Monica Bischoff had never lived outside of Texas when she left for a 12-week financial internship with Microsoft in Redmond, Washington this past summer. While she admits that the adjustment to living and working on her own was difficult, she found her time with Microsoft too rewarding to say anything less than positive about the experience.

“The sense of community I gained from the other interns made the transition much easier,” Bischoff says. “They provided support and friendship from the beginning. My 20th birthday fell only two weeks after I arrived in Redmond, and the other interns arranged a surprise party!”

Bischoff, a junior Forty Acres Scholar pursuing majors in finance, business honors and history, says her time at Microsoft was a period of both professional and personal growth.

“I gained an understanding of the lifestyles of corporate-finance professionals at a large technology company,” Bischoff says. “And now my classes seem to have greater meaning because I can relate the lessons directly to my work experience.”

Interning in the finance rotation program at Microsoft allowed Bischoff to work in four business groups. She also worked on a small team that gave a presentation to the chief financial officer of Xbox. In addition to gaining experience analyzing discounting trends and distributing sales reports, Bischoff was able to meet and live with interns from around the world. Together they spent time exploring the Pacific Northwest.

“At the Microsoft Intern Signature Event, Macklemore opened for Deadmau5 in a private concert at the Boeing factory,” Bischoff says. “We visited Vancouver twice and stayed a weekend in Whistler's Peak. We hiked Lake Serene and Mount Si, and we camped out for a music festival in Eastern Washington at the Gorge Amphitheater."

Bischoff's time at Microsoft isn't over. After she completes a study abroad trip to Russia next summer, Bischoff will return to Redmond to participate in her final two business groups. This will follow a school year of continued participation in Alpha Xi Delta and the Texas Undergraduate Investment Team, garnering her even further experience in finance.

“The Forty Acres Scholars Program has given me the support and network to achieve my dreams while at the University of Texas and beyond,” Bischoff says. “These last two years have been filled with the most amazing experiences a college student could hope for, and I could not be more grateful.”