<p>Quick question regarding Big 4 summer internships and MSA programs. According to the regular timeline, Big 4 internships are supposed to take place the summer before you plan to accept the full time offer. For many, that would be between graduating from undergrad and the MSA program. But I just thought to myself, dont most MSA programs start during June, which is the same time that the summer internships start? I must be missing something, because I know this is a very common timeline of events for many looking into the Big 4. How could one start a full time summer internship at a Big 4 if it conflicts with an MSA program?</p>
<p>My son’s internship with a Big 4 company took place after his junior year of college–and he was offered a full-time position at the end of that summer, before his senior year, which he accepted. He then started his MSA program immediately after graduation, and was able to complete it while working for the Big 4 Company.</p>
<p>Interesting. From all that I’ve seen, you generally intern between undergrad graduation and the MSA program if you need a fifth year the 150 credits. Never heard of someone doing the MSA during full time employment.</p>
<p>There were many students in his program–it was offered by UCONN and involved online courses interspersed with live classroom discussions and lectures. I can’t remember how long it took him to complete, but I know that he was working with a number of other students, and his company paid for it and allowed him time off when the classes were meeting. I think that a lot of the meeting were in the evening after work.</p>
<p>One of my roommates interned the summer before senior year, got an offer, and is currently getting her MSA. Once she finishes grad school she’ll start working.</p>
<p>My brother interned the summer between senior year and his MSA, got an offer, did the MSA program, and then started working. Not all MSA programs start in June - his didn’t start until fall semester.</p>
<p>I’ve received confirmation from someone involved in the program that the MAS program (Their MAS is for undergrad accounting students, while their MSA is for non-accounting students) at UIUC starts in June if you arent a current undergrad Illinois student. In other words, any accounting students wanting to do their master’s at UIUC from other schools will start in June. Seeing that this top program does it, I figured other top programs might as well. Hopefully I’m wrong. </p>
<p>And for the record, the only reason I’d consider the extra money for a “top program” is to end up in a big city. I’m currently in Florida, and there arent as many post-Big 4 F500 opportunities here as there would be in Chicago, NYC, Boston, etc. But if I decide to stay in FL, I have no plans to go to a top program and spend all that extra money.</p>
<p>HI,
I am graduating in December and will be interviewing soon. I will have a BS in accounting. I thought about continuing my education and getting my MSA so I can get the other 19 credits I need to sit for the CPA exam (the MSA program is 30 credits) but I only need 19 more but will need to take all 30 in upper grad accounting courses as opposed to just 19 in any elective if I dont do the MSA and just take classes for the cpa. anyway, do you all recommend starting work first or getting the MSA. In particular, if I was lucky enough to get a job in December with one of the Big 4, do they then have you take classes on the side to complete the rest of the credits you need for the CPA? Do they offer training classes that count towards the CPA? Do they expect to you to get your CPA in so many years? Would it help to get hired if I had my MSA or not really? I am thinking not if I have all the requirements to sit for the cpa except for the 19 credits just to make up for the 150? Thanks.</p>
<p>My understanding from your other post is, you’ve already met the accounting requirement, all you need is the 19 units in anything, correct?<br>
If that’s the case, if you get offers from big 4 thru the fall recruitment, I don’t see any benefits to do a MSA. Just request a start day in Sep next year, take the 19 units in any subjects in a community college next winter/spring and prep for your CPA exam at the same time (BECKER review, or whatever). If unfortunately, you don’t get any offers, then do the MSA, so you have a second chance for big-4 recruitment.
As long as you meet the CPA educational requirement, the firms don’t care much you have a MSA or a BS in Acct.</p>