Posted on Monday, December 15, 2025
When Gab changed her major to Accounting her sophomore year, she was concerned that she might not be able to graduate in four years. But with strong faculty support and a valuable internship experience, she crossed Senior Terrace on time and stepped into a position with a Top 60 independent CPA firm.
What did your academic journey look like?
I started as a Biochemistry major with a minor in Management for Scientists. Around my sophomore year, I added Accounting as a double major, pairing it with Biochemistry, and kept my minor the same. Junior year is when I really discovered what I wanted to do, and I dropped Biochemistry as a major, deciding to stick with Accounting instead. However, I was able to keep Chemistry as a minor, as I had already completed some of the required coursework and earned class credits. I completed my degree on time as an Accounting major with a minor in Chemistry!
What kind of leadership opportunities did you take advantage of outside of your major?
I was a member of Alpha Gamma Delta sorority and served as the Vice President of Event Planning during my first term on the executive council. I learned how to plan and host events for my sisters, and I collaborated with other organizations and sororities on campus events. This leadership opportunity created a snowball effect, which also assisted me in my other leadership roles. I was a member of the Student Government Association (SGA) and finished my term as President in February of 2025. SGA allowed me to revive one of Westminster’s longstanding student life traditions, VolleyRock, which was really fun to plan, organize, and execute. I was the President of the Chemistry Club, an orientation leader, and a student representative for the Board of Trustees.
Participating in all of these organizations helped me build time management skills. But also, because I developed connections with the faculty and administrators here, they worked with my schedule to ensure I had the time and resources to participate in everything I wanted to throughout the years.
How did the faculty assist you in being successful as a student?
They’re just wonderful. They’re always willing to talk to you, no matter what it’s about. Their doors are always open, and they’re never going to tell you no if you need something. What I really wanted out of my college experience was to be able to make those connections with the professors because at bigger schools, it feels like you’re just a number in a classroom, whereas here, all the professors know your name, especially in the department of your major, where you’re spending a lot of your time. My biggest blessing was being able to switch classes whenever I was trying to figure out and shuffle around my major and minor—the professors helped me figure out a way to keep chemistry as my minor.
The best part is that I know I can reach out to them in two or three years if I need something or even want to update them on my life, and I know they’ll respond to me. Not only will they respond to me, but they’ll also be happy that I reached out and even more grateful to know that I credit them for my success.
Tell us about the community at Westminster.
It’s great. I could walk into the dining hall during lunch hours and stop at just about every table to talk to people, or if I were walking outside on the quad when the weather was nice, I’d see people spread out on the grass, catching up and enjoying the day. Just the fact that you’ll always bump into one of your friends or someone you know whenever you leave your room is what makes our community so special.
Tell us about your journey from student to working professional.
During my junior year, I participated in an accounting consortium, which is an interview day with a lot of different accounting firms. I went through several interviews, a handful of second-round interviews, and was even offered multiple internship spots afterward. I accepted one with Schnieder Downs in Pittsburgh after speaking with my professors because it was a medium-sized firm that seemed to be a good fit for me. I spent that summer interning for them and later received a formal offer to work for them after graduation, which I accepted. I started my position as an Audit Staff in July.
What piece of advice would you give to an incoming high school student?
We are a small campus, but if you set yourself up for success, you’ll never be bored. There’s always something to do, somebody to talk to, and a connection to be made, and as a result, our campus feels larger because the opportunities are endless.
What lasting impact has Westminster had on you?
My ability to connect with people. Especially people who are older than me or hold positions of authority, such as faculty members, administrators, and members of the Board of Trustees. Learning how to network is really important because you have to have that skill to be able to climb the ladder anywhere you’re working.
