taxguy

WowLOL, if you have over a 3.5 overall GPA and the same in accounting, you will be quite competitive for any accounting position.

Also, It is nice to see other accountants posting on this forum. Welcome Thetaxdad.

Thetaxdad

Thanks for the welcome taxguy - I know these forums answered a lot of burning questions in my mind as a young student.

JoeyLi

Thanks, taxguy and all. What you provided is very useful for me, a foreign young man who is going to study in the undergraduate colleges in the U.S next year.

But....Er....I still have some questions to ask.

You mean, if a college is accredited, it doesn't matther how it's ranked, and whether to go to Stern or Baruch College would make no difference?

As a Chinese, in high school, I've got some nation-level acadamic achievements, a period working experience in a network company, Alibaba, and a high SAT grades, so I think it's likely to be accepted by some well-known business college, such as Stern.
But now that there's no difference between Stern and other accredited college in the field of accounting, I wonder if I should choose the other majors, such as finance?

liore123

everything you wanted to know about accounting: it is not recession proof. even with a 3.5 gpa with big 4 internships, you may not be able to find a job. the truth hurts

plscatamacchia

Joey, while you are correct that being aascb accredited will even out most oppurtuinties, the benefit of attending a top school would be a wider range of recruiting events.

JoeyLi

Thanks.
And...Are the similar rules fit with that of finance?...

plscatamacchia

No, not at all. Finance is much more dependent on quality of the instituion/program.

JoeyLi

So, if one can enter a college with high quality of program, it's better for him or her to choose finance as major?

creamgethamoney

well that partly depends on what exactly you want to do in finance. A lot of people say that getting a job in corporate finance or commercial banking is relatively easy even if you don't go to an elite school, but for things like investment banking or management consulting, you'll definitely want to go to a top school (unless you're fine with working at small boutiques)

dotdude

Is it difficult to not work as an accountant with a CPA/accounting specialization (while obviously still working in business)?

Thetaxdad

If you are in public accounting most firms will not promote you to upper management unless you have a CPA. Many positions in upper management in industry also prefer that the CPA certification is held by those people as well.

shrek431

Hi all, I am an international student with F-1 visa and I’m currently studying in a 4year universtiy (Nicholls State University, LA) with accoutning major. For last few months, I’ve been looking this thread and since I’m also an accounting major I have few questions to ask. I would appreciate if any of you guys could answer it.
The business school and the accounting department of NSU are AACSB accreditated. The thing is along with Accounting I want to do double major in another subject too. But I am not sure of the other subject. For now I’ve been thinking of Economics, Finance, and Information system. Which one will be the better option for me?
Also, being an international student what are the difficulties I might face after graduating to get a job? And will it be a plus point for me if I do a double major? I’m also thinking to give the CPA test after completing the req. credit hours. Will it be easier to get a job if I complete my masters? Also is it compulsory to have some work experience to get in a graduate school? I will pursue my masters in accounting so is the work experience necessary to get in the graduate school for accounting. I would really appreciate if I could get the answers.

Thanks.

kundanp333

I have only read up to page 20 of the thread (will read the rest at a later time) but I am seeking immediate help.

I just graduated from UCI with a major in economics and a minor in management (i really should have picked accounting as the minor). After graduating, I decided to pursue accounting (i took intro to financial accounting, loved it). My gpa isnt too high, 3.29.

Ideally, i want to be a CPA. I don't know which route to take, but i want to take the shortest one. I would like to know the benefits and disadvantages in taking this route.

Since i have already spent many dollars in tuition at UCI, i would like to take the most cost efficient route and i was thinking about taking the classes at a junior college (online maybe?). I am unaware if these classes meet the required education to be eligible to take the CPA exams. All the JCs around my area are WASC accredited. I will try to take as many qualified classes as i can at the JCs (yes, multiple JCs) to save money and then take the rest at a university. Will taking these accounting classes hinder my success as being hired at the big 4 in the future since they are from different places or it will be okay just as long as I ace them?

Masters in Acct?

Any Recommendations?

2VU0609

You need to research the state board of accountancy's requirements for the accounting classes. Some states will take cc classes; however, beyond the two introductory classes, financial and managerial, cc classes in my state are designed to provide occupational training for bookkeepers, which is not the education needed to successfully navigate the CPA exam.

Thetaxdad

Sounds like the MAcc may be a good route for you. As stated above, check with your state board of accountancy for specifics in your state. Also as stated many times on this thread - it doesn't matter where you take your accounting classes, as long as they are acceptable classes that meet your state board of accountancy's requirements. Getting into a Big 4 firm will come down to your GPA, your accounting GPA and you as a person.