News Releases

Student faces double the difficulty

Monday, January 11, 2010

BY WAYNE LARSON

"People usually say Ôthat's crazy' and then they say Ôbut that's awesome,'" said KU School of Business Masters in Accounting (MAcc) and KU School of Law student Courtney Sipe. She receives these remarks because she is currently working toward MAcc and law degrees simultaneously.

The ambitious student completed the MAcc program in December 2009 and will receive her law degree in May 2011. It may seem as if an ambitious academic plan like hers would have taken years of planning. However, she claims it all came together rather quickly. "I don't know where the law school idea came from," said Sipe.

She began the MAcc program in January 2008, after completing her accounting undergraduate degree at Iowa State University. Sipe then took a break from the MAcc program to start law school at KU in August 2008.

"There is not a night where I don't do homework. I don't do it the whole weekend, but at least half of it," said Sipe. In addition to school, she works 15 hours a week at a law firm in Topeka and is involved in two organizations at the law school.

She admits even she thought working on both degrees simultaneously was a bit crazy. Then when she began telling people she was thinking about doing it they said she was absolutely crazy.

Sipe will be reaping the benefits of her abnormal academic endeavors in ensuing years. Her coworkers have often told her she will not have a difficult time getting a job after she has completed her studies. "It really distinguishes me," said Sipe. "It says that I have already learned tax before law school, and I am serious about tax law."

There is no doubt in Sipe's mind that she will be taking a break from academics after May 2011. "It's been hard, but I would not change it," said Sipe. "I suggest it. It has been a very unique experience."