Application Essay for Pace University: Ready for the Next Step
After two challenging and rewarding years of community college, I would appreciate the opportunity to step up, and take my education in a new direction at Pace University. This would be an exciting transition for me, one I have been working on since high school. My long term goals includes becoming a creative CPA who can help clients adapt to financial volatility and technological change. An interest in business and marketing runs in my family. I grew up around it, and learned that it can be interesting, rewarding and meaningful. I saw that business was about people.
I am interested in many sectors of business, from marketing to manufacturing, so I am pursuing a degree in accounting because it is the language of business and will give me the tools I need to reach my next set of goals. What I enjoy about studying accounting is the consulting aspect. It is not just about numbers, it is helping a client understand their business and finances by analyzing their individual situation and helping them become more efficient and profitable. It is always different and you work with different businesses and people every day. Numbers can be interesting, but I am passionate about problem solving and helping people reach their goals. The positive and pragmatic nature of accounting appeals to me; it really is about making things better. In the last two years I have tried to get as much as business experience as possible. I was the treasurer of the Student Paralegal Association. This was an invaluable education in how ethics and due diligence are the building blocks of good business. I developed excellent communication skills and learned that part of being an effective team player is flexibility, understanding the importance of compromise and a willingness to accept full responsibility for both my successes and group failures. My work study job gave me some real-life business experience in the Accounts Payable Department. Dealing with vendors and business partners showed me that if there is anything predictable about doing accounting, it is the constant diversity. Every day you deal with different people, and learn new things, from turnover, to cash flow, payment cycles and fraud.
One of my strengths is the ability to both take initiative and follow directions. I always utilize my strengths, including organizational ability and using technology to solve problems. However, I recognize my weaknesses and look for help when necessary. I am not good with pure math, when the calculations become theoretical I look for talented teammates or business partners for support. This is the basic economics of specialization and efficiency. But it is also much more than that; it is the human element of dividing up a task so everyone is engaged and cooperating that I also appreciate about the art of business.
The reputation of Pace speaks for itself, but I recognize that it is an ideal school for the kind of education I need. In the business world - and New York in particular - reputation speaks volumes. Pace is known for getting students out there into the real world with exciting internships and opportunities right in the heart of the financial district. Looking at the recession of 2008, I understand the importance of conducting business in an ethical way that is sustainable and honorable. More personally, I see that getting a good job in my field is going to be a challenge. Ultimately, I want to use my skills where they can matter. There is a new economic landscape out there and I want to be a part of it. I think Pace offers the kinds of practical opportunities that equal real success in an increasingly competitive employment market. I am just getting started, but I am ready for the next step, and know Pace is the place for me to keep learning.
