Accounting Student Testimonials | New Jersey City University

Patrice Withy ‘23

NJCU has built a strong foundation for my career...

My name is Patrice Withy and in 2020, at the peak of COVID_19, I made one of the toughest decisions of my life - returning home to the US after having spent several years in the Caribbean. It was a difficult decision because on the one hand I was eager to pursue my academic goals. On the other hand though, I wrestled with the thought of leaving my eight-year-old daughter behind. My only child!

Which real mother does that? I pondered...

It was heart wrenching!! But then, I was comforted by the fact that she was surrounded by her dad and other family members. So, I eventually left to begin my academic journey at NJCU, where I enrolled in the B.S./M.S. Bridge Program in Accounting. From September 2020 and for the next 3 years, NJCU became that proverbial survival kit. With tools ranging from solid relationships with amazing professors, staff and students, to networks of golden opportunities I thought only existed in Ivy's world (lol). Those tools opened real doors!!

l landed an internship with the no.1 Accounting/Auditing firm in the world - Deloitte. I became NJCU's first Accounting Club President and served as a NJCU Student Senator. In May 2023, I graduated with a B.S. in Accounting - Summa cum laude. And in August 2023, I completed my M.S. in Accounting with a GPA of 3.9. And 'to put the icing on the cake', so to speak, I am now an Audit & Assurance Staff at Deloitte.

Let me tell you some obstacles on the road to success are inevitable. But with NJCU's survival kit, you get over those obstacles effortlessly. Additionally, if you are passionate about pursuing a career in Accounting like I did, the B.S./M.S. Bridge Program in Accounting is the ultimate.

NJCU unlocks doors and can level the playing field, but the rest is up to you!

As an Alumni, I strongly encourage you to:

Be humble, disciplined, courageous and accountable.
Have a positive attitude and strive for excellence
Express your goals to professors and be open to suggestions.
Communicate effectively
Become members of associations (e.g.., NABA, NJCPA, AICPA)

NJCU will always have a special place in my heart. Today, I'm a proud Alumni of NJCU and encourage you to make NJCU your university of choice. Most importantly though, become an accounting major and enroll into the B.S./M.S. Bridge Program in Accounting. It changed my life and it can do the same for you.

Thank you NJCU!!!

David Franza ‘24

When faced with finding the next step in my academic journey, no matter how much I searched the best option always boiled down to NJCU. They don’t just offer a quality B.S. and M.S. program in accounting but have a multitude of knowledgeable professors who are consistently available in class and office hours ready to help you with any questions you might have. In conjunction with amazing professors, they also give students the option to join the Bridge Program (GPA permitting). This program is an accelerated degree program designed to help accounting students meet their 150 credit requirements for the CPA in a portion of the time.

Being part of this university’s accounting program also allows students to establish connections with recruiters from Big Four companies such as Deloitte, PWC, KPMG, and other notable companies such as EisnerAmper. With the culmination of a phenomenal program and exposure to major accounting firms, many students are receiving employment contracts with competitive salaries and signing bonuses to enter the workforce the moment we are set to graduate. I am proud to say that I received my full-time offer from Ernst & Young and am set to start the winter of 2025 as an associate in their Enterprise Risk Consulting service line. Thanks to opportunities and connections made available to me at NJCU I’ve been able to lay the foundation to continue building a successful future.

Andres Pinargote ‘23

Enrolling in New Jersey City University’s Accounting program has been an incredibly rewarding decision for my career. As an undergrad, I had the privilege of being involved with advisors and professors that had equipped me with the knowledge and skills necessary for a successful career in the world of finance and accounting. Through my academic career, I was able to obtain several internships within the field of taxation that played a pivotal role in honing my skills and transforming me into a competitive accountant. Some of the internships and Co-ops I received thanks to NJCU’s Career Services was with Goldman Sachs & PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC).

The coursework at NJCU proved to be challenging yet rewarding, but it was the exceptional support and approachability of the faculty and advisors that truly set this institution apart. As a first-generation student, I had many challenges and questions that some of my professors reassured me with answers and guidance. Advisors like Michael O’Neill, Joshua Iannuzzi & Mildred Altamirano stood out for their unwavering commitment to my success, offering invaluable mentorship and fostering connections that have been instrumental in my journey.

Thanks to my education and experience, I now work at PwC as a tax associate in New York! I am a proud NJCU alumni and will always wear my green hoodie everywhere I go!

Raymond Garcia ’22, ‘23

"Throughout the duration of my five-year higher education experience, I had the pleasure of being a student here at New Jersey City University’s School of Business. During my time at our university, I was provided with the opportunity to develop my identity both personally and professionally. It all began when I inquired about applying for our Accounting - BS/MS Accounting Bridge Program.

Upon admission and acceptance to this collective, I quickly learned that the opportunities and resources available were all at arm's reach because of the foundation set before me. My drive paired with the immense support network that exists within our Career Services Center at our School of Business allowed me to develop the knowledge, skill set, network and experience that I carry today. Whether it be from our diverse staff consisting of their various different backgrounds and experiences or our dynamic student presence, our classrooms played an integral role in allowing me to identify and define my purposes in the workforce today. The beauty within investing in programs like these at our university is the journey in which your conceptual knowledge eventually becomes applicative. Through the various different volunteering, apprenticeship and internship opportunities I had the pleasure of partaking in, I’ve been provided with the opportunity to exercise both my personalism and professionalism.

All in all, as a result of the investment put forth with regard to my education apart of New Jersey City University’s School of Business: Accounting - BS/MS Accounting Bridge Program, I’ve earned my role as a Digital Assurance and Transparency Associate at PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (PwC) within the New York Metropolitan market. Believe me when I share with you that the education and experience offered here within our university can support you in attaining and accomplishing your greatest aspirations!"