About the author: My journey from Mumbai to Chicago
I’m Tirthal Kothari, an international student from Mumbai, India who currently resides in the great city of Chicago! I’ll be graduating in June 2026 from DePaul’s MSc in Supply Chain Management.
Before grad school, I worked in procurement and logistics across roles at Mentone Concretes and the Institute of Supply Chain Management, where I led one of the most exciting projects of my career: developing India’s first national supply chain index.
At ISCM, I analyzed over 1,500 public companies across 24 sectors using tools like R, Excel, and Tableau, evaluating performance on everything from inventory turnover to ESG commitments. The project culminated in the publication of “India’s Top 20 Supply Chain Champions” — a milestone that shaped how I view supply chain strategy, resilience, and data-driven benchmarking. I also led the “Supply Chain Dialogue Series,” coordinating with top industry leaders to present our findings.
I didn’t come to DePaul to start over; I came to level up. Follow along as I go through a random Tuesday this spring quarter!
A day in the life: Flexible courses, connections with peers, and more
Mornings start with a ring of the clock at 7 a.m. (thought it might be 7:30 before I get out of bed). From there: a quick shower, a light breakfast, and a cup of coffee — my essential fuel. While sipping, I review my schedule, checking for any meetings, classes, or deadlines.
By 10 a.m., I’m out the door, often heading to the Loop Campus. My train ride downtown offers the most amazing view from the Chicago River bridge. During my commute, I plug in my Air Pods and listen to heavy metal music to set a positive tone for the day.
Once I reach university, I meet my friends at the library, where we sit in group rooms to study, apply to internships, or catch up on life. Around afternoon, we usually grab lunch together from the Blue Demon dining hall or Chipotle, which is just across the street.
At 2 p.m., I have a meeting with professor for research that we are doing together. Other than that, I look out for events happening on campus and ways to make professional connections.
Then it’s time for class. Today, that’s a product and inventory management course.
I personally love the flexibility that DePaul offers to attend the classes. Almost all classes are in the evening, which helps if you want to work off campus as an intern. On top of that, DePaul offers a mix of in-person, online, and hybrid classes — virtually all classrooms are equipped with Zoom. I love in-person classes as I get a chance to interact with professors and peers, who have been very helpful with finding jobs, internships, and other opportunities.
Once class is over at 8:30, it’s time to get home and cook something for dinner. Finally, by 10:30, I’m ready to wind down — maybe watch an episode of a favorite show or read something non-academic. Then it’s lights out: I’m getting ready to do it all again tomorrow.
Closing thoughts
Every day as an MS student at DePaul is a blend of learning, growth, and connection. That’s what makes this journey so fulfilling.
Through classes in predictive analytics, procurement strategy, and strategically optimizing inventory, I’ve been able to immediately apply classroom learning to real-world simulations. Last quarter, I even built a transportation optimization model that integrates demand, capacity uncertainty and cost-risk tradeoffs. It’s the kind of work that doesn’t feel like school; it feels like consulting.
By Karan Chadda, MS Audit and Advisory Services student and KGSB ambassador
Graduate school is about much more than attending classes. It’s a journey of building skills, leadership, and career momentum every day. As an MS student balancing academics, student organizations, and career preparation, I’ve learned that structure and intentionality are key to making the most of this experience.
Staying organized and taking advantage of resources
My day starts early, 5:30 AM to be exact. I use the quiet morning hours to plan my schedule, set daily goals, and prioritize tasks. One personal rule I follow religiously is to complete assignments at least one day before they are due. This approach reduces last-minute stress and gives me time to refine my work whenever needed.
Graduate school is about much more than attending classes. It’s a journey of building skills, leadership, and career momentum every day.
Before starting my day, I check my university Outlook inbox, DeHub notifications, and Handshake alerts to stay up to date on upcoming events, deadlines, and career opportunities. I rely heavily on platforms like 12Twenty, Handshake where I track internship applications, and D2L for managing all course communications and materials. Since most of my classes are in the evenings, I utilize my mornings and afternoons for everything else like studying at the library, working on group projects, attending student organization meetings, participating in events across both Loop Campus and Lincoln Park Campus, and preparing for upcoming opportunities. This structure allows me to fully engage in both academic and professional development activities.
