June 24, 2020

Melissa Wasylewski came to California Lutheran University as a business administration major until in her freshman year she took the class Principles of Accounting class as a requirement for her major. This class combined with the influence of her dad who told her to look into accounting as she is good with numbers and likes to work with data was the catalyst that changed her mind to become an accounting major.

After deciding to change majors she was unsure what minor to add. The accounting major is similar to the business administration major, except you must take more courses that have more technical classes focusing on skills, rules, and various laws, said Wasylewski. 

“Accounting is the language of the business world,” Wasylewski said. Choosing the financial planning minor has allowed her to take what she has learned in accounting and focus more on applying the knowledge to help the individual by creating strategies to save them money now and in the future. “I think it’s the perfect combination,” Wasylewski said. Accounting already has the foundation of what she is learning in class so she can spend more time building knowledge and working on the concept. 

Now and the Future

Currently, Wasylewski is interning at Amgen, a biotechnology company.  Her role is to work on the Financial Planning and Analysis team that focuses on operations. She consolidates information from various sites around the world to put the figures into one picture. The information is then presented to the leadership team. “It’s been fun and a lot of learning on the job,” Wasylewski said. She is currently interested in learning more about the corporate, public side of accounting. In the future, she is looking forward to using financial planning either in her job or doing it on the side.

After graduating from California Lutheran University, she wants to take the CPA exam and be certified. Combining her accounting major with the financial planning minor is allowing her to take the Certified Financial Planner and Certified Public Account exam after graduating to become double-certified which is highly sort after from companies Then Wasylewski wants to work at a local company in Ventura County, where she is from, at a small or medium-sized firm. 

Accounting and Financial Planning

The Financial Planning minor is a relatively new minor to California Lutheran University. “You get a lot of one-on-one time with the professor, and you’re able to work on case studies on different scenarios that you might not get the chance to do in a bigger school where there are a lot more students,” Wasylewski said. There are many benefits to having small classes, including the opportunity to ask a lot of questions and receive extra help. The minor has given Wasylewski the opportunity to “Connect financial planning and accounting together… I’m really excited that Cal Lutheran is doing it!” She “one hundred percent” recommends the minor to others!

Not every student who is interested in the minor needs to have a connection to business or accounting, but there are benefits. “I wish every accounting student would take the financial planning minor because it really helps you see different sides and different perspectives of accounting information and you really see how the accounting plays in individual peoples lives, not just when your calculating tax returns, but figuring out how your client can save extra money, how else they could be financially stable. It’s also a very practical class because you learn a lot of things for yourself,” Wasylewski said. 

Accounting majors need 150 credits to graduate, whereas the average number of credits students need to graduate is 124. The Financial Planning minor helps students give extra credits, saving time and money to then do the CPA exam.  Wasylewski recommends students talk to one of the accounting professors to get their opinion and advice if they are interested in taking the minor. Likewise, students can also talk to the financial planning department to learn more.

Think about how the minor can increase your marketability with future employees if you add planning to your degree, said Wasylewski. She also recommends doing your research on statistics, the job market, and talking to other students who have taken the classes. However, taking the minor will help you out in the future regardless if you pursue financial planning in your career. 

Wasylewski describes her experience with the minor as “Really fun, really interactive. It’s great to be able to ask any questions I have any…  I’m more aware of what’s happening in the “adult world.” It’s been really eye-opening to all the opportunities and everything you have to deal with as an older adult. It’s been helpful but also cool to apply it to real life and talk to family about it,” said Wasylewski. 

“Accounting and financial planning really help you realize how important all that you’re learning in accounting really is, how it plays a role in different parts of the world like the business sector and financial sectors. It really helps solidify everything you’ve learned in accounting classes. It’s a good feeling knowing that one day you might be saving people thousands of dollars by explaining to them what they should do and helping them organize their lives,” Wasylewski said. 

California Lutheran University is a small university with a tight-knit community, therefore meaning you know a lot of people on campus, said Wasylewski. In classes in your major, it is more than likely you will have the same people to work with. Close relationships with professors and students naturally develop. 

Accounting professors have been Wasylewski’s biggest influence during her time at university. “They’re the ones who got me to switch my major in the first place (and take the minor), and they make accounting classes fun!”

Wasylewski’s secret talents are sewing and her ability to make her own clothes including her Halloween costume last year as Tinkerbell. She also enjoys dancing for fun and often performs traditional Mexican folklore dancing. 

About the Interviewee:

Melissa Wasylewski is a traditional undergraduate student pursuing a Bachelor’s in Accounting with a minor in Financial Planning. She is an involved student on campus who enjoys making her own clothes and dancing during her free time. 

About the Author:

Rosie Baker is an undergraduate student at California Lutheran University expecting to graduate in May 2021. She is studying Communication with an emphasis in PR and Advertising and has a minor in Creative Writing. She is currently writing a book, Windows and Mirrors, which is due to be published this summer with New Degree Press.