My adviser helped keep me on track

NAME: Cassandra McClain      
CLASS YEAR: 2020
HOMETOWN: Dixon, Illinois
MAJOR: Peace and Justice Studies, Accounting, Business Administration

INVOLVEMENT ON CAMPUS: Women’s Lacrosse, Wartburg Scholars

WHY DID YOU CHOOSE WARTBURG: I looked at a lot of schools. I was looking at Indiana University, which is Division I, so it’s huge. I remember my parents asking me, “Do you really want to do that?” And I said, “Well maybe not.” Then we visited Wartburg, and it was the one we liked the best.

WHY DID YOU DECIDED TO ADD A MAJOR IN PEACE AND JUSTICE STUDIES: I took Peace and Justice 101 my sophomore year as a general education requirement, and I really liked it. Dr. Schenkewitz told me that I should join the major, and I was super interested so I ended up picking it up.  

HOW HAS WARTBURG SET YOU UP FOR SUCCESS IN YOUR FIELD: The business and accounting department are just amazing, and my adviser is Justin Crouse knows everything about what’s going to be offered, when it’s going to be offered, and how to fit everything in your schedule at the right time. He’s always working to make sure that everyone is on track for where they’re supposed to be,  and having him as my adviser put me at a huge advantage with setting everything up and knowing where I’m going.

Cassandra McClain

WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS AFTER GRADUTION: I have a job with Clifton Larson Allen as a tax and audit consultant in my hometown. I plan to get my certified public accountant license. I’m also planning to go to graduate school and get my master’s in business. After that, I want to go to law school. In the long term, I want to open my own accounting and law firm.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE WARTBURG MEMORY: Honestly, I would say my freshman year when I lived on Clinton 2, which was for Wartburg Scholars. We had the living-learning community, and everyone on our floor was just so close and something was always happening. We were always just laughing and having a good time together.

WHAT ADVICE DO YOU HAVE FOR CURRENT STUDENTS: College is hard so just keep pushing through. We have tons of resources here at Wartburg, and professors are always understanding when something happens. It’s just working towards that degree that you came here for.

WHY IS WARTBURG WORTH IT: All the friends that I have made. If you have a college experience without that connection with people it’s probably not that great. Get involved with other activities, like going to sporting events and being on a sports team. It just creates a huge amount of friendships. Having people that you can hang out with on Saturday nights and being able to study with them really helps you get through classes and have a memorable college experience.