Lindsey Burstein, MSF ’22, spent five years in Washington, D.C., completing both her undergraduate and master’s degrees at the George Washington University School of Business. Through GW Business’s 4+1 program, she moved seamlessly from undergrad to graduate study, gaining advanced skills and professional connections in the heart of the nation’s capital.
Growing up just outside Philadelphia, she quickly made Washington her home, balancing school with exploration. “My friends and I would always go to new restaurants, and each week we would try a new one,” she recalls. “I loved to go on runs by the monuments and run on the stairs. The scenery offered the best run views.”
Staying at GW for her master’s through the 4+1 program felt like a natural choice.
I had such a great experience in undergrad, so when I saw the program was being offered, I was definitely interested in it. I was not interested in leaving D.C. I was excited to live there for another year.
She notes the program was challenging but appreciated how it allowed a smooth transition from her undergraduate experience and recommends it to prospective students.
Inside the classroom, Burstein credits GW Business professors with shaping her academic experience.
“They were all super knowledgeable about the experience they were speaking about,” she says. “In our program, they did a really good job of showing us how to apply the topics from class to real life.”
A standout project came from an investment class with Professor Rodney Lake. Students tracked a stock over the semester and pitched it at the end. Burstein presented Costco—the first stock she ever bought. “I always look at my Costco stocks and think of that presentation,” she says.
She also highlights Professor George Jabbour as a key influence. “I really loved Professor Jabbour. He taught a few of my classes, and I feel like he knew a lot. I learned a lot from him,” she says.
After completing her master’s, Burstein began her career in real estate finance at Dwight Capital in New York, where she now lives and works.
While her day-to-day work does not rely on every technical skill she learned in class, she says GW Business prepared her for critical thinking and problem-solving in a professional setting. “Honestly, I don’t think most of the topics are directly applicable to what I do because I’m in real estate finance now. But I think it’s more along the lines of how to think about certain things, which was helpful for this job,” she says.
Even though she did not find the position directly through GW, the network she built in D.C. proved invaluable. “The type of people you meet in D.C., you don’t necessarily find everywhere,” she says.
Burstein also formed lasting personal connections. Her roommate from her first year of undergrad through her master’s now lives in Connecticut. “I still talk to her all the time,” she says.
Currently, she is channeling her skills and drive into a new venture by building a fitness app with her coach. Being featured in GW Business’s marketing campaign brought a smile. “I told everybody, ‘I’m going to be famous,’” she laughs.
Her advice for future GW Business finance students reflects her experience entering the master’s program straight from undergrad.
The master’s program can be intimidating because there are a lot of people in the workforce. Sometimes I’d be like, ‘Oh, I should already know this.’ But I think definitely ask questions and communicate with professors. They are always very happy to help.