Accounting Abroad

Most incoming American freshman do not have to worry about whether or not they will understand the language their college professors speak in class. For Linh Nguyen, this was one of her biggest hurdles.

Growing up in Vietnam, Nguyen was encouraged by her parents to travel the world and gain new life experiences. During her senior year of high school, she decided she wanted to pursue learning a new language through immersion. She originally considered moving to either Singapore or Australia. But in 2015, with an offer of a scholarship she just could not turn down, Nguyen made her way to Oxford, Mississippi, to begin her studies at the University of Mississippi.

Her first few weeks in the United States were a bit rocky. She had to adapt to a new environment, culture and language. Although we share the bond of the human experience across the globe and we have more in common than we have in differences, international students can still face unique struggles. From figuring out American football to Greek life to picking a course of study, there is certainly a lot to navigate.

Nguyen explained that in Vietnam, and in other Asian countries, accounting is not considered a particularly prestigious career, so she had never really considered a career path in accounting. That all changed after her freshman year of undergrad when she took an entry-level accounting class. Intrigued by the challenges and complexities she encountered in American accounting, Nguyen quickly declared accountancy as her major. After graduating in the spring of 2019, she decided to continue her studies in Oxford and applied to the graduate accountancy program.

Now in her final semester of graduate school, Nguyen is grateful for the decision she made five years ago to study accountancy at the University of Mississippi and is excited to take her talents to Atlanta, Georgia, to begin a new chapter as a tax consultant for Deloitte.

She recognizes that not only is it difficult to seek and secure a job during the COVID-19 pandemic, but many international students have an additional set of challenges to face when applying to internships and jobs. It can be exceptionally costly for companies to hire and sponsor international students and workers, and Nguyen said there were even a few times when she did not feel welcome and was unsure about staying. She credits the Patterson School of Accountancy at the University, as well as her professors, for encouraging her and helping her gain the confidence needed to persevere.

As Nguyen prepares to wrap up her time at the University of Mississippi, she reflected back on the past five years and her experiences in Oxford, Mississippi. She is grateful for the tremendous impact the School of Accountancy has made on her life and feels prepared for what lies ahead. Having spent several years at the University of Mississippi and while getting ready to leave for a career in accountancy, Nguyen offers the following advice, “My one and only [piece of] advice for any student is to never be afraid to voice your opinions. Professors I have met are very helpful and truly care about the students to hear them out.”