Life outside the classroom
Chadda and teammates at a PwC case competition
I’m actively involved in two student organizations, where I help plan events, collaborate with students from diverse nationalities and academic programs, and participate in initiatives that build leadership and teamwork skills. These experiences have broadened my perspective and strengthened my ability to work across different backgrounds and ideas. In addition to student organization work, I make a conscious effort to utilize university resources. I visit the Career Management Center (CMC) about once a month for career advising, resume reviews, and long-term planning. I also use resume and interview preparation resources as needed, making sure my professional materials are polished and ready whenever opportunities arise.
A highlight from today was attending a Global Conversation on Clean Energy Solutions for Cars, which brought together students from India, Ghana, Cameroon, Rwanda, and Chicago. Listening to perspectives on clean energy innovation, infrastructure challenges, and future transportation trends broadened my understanding of how interconnected and regionally diverse global solutions must be. Engaging with peers from different parts of the world added a new dimension to my learning outside the classroom.
Finding balance
Every class, event, and conversation are helping shape the professional I aim to become, one step at a time, one day at a time.
In the evenings, I attend my in-person, online synchronous, or asynchronous classes. I always prefer attending sessions in person, as it creates stronger engagement with the subject, professors, and classmates. Evening classes allow me to concentrate fully, building on the work and preparation I’ve done throughout the day.
Having a balance between structured evening classes, morning and afternoon leadership activities, and continuous career development has made my MS journey both dynamic and rewarding. Every class, event, and conversation are helping shape the professional I aim to become, one step at a time, one day at a time.
About the author
Karan (Kay) Chadda, an international student originally from Chandigarh, India, graduated in Spring 2025 with a Master’s in Audit and Advisory Services from DePaul University in Chicago. He is a licensed CPA in the state of Illinois with a strong passion for corporate governance, internal controls, and advisory services. Post-graduation, Kay plans to work in the corporate audit or advisory field, helping organizations improve financial integrity and risk management. Outside of work, he enjoys running by Lake Michigan, exploring Chicago’s architecture, discovering new food spots, and keeping up with global business trends.
By Dhanush “DJ” Jaiswal
I’m a full-time grad student juggling academics, HR work, consulting, and campus life. Come along with me for a day in my life!
Let’s take this week. The day kicked off at 7 a.m. with some Bollywood music playing in the background… not to convince myself to get going, but because I love what I do and I show up ready. By 8:30, I was on the CTA heading into the Loop. Classic Chicago vibes: half-asleep riders, someone watching reels without headphones, and that unmistakable aroma of Dunkin’ and Starbucks swirling through the air in the train.
I reached the Loop Campus by 9:30 and settled into the HR office by 10. First up? Making a to-do list, a few internal updates, then a team check-in to prep for a nonprofit consulting call later that day. Around noon, I was finalizing event details with the SHRM DePaul team. We’ve been planning DePaul’s first-ever in-person HR networking event, and it’s coming up fast. After work, I made a quick stop at the library to finish some readings and polish our BOSCH project deliverables.
It was somewhere between group messages and the quiet buzz of the library that I thought, “This is exactly why I’m here.”
Hi, I’m Dhanush Jaiswal…but most people just call me DJ.
I’m a full-time international student in my fourth quarter of the MS in Human Resources program at DePaul. Before grad school, I spent six years working in the corporate industry, four of those at Deloitte in HR Global Mobility Strategy, Reporting & Analytics, and earlier at Amazon. I didn’t come to DePaul to start over; I came here to level up.
This quarter, I’m enrolled in Consulting Skills, one of the most practical classes I’ve taken. As part of it, I’m working with a nonprofit client on a real HR issue. While I can’t share the details (consultant code!), the experience has been energizing. It’s not a simulation — it’s the real deal with comes with lot of learnings and guidance from the instructor and that’s the best part about being a DePaul student.
