their comfort zone. The faculty loves students who combine academic success and unique interests. My best advice is to work hard and be yourself! 

What was your best memory from your Master’s program? My favorite moment in the Master’s program was passing my first CPA exam during my last semester. It was a culmination of all the things that make 3/2 great. I utilized the time management skills that the program taught me, applied my classroom learning, and studied with my classmates.