Tara Jayne Wade – BA (Hons) in Accounting

Name: Tara Jayne Wade

School:  Jesus and Mary Secondary School, Enniscrone, Co. Sligo

Tell us a little bit about yourself and what led you to choosing your course: 

I am 21 years old. I live in Easkey Co. Sligo. I always had a love for accounting all throughout the Leaving Cert. when I had to choose a college course I was advised by many people not to do accounting straight away everyone said to do a business course and branch out into accounting. This was the worst decision I ever made. I went to University of Limerick and done their Business course for one year and it really was not for me the only module I enjoyed was the accounting ones.  I don’t know why but ATU Sligo should have being the first on my list with it being 40 minutes away from home but at the time I wanted to get away and “fly the nest”. I wish I could have chose ATU Sligo first but every experience teaches you a lesson.  

What specifically about the course do you particularly enjoy: 

I enjoyed the content of the modules you range from Financial Reporting (the accounts/figures) to Company Law to Tax. It is an extremely interesting course and the lecturers are top class. They really keep it so interesting and relevant to real life. The lecturers make the course because of their attention to each individual student with small class sizes they get to know you your not just a number. You grow to have great friendships and ones for life. 

What is the best thing about your course that you think new applicants should know: 

That ATU Sligo has the maximum exemptions for all the professional exams. I was not aware of this before I started the course. In my own case, I have chosen Chartered Accountants Ireland exams and I will be exempt completely from CAP 1.  

If you were speaking with a first year student about to start your course, what advice/information would you give them: 

Keep on top of the work and it will never be a huge workload. Do not be afraid to ask the lecturers for help they are there to facilitate you and guide you through everything.  Achieve a balance between studying and your social life ensure you still have a good time the three years fly by. 

If you are involved in Sport, volunteering, working or have other passions you pursue outside of your academic life, can you tell us about that.  Especially mention any Teams, Clubs or Awards. 

My other passions are makeup skincare and music. I completed all of my music grades and I set up my own music school and teach students on weekday evenings. They take part in the Royal Irish Academy Of Music Exams. I worked on the weekends to fun my college so I did not have much time to join any clubs and societies as well as this living at home and having a music school to run it was hard for me to be joined into any club as I may not be in Sligo when events were running.  

What are your plans after ATU Sligo and any long term goals you are aiming for: 

I have obtained a training contract with Mulhern Leonard in Boyle.  I hope to successfully complete my Chartered Accountants Ireland Exams and following this possibly travel  or take any position that comes my way as well as taking well deserved time out after all the years of study but I’m sure all the hard work will be worth it.  

Find out more about AU902 Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Accounting