pokey07

Would a company view me negatively if I were to pursue a second bachelors in Accounting, rather than a Masters? It might be more favorable for me because I could complete it for cheaper.

taxguy

Pokey, frankly you can do either one. I personally believe that you would be better off with a masters in accounging though because you might get a slightly better off and it takes less time to complete.

pokey07

Ok thank you taxguy. I was also thinking if I were to do another Bachelors I could also do things like join Beta Alpha Psi and really beef up my resume. The grad programs I'm applying to either don't have a Beta Alpha Psi chapter, or they don't let you join as a Graduate student.

taxguy

Pokey, the only benefit that I got for being in Beta Alpha Psi was that I was referred students who needed tutoring in accounting that I was paid for. Other than that, I have NEVER, EVER been asked if I were a member of Beta Alpha Psi.

Thus, staying longer in college in order to become a member isn't worth it. Likewise, factoring in Beta Alpha Psi membership for evaluating graduate programs is also not worth it. Finally, grad programs don't care about Beta Alpha Psi members.

I do know that the business schools of the world would like you to think that membership in Beta Alpha Psi is the business equivalent of Phi Beta Kappa. In my opinion, this isn't true.

carolco

I don't know if it is entirely true that it doesn't matter what school you went as far as Big 4 job offers are concerned. Big 4 will certainly prefer someone from USC or UCLA or some expensive private university to a student from a state school. I know that for a fact since I have seen a disproportionate number of those who graduated from the top schools in Big 4.

a_mom

I've noticed the same thing in N. Calif. But the dominant campus is from local other than USC althought it's highly ranked.

Sam Lee

carolco,

if you are talking about LA offices, it doesn't mean much because usc/ucla graduate a lot more accounting majors than any other schools. other schools in so cal are either a lot smaller or don't offer accounting programs. most top schools actually don't have accounting programs. but the big4 do recruit students for top schools for their consulting practices.

bthomp1

What is a high gpa for accounting grads? At IU Bloomington the graduation gpa for accounting graduates is about 3.3, and probably considerably lower in accounting courses alone, probably no better than 3.0. Yet they are always ranked in the top ten in the Public Accounting Report survey, and are heavily recruited by big four and other companies. Surely the program's high ranking is offsetting the low gpa's relative to the gpa of accounting grads at the gazillion podunk U's that offer the accounting major.

carolco

There are several state universities (CSU system) in Southern California that have accounting programs with boatloads of students, yet Big 4 still would rather have someone from USC or UCLA. They even go as far as Utah, BYU to find new people and it's due to the high ranking of BYU. They do care about your school's ranking

Thetaxdad

bthomp1 - your GPA is still a major factor. Yes, you might get a better look due to the fact that you are at a highly ranked program, but your GPA still needs to be up there in order to get internviews. As for other "podunk U's" offering accounting programs, the thing about accounting is that the CPA exam is uniform, thus, the school does not matter so much, however, going to a ranked school will offer more opportunities through campus recruiting.

taxguy

Folks, I will say this the "Umteenth time," Yes, going to a highly ranked school vs Purdunk U, will get some more recruiters coming to the school. However, if you get a great GPA ( which is above a 3.5+ overall and especially in accounting), you can call most major accounting firms and get an interview even from Purdunk U. In fact, the Big 4, unless they have changed a lot in the last 20 years, will take a 3.6+ from Purdunk U than a 3.3 from a top 10 ranked school. GPA is KING for the big firms. Let me note that this applies only to the top 4-6 accounting firms in the US.There are, however, many lesser tiered accounting firms.

Lesser tiered firms, such as mid sized accounting firms, usually interview at the best known school in their local area. They will rarely travel to go to a top ranked school.Moreover, less tiered firms usually look to the applicants personality more than the Big 4. Thus, someone who has a lot of personality, might have a better chance with a mid tier firm even if their GPA isn't that stellar, although even these firms usually want at least a 3.0+.

creamgethamoney

Like the others guys have said, going to a better school will help CETERUS PARIBUS. If everything else is the same, then yes, getting a 3.7 from USC will look better than San Diego State, and the USC guy should get the job. However, USC/UCLA (btw, I've heard UCLA doesn't have that great of an accounting program and only the top few biz econ people get i-banking/accounting jobs...this is coming from people who go there too) are also much more competitive, so not only is getting a 3.7 from there going to be much more difficult, but if you end up getting a 3.3 (which is very respectable) vs a 3.7 at SDSU or something, the other guy will win, especially if they are also one of the best at their school in terms of extra curriculars and all that.

StephenR

"There are several state universities (CSU system) in Southern California that have accounting programs with boatloads of students, yet Big 4 still would rather have someone from USC or UCLA. They even go as far as Utah, BYU to find new people and it's due to the high ranking of BYU. They do care about your school's ranking"

Maybe it's changed since I went through this cattle call many years ago, but I doubt it.

It takes an awful lot of bodies to staff the Big 4 firms. The firms know what their attrition rate is and they must keep up with it in their hiring. They are also very pragmatic about what it takes to succeed at the job. A student who is personable and has a 3.5 or better GPA in accounting, which is a highly standardized course of study, is a pretty good bet regardless of which fully accredited school he or she attended.

These firms have their own prestigious brand names that reflect status on their recruits and even on their clients, so they don't necessarily favor prestigious schools in the same way that top law firms and consulting firms do.

When the cost of attending a private school or going out of town to a UC school is factored in it makes an accounting degree at the local Cal State school a screaming bargain. The fly in the ointment is that it is no easy feat to maintain a 3.5 GPA through an accounting program, whether at USC or at Cal State Northridge.

carolco

The reality is that I have a 4.0 overall and I tried every trick to demonstrate a great personality and other requisite skills and qualities but still the people from private universities, the expensive ones, and UCs were given preference. And I am positive not all of them had a 4.0 and were charming as Jay Leno. And I tried both Silicon Valley and Southern California.

sp1212

Jay Leno charming?