wassup0723

I am a rising junior at NYU Stern. Our school designed a new degree program that will allow students to get BS and MS in Accounting in four and a half year. This program is designed in need of dealing with the new NY state law regarding CPA exam requirements. After August 1st 2008, students need 150 credits in order to sit for the CPA exam.

I have enrolled in this program because I thought it would be a good opportunity for me.
But there is a problem. I am not going to be an accountant for various reasons that I am not going to talk about here. I decided to enroll in this program because there were not much to prepare for me to be in this program. I intend to go into banking or possibly consulting.

In other words, I am now concerned that the companies would think that I am a student who is fixed on his mind to become an accountant. I will have BS in finance and BS/MS in accounting by the time I graduate and it obviously will seem as though my major interest is on accounting. (But it's actually reverse.)

Would you guys please give me some insights about this matter?
Should I drop out of the program and just pursue finance alone? or possibly finance and econ? or do you guys think the program will actually help me even in finance or consulting industry?

I seriously need some advice from all of you.
Thanks again.

Dawgie

Why are you getting an MS in accounting? The reason most people do it is to get the 150 credits for the CPA, or if they come from a completely different background they do the MS in accounting to met all class requirements to take the CPA. If your goal is become a certified CPA then you are better off doing an MSF.

sp1212

"I am not going to be an accountant for various reasons..."
Well there you go then, that's the answer to your question.

hupkorea

ha, I am a rising senior in Stern. AND I am doing the BS/MS joint degree in accounting program.

here's my advice. If you are intending to major in accounting to supplement your finance degree or get better job placement, you don't really need a master's degree in accounting. Double major in finance and general accounting will suffice. It also saves you $16000 in tuition.

As a master's degree candidate, you'll be taking VERY specialized accounting courses such as forensic accounting and M&A accounting. Chances are, you won't ever have to use that knowledge as an I-bank analyst or entry-level consultant. So unless you loved FA and MA to death, I'd recommend against getting the MS degree, especially if your main objective of getting a master is having a better resume.

that said, no finance employer will think getting a MS in accounting is a bad move. ESPECIALLY if your another undergrad major was in finance.