Another standout experience is the BOSCH Project, offered through the DePaul HR program. All MSHR students are working alongside BOSCH professionals, learning how different teams and roles function, and applying what we’ve learned to support strategic alignment efforts. It’s the kind of work that makes you forget you’re in school because it feels like the job already.
Evening class kicked off at 6. We discussed stakeholder relationships, and I couldn’t help but smile, I’d just applied that very concept in our client call hours earlier. After class, I caught up briefly with my team, then headed home, cooked dinner, and called my family in India (shoutout to time zones for keeping me on my toes).
And honestly, there’s still so much more I could talk about.
If you’re curious about the program, the projects, or just want to chat, feel free to reach out, drop me an email, or stop me on campus. I’m always happy to share.
So yeah, that’s just one day. Every day looks a little different at my end, but the energy, the learning, and my love for all things HR — that’s constant.
And that’s exactly what I signed up for.
By Ferdi Alfajora
In summer 2024, after several years of deliberation, I decided to go to graduate school.
As a nontraditional student, what value do I really get from a master’s degree? I’ve been out of school for many years and have been working in the tax profession. I had been thinking about getting a graduate degree, but I was hesitant because of various reasons. Mainly tuition cost and time — but also, frankly, I was not sure how younger students would react to an older student in class.
Returning to school
So, why go back to school for my masters? After all, I’ve already reached a fairly high-level position in the tax profession. I’ve worked in full circle of the profession as a tax auditor, a tax consultant for the Big Four, and a tax executive for a publicly traded company. As far as tax profession is concerned, I have been a tax client, a tax consultant, and a tax auditor. That’s the full circle of the profession.
Most, if not all, of my knowledge comes directly from those experiences as a professional. Tax knowledge gained through experience is useful, but I’ve always felt that there are gaps in my knowledge because I did not acquire it through in-depth research, discussion, and analysis. I decided that there is value in getting my master’s degree in taxation: to fill in the gaps. I know enough about taxes — but I also don’t know what I know.
So here I am, pursuing my master’s degree in taxation.
Choosing DePaul
Once I decided to return to school, the next obvious question was where I’d go — and how much it would cost.
My research started with a Google search. I found that there are a number of online programs. Almost every school has one, and the cost varies from reasonably cheap to ridiculously high.
I submitted my application to DePaul along with other schools. Compare to other schools’ application processes, DePaul’s was quick and simple. DePaul’s tuition was also within the median compared to other schools — but, with the help of tuition assistance and potential scholarships, the tuition cost becomes more manageable.
After more research, I found that DePaul has a national reputation. Most of the instructors are senior staff of big CPA firms, the IRS, or other state tax agencies. DePaul also offered me a scholarship. I decided to attend DePaul mainly because of the scholarship, in addition to its reputation.
Navigating online learning
As I browed the courses for the online M.S. in Taxation program, I wasn’t entirely clear as to what “online” meant. Did it mean courses are live and you attend via videoconference so that you can see other students and the professor on your screen? Or did it mean courses are pre-recorded and you can watch them at your leisure? Would there be homework, exams, and quizzes? How would they be administered?
As I pondered these questions, I got an email from DePaul inviting me to make an appointment with my advisor for any questions. My questions were answered. There are both live and pre-recorded classes. In fact, most of the live online classes are also recorded, so you can go back to the recording if you miss the class. Professors are also easy to get a hold of; they have office hours via Zoom, and you can also email them directly.
Finding community
One key takeaway that I did not anticipate was the number of students that are just like me. I was happy to see that half the class are older or nontraditional students with years of experience in the tax field.
Younger students often come to us because we are experienced, and ask us questions about what’s it’s like being a tax professional. They welcome our advice and suggestions on how to prepare for job interviews, how to approach questions, and deal with clients.
Overall? I know I’ve made the right choice in returning back to school and selecting DePaul’s M.S. in Taxation program.
About the author
Ferdi Alfajora is a first-year graduate student at DePaul University. He served in the U.S. Marine Corps for both active and reserve duty. He worked as a tax auditor for the State of California, a tax manager with PwC, and a tax director for Insight Enterprise (NSIT).
Each summer, hundreds of Kellstadt students take on internships at companies around Chicago. It’s less a break from classes than it is a continuation of them; many classes at Kellstadt involve hands-on real-world components.
