Lauren Seager '05 earned herself a big career break when her impressive 4.0 grade point average attracted the attention of Ernst & Young.

Just three hours after the commencement ceremony in May 2005, Seager boarded a plane for Notre Dame University in South Bend, Ind., where she began an intense summer of course work toward her master's in accounting, with Ernst & Young picking up the tab.

A participant in the "Your Master Plan" program, Seager began work as an auditor in the prestigious accounting firm's Manhattan office in fall 2005 and completed her degree the following summer. In return, she owes the firm four years of work.

Seager learned about the program during her senior year when she received an e-mail message from the University's career services office. She took her GMATs, did well and was invited to interview in Manhattan in April of that year. Two days later, she was offered the job and a generous starting salary.

At one time, Seager was pretty sure that accounting was the last thing she wanted to do for a living. "The thought of a 9-to-5 job in a cubicle crunching numbers was not appealing, but now I am working for a large, global accounting firm. My work involves hands-on auditing, engaging with clients at their work sites, travel and nonroutine analytical work," she said.

"I had a great experience at Quinnipiac," Seager said. "All my professors were knowledgeable and helpful to students, and particularly my economics professor Donn Johnson, who challenged me in the classroom and provided me with lots of guidance about my career."