Business
MST Program Defined by Critical Thinking 鈥淚t鈥檚 the thought process you develop that鈥檚 most useful,鈥 says Brent Sabot, MST 鈥17. 鈥淭he program has shaped the way I think about the tax profession鈥
Kogod鈥檚 MS Taxation program was Brent Sabot鈥檚 second choice鈥ntil he took a couple of tax classes. Sabot, initially an MS Accounting student, knew he wanted to switch programs as soon as he finished his first Kogod taxation course. 鈥淭ax policy, the tax code, its connection to the business world鈥攁ll of it fascinated me,鈥 he says. 鈥淚 was hooked.鈥
Sabot and hasn鈥檛 looked back since. He relishes the experiences he鈥檚 had at Kogod鈥攎any of which are specific to Washington, DC.
The school鈥檚 DC location is a key reason the MST is so strong, Sabot says. Its home in the nation鈥檚 capital affords experiences he couldn鈥檛 get elsewhere, like field trips to the US Treasury and meetings with high profile tax judges. 鈥淚 can鈥檛 imagine studying taxation in any other city,鈥 he says. 鈥淵ou鈥檝e got to be in Washington to pursue this field.鈥
The most impactful part of the program for Sabot, however, is working with Kogod鈥檚 .
Sabot, a research assistant at the Center, supports staff through research and analysis of tax legislation鈥攖asks that bridge classroom theory to real-world practice. 鈥淵ou don鈥檛 get this type of learning experience just studying for an exam,鈥 he says.
This past semester, Sabot was also a technical contributor to , the Tax Policy Center鈥檚 latest research publication. He says that by working on the report, he learned the 鈥渇ull research process:鈥 addressing a question, identifying sources and speaking with subject matter experts.
, the Tax Policy Center鈥檚 managing director, sees Sabot more as a colleague than as a research assistant. 鈥淗e鈥檚 been an invaluable member of the team. I really appreciate Kogod鈥檚 MST program because it has developed his research skills so thoroughly,鈥 she says. The best part of Kogod鈥檚 MST, though? It teaches students to apply what they learn to all walks of life.
Sabot says Kogod鈥檚 MST taught him how to think. The knowledge he gained is valuable, but what he鈥檒l ultimately leave with is a deeply analytical mindset. 鈥淚t鈥檚 the thought process you develop that鈥檚 most useful,鈥 he says. 鈥淭he program teaches you critical thinking.鈥
One only has to look at the MST faculty鈥檚 approach to understand how. Sabot recalls how , one of the program鈥檚 core faculty members, challenged him to analyze The Godfather from the perspective of a tax practitioner.
鈥淵ou know they have their olive oil business, but you don鈥檛 know where they鈥檙e buying it from,鈥 explains Sabot. 鈥淎re they traveling overseas for it? Getting it in their home country? There鈥檚 a lot of tax-related questions here.鈥
He says the class, and the program as a whole, encouraged him to see taxation through a broader lens. Taxation affects everything, says Sabot, which he didn鈥檛 fully realize prior to studying at Kogod. 鈥淚t touches on every aspect of our daily lives,鈥 he says. 鈥淎nd if you want to be an informed business professional, you have to know the tax consequences of your decisions.鈥
Sabot is set to graduate this December, after which he鈥檒l work as a tax associate at RSM, a national audit, tax and consulting firm. He鈥檚 ready to start his career, but is glad he鈥檚 got one last semester ahead of him. 鈥淚鈥檝e really appreciated my time here,鈥 he says.
Most of all, he鈥檚 grateful for the broader perspective the program has given him. Sabot will graduate equipped with highly developed critical thinking skills, and a deep understanding of the fields鈥 connection to the business world.
He credits Kogod with giving him the foundation he needs for success. 鈥淭he program has shaped the way I think about the tax profession,鈥 he says. 鈥淚鈥檓 starting my career with a lot of knowledge and confidence.鈥
Learn more about Kogod鈥檚 MS in Taxation program.