Below, three Kellstadt students reflect on their internship experiences — from work environments and passion projects to how Kellstadt helped them get there and where they’re going next.
The interns
David Burns, MBA ’24 (fall)
Continuous Improvement and Implementation program, NOW Foods
Mayuri Ghorpade, MS in Business Analytics ’25
Marketing Analyst, Mainstreet Investment Advisors
Hritik Gole, MS in Business Analytics ’24 (December)
Product Intern, Labcorp
On adapting to new environments …
Mayuri Ghorpade at her office for the summer.
MG: Coming from a hierarchical work environment in India, I was initially unsure of what to expect in an American workplace. However, I quickly found that everyone at Mainstreet Investment Advisors is incredibly friendly and always willing to offer help and guidance.
The workplace culture here values openness and freedom, breaking down traditional hierarchical barriers and fostering a collaborative environment. This was a refreshing change for me and has greatly enhanced my ability to contribute effectively to the team.
HG: The biggest adjustment has been transitioning from smaller startups to a Fortune 300 company like Labcorp. There’s so much to learn about navigating larger teams and processes, but I’m embracing the challenge with support from mentors and by learning as much as I can.
On the projects that inspire them …
HG: This summer, I’m diving into Labcorp’s Biopharma Digital Products Portfolio, where we develop software that helps labs streamline their operations. It’s been thrilling to see firsthand how our tech impacts healthcare behind the scenes.
David Burns in his office at Now Foods
DB: The main project I was hired to work on involves reducing changeover times. When a product is run, it’s done to fulfill a specific order, which can range from a few hundred to over a hundred thousand units. Between orders, we need to disassemble the production line, sanitize it, conduct quality tests, and prepare it for the next product.
To tackle this project, I drew inspiration from a scene in the movie “The Founder”, where the McDonald’s founders map out their processes on a tennis court, considering space, workers, and workflow. Similarly, I engaged with many of the machine operators to identify pain points in the process. I then used Excel to organize and analyze data from the past eight months to detect patterns and areas for improvement.
I’ve looked at every single step of the process. I might save 10 minutes here, or 20 minutes there. But because there are many steps, everything adds up.
On how Kellstadt helped them get there …
MG: Although I have previous work experience in India, adapting to a new country and its work culture was initially quite daunting. However, the comprehensive course curriculum at Kellstadt instilled immense confidence in me. The coursework emphasizes real-world applications of business analytics, which provided me with practical skills that I could directly apply during my internship.
DB: An innovation course I took at Kellstadt also played a crucial role in shaping my career vision. It taught me to think creatively and strategically about how I can bring innovation to companies professionally. This mindset has been instrumental in my approach to projects at NOW Foods.
On finding what fulfills them …
MG: The experience has shown me that I thrive in roles that combine creativity, strategic thinking, and analytical skills. I now envision myself pursuing a career that leverages both my technical skills and creative abilities. I am particularly drawn to positions that involve digital marketing, data analytics, and strategic planning, where I can contribute to innovative and impactful marketing campaigns.
DB: Before this internship, I never really knew what I wanted to do after graduation. My internship experience has given me a clearer vision of my career goals. I was given significant autonomy and minimal instruction, which allowed me to take initiative and explore various projects, including some that I conceived myself.
I’ve always been involved in music, and I believe much of my creativity stems from that background. The discipline and creativity required in music have translated well into my professional endeavors, allowing me to approach problems from unique angles.
Hritik Gole shows off his labcorp swag.
HG: Before joining Labcorp, I hadn’t thought much about working in healthcare. But now, seeing how my work can directly improve healthcare outcomes has been eye-opening. I’m now passionate about continuing to work in healthcare, focusing on making a positive difference in people’s lives. This internship has really guided me onto a path where I can use technology to benefit healthcare and society as a whole.
DB: Currently, I’m working on a proposal for a full-time role, as this program is new and offers the potential to create my own position. Although the internship has presented challenges, it has never felt like work. The dynamic environment and constant opportunities for improvement have been highly motivating and fulfilling.
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