According to research, there are approximately 2.2 million homeschooled/home-educated students in the U.S., with a growth of an estimated 2-8% per annum just over the past few years. Elizabeth Ziegler is one of those students. After graduating high school from her homeschool in Center Grove, IN, she chose to pursue her academic interests at Kelley Indianapolis. Confident she wanted a career in accounting, she applied and received direct admission to Kelley School of Business– an honor for high schools students who have been recommended by the IUPUI Office of Admissions.
Initially drawn to Kelley Indianapolis because of its urban campus and proximity to home, Elizabeth also was interested in the opportunities she knew she would get from the nationally recognized business school known for offering real-world experiences. Touted as a place for students to build a strong business foundation and hone a competitive advantage, Elizabeth did just that. She took full advantage of everything offered to her and advice given to her. Today, as she enters her final semester as an accounting and finance major, she credits Kelley for helping her become a top recruit in her field and securing a full-time job with Crowe Horwath, one of the ten largest public accounting firms in the U.S.
The accounting field is robust, signifying a continued demand for skilled and professional students. The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates a 13% growth of job openings for accountants by 2022. Accounting was recently named one of the 10 “most profitable” college majors for its numerous job opportunities and high starting salaries. This is encouraging for students seeking an accounting career through Kelley.
“I think from Kelley, there are so many things they offered that were crucial to my success – my education being the most obvious,” shared Elizabeth. “But the one thing that stands out to me the most is the incredible amount of encouragement and support I received from all of my professors.”
Elizabeth shared that at her “craziest, busiest time” – a time when she was going through the rigorous accounting recruitment process, attending classes, holding leadership positions in three student organizations, and working four part-time jobs, it was the support from her professors that kept her going. The flexibility Kelley Indianapolis provides its students also allowed Elizabeth to take a semester off to focus solely on an internship at Crowe Horwath, and then return to campus to earn the credits required to graduate within four years.
From her homeschool to Kelley Indianapolis’ college classrooms, Elizabeth received the necessary training and skills to be successful in her field. In the words of an accountant, she has received an incredible “return on investment” from the mix of academia and real-life experiences she received from Kelley Indianapolis.
“While I know I will miss the people I’ve gotten to know at Kelley, I’m extremely excited to begin the next phase of my life,” said Elizabeth. “Kelley has been crucial to any success I’ve achieved during my four years here and I’m exceptionally grateful.”