MORE ABOUT ZOË
Graduation Date: June 2008
Hometown: Crystal Lake, Illinois
High School: Crystal Lake Central High School
Awards & Achievements:
- University Honors
- Strobel Scholar
- Finance Honors Cohort member
- Ledger & Quill Success Through Scholarship recipient
- Accounting Club Scholarship recipient
- Ledger & Quill Student Merit Awards Scholarship recipient
- DePaul Bauer Scholarship recipient
- CFMA Gordon Marshall awards recipient
- Brian Campbell Finance Scholarship Award recipient
Campus Involvement:
- President of Beta Alpha Psi
- Past president of Golden Key Honour Society
- Past president of DePaul Women’s Soccer Club
- Supplemental Instructor for ACC 102
- Former member of Accounting Club
- Former Leadership Exploration at DePaul for Involvement participant
Current Employment:
- Deloitte Tax LLP and DePaul University
Zoë Soo Hoo
Area of Study:Accountancy and Finance
I chose my major because... it gives me the ability to work in any industry and firm. Accounting is a unique major in the sense that it allows people to pursue their passions while sustaining the continuation of a company. Plus, due to recent laws, there will be a very positive, stable job market for quite a while.
My favorite thing to do on campus is … work out at the Ray Meyer Fitness & Recreation Center. When I go there, I am able to enjoy working out while seeing and catching up with friends and peers. The facility is great and the activities and camaraderie make it a perfect environment to hone my skills and burn off steam.
I decided to attend DePaul because… I loved the atmosphere at the Lincoln Park campus and the setting of the Loop campus. DePaul has a prime location to experience a beautiful neighborhood in Lincoln Park while having the ability to network and experience the “real world” in the Loop.
When I have free time… I like to run. I participated in my first marathon in 2007. Running allows me to clear my brain, take a break from everything and keep in shape. Running has also been an outlet for me to explore the city and meet new people in the many running clubs throughout Chicago.
My favorite thing to do off-campus is… play soccer. The team unity of the sport has made me feel more connected with the city. Since my freshman year, I have played in many co-ed soccer leagues where I have met many good friends. I have also learned a lot from my teammates and the other players because they are often older and have gone through the experiences I am experiencing throughout my college career.
One thing I didn’t know about DePaul before coming was... the diversity of the student body. I was aware of the inclusive nature at DePaul, but I did not fully realize the extent to which it caters to various individuals until I walked around campus and met people in class.
The greatest thing about going to school in Chicago are... the resources and real world experiences available. Due to DePaul's location in the heart of the city, students have the ability to connect with both their peers and the community as a whole. Most colleges are in a setting where students may not interact with many personalities or experience situations that they will encounter throughout life. DePaul students can better prepare themselves for the challenges that lay ahead because they are surrounded by the city’s diversity.
My experience at DePaul as an accounting major... has been one my best academic and professional experiences. The accounting department, especially the Strobel Honors Program, prepares its students for the real world. Professors have been in the industry and know what it is like to work in the environment students will soon be entering. It is by far the best school in the university in my experience.
The best thing about DePaul is… the ability to participate in internships while attending DePaul as a full-time student. I have had the opportunity to fulfill five internships in three years in many industries — private, medium public, Big Four and industry. In choosing my first full-time job, I felt more informed than students from other schools did because I knew what different industries had to offer. I was also able to meet many professionals on a day-to-day basis due to the close proximity.
What I remember most about my current job and/or my internship… is flying out to Atlanta for an entire week and staying at the Ritz Carlton. During this trip, I met people from all over the country that I had been working with over the past three months. It was a fun time where I learned a lot more about my group and the company as a whole.
After graduation, I plan to work... at Deloitte Tax LLP as a tax consultant. One day I would like to become a professor and infuse the excitement and knowledge my professors have given me over the years. I also plan to continue my relationship with DePaul as an active alumna.
The one thing I’d like to say to students considering DePaul... follow your dreams. No matter where you go or what you do, following your passions will allow you to excel. DePaul allows students to explore and take control of their lives. Unlike most universities, students must interact with a community that is not sustained by the university which allows students to experience the responsibility of life.
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