<p>I guess it depends on school, but I agree you do not always need BAP to get access to networking events. My school’s accounting club has all the access you need. Always join the accounting club at your school, no reason not to.</p>
<p>Hi everyone, </p>
<p>should I take calculus courses if I plan on getting a masters in accounting after my undergrad? I’ve only taken business calculus; do most admission requirements for MSA require calculus courses?</p>
<p>I’m worried that only taking business calculus is a stupid decision in the long run.</p>
<p>No, hannet. That will not matter.</p>
<p>For a non-accounting major in undergraduate, such as myself, what would be an ideal job to get while pursuing a master’s in accounting? I’ve heard bookkeeping or any type of accounting related job, but if I was somehow not able to get that type of job, would any other field in business be okay? I’m looking for a source of income while I pursue my master’s but also want something that will make sense to the recruiter or company I am applying to once I finish my masters. Basically, is it absolutely necessary to get an accounting job while I’m studying for my masters? Any experience/advice in this would be great, thanks.</p>
<p>Taxguy: I have come across your comments in several cc posts when I’m surfing for “word on the streets” answers. I really value your opinions and knowledge that you offer in these discussion forums. I’m hoping that you will give me some feedback (I’ll try to keep it concise).</p>
<p>This spring I’ll graduate a National Collegiate Scholar, officer of the Honor Society, and magna cum laude from Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA). My major here is Business Administration. I am so confused where to apply for my transfer. My mother lives here in VA, however I’m originally from New York and I lived a little in NYC on my own after high school before I came to VA to start college. I have money saved, possible scholarship or two, support from my parents, financial aid/student loans all set (i.e. I’m more or less prepared to go where ever I choose).</p>
<p>The dilemma is that (like many) I want to get into investment banking. NOVA offers “guaranteed admissions” to all VA schools, but not all are guarantees to a specific school or program (namely business schools). In January I will be applying to 4 VA schools and 3 New York City schools. I’ll state the school, and major. </p>
<p>What I want to know is which is the better option if I am ultimately trying to compete for investment banking.</p>
<p>UVA, College of Arts & Sciences - major Financial Economics
JMU, business school - major Finance or Accounting
GMU, business school - major Finance or Accounting</p>
<p>NYU, Stern - major Finance or Accounting
Baruch, business school - major Finance or Accounting
St. John’s or RIT, business school - major Finance or Accounting</p>
<p>Then one more Virginia school but I haven’t decided. What can you tell me? Bare in mind I’m not 100% sure I’ll be accepted into all my choices, but that is where I’m applying. So provided that I’m accepted what do you think? I really appreciate any and all opinions. Btw, I know that the cost of living in NYC is expensive. I’ve factored in cost and expenses already. What I want to know is, out of the list I gave, what is seemingly the better choice if I am to seriously pursue investment banking after college.</p>
<p>^^Why did you come on to a 2,300 comment thread about accounting to ask about investment banking?</p>
<p>I have a question to those working in public accounting:</p>
<p>Graduated with a BBA in Business Admin and Computer Information Systems, and graduating again with a 2nd BBA in Accounting. Planning on doing a MAcc program BUT my question is about specialization. As far as Big 4 will I be more marketable specialized in Tax or Information Systems Auditing and Control (ISAC)? </p>
<p>I love tax, I work in tax currently for a small CPA firm and I originally sat for the LSAT intending to go into Law School to be a Tax Attorney so I’m leaning in that direction.</p>
<p>This answer isn’t really a yes or no type answer. It really depends on the office you are applying to. Work fluctuates but tax work is extremely steady in my experience. Don’t go for the MSA after the 2 BA’s I would consider you slightly overeducated after those degrees. Student loans may pile up if you have to self fund. We had some idiot apply to our firm for a tax season position and the dumbass has 3 associates degrees, 3 bachelors degrees and an MBA. The guy is 30 years old and has never held a full time job. His mommy supports his education addiction. Needless to say the interview was a hell of a lot of fun for us and not for him. We didn’t hire his ass. The guy should have gotten his BA and just started working he would have looked more competitive that way. </p>
<p>A masters of tax usually looks good though if you are going into tax. This is because most undergraduate degrees don’t have a lot of tax courses. At least in my area.</p>
<p>My question is pretty simple, but vague in its simplicity… does being an accountant genuinely require a fiery passion for numbers and a strong set of analytical skills? Does the average high school senior who’s looking for a stable future and who’s good if not great at math stand a chance?
Oh, I guess my question is a 2-parter: (I’m really bad at using the search function) what kind of maths do accountants work with?</p>
<p>Thank you ValleyAccountant, I appreciate that view on the situation. I guess you could say I was planning on the MAcc doing a tax focus track as a way to look more attractive to large firms because of my GPA. </p>
<p>From 18 - 24 I managed 50 hours a week for various fortune 500 companies which caused my first degree GPA to suffer (2.88). When I realized my passion for accounting, I signed on for a 2nd BBA, only another 30 credits because I am at the same school, and only 1 year of my life. Unfortunately, I forgot that even though I am completing a new degree everything just keeps tacking onto the same GPA. Every accounting class I’ve ever taken has been a 4.0 and will be as I finish out, but the highest I can pull up to is a 3.2 because of having so many credits.</p>
<p>A couple of PWC and EY recruiters who graduated from our school visited last week. EY basically told me I need to do the masters program if I want recruited (because of the GPA, they aren’t allowed to interview anyone under a 3.3) where PWC was a little less concerned about it. Not that these are my only options, but I would like to say these firms are my future goal. </p>
<p>My plan is to graduate next fall and start sitting for the CPA. I’ll have all my requirements met for licensing which if I decide not to do a masters I hope the CPA will make up for the undergraduate missteps I made early on and if not then the MAcc was my backup plan.</p>
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<p>I like my job. A little less right now when I’m working 65 hours a week, and it will only get worse, but i like it. But I have seen other people say this on this board. What the heck does having a passion for accounting mean?! I am passionate about a great many things but accounting is not one of them. Do you get excited at the thought of goodwill being impaired or analyzing the way a company is recording inventory? I mean, really…?</p>
<p>I get excited when I’m about to impair some ass</p>
<p>i mean assets</p>
<p>In my case with tax yes because I enjoy the complexity in regards to having passion within the field. I have to admit, I’m a little turned off by audit, and after a lady I spoke with told me as a cost accountant for a private company she specifically maintains 6,000 fixed assets I really learned to appreciate my special area more. Considering I went into college writing computer programs I am excited to find an area where my personality, management ability, and logical reasoning can all be applied. </p>
<p>WorkingAtbig4 I’ve been a long-time lurker here and can see how proud you are of yourself, because you have a career that not just any “kid with a dream” can break into. I want that, too. </p>
<p>As a person, I am just passionate about my work no matter what my work might be. Even if you are working 65 hours a week, and get 8 hours of sleep, that still leaves 50 hours in a week to appreciate what you do and how it opens up other opportunities, not to mention down time at work. </p>
<p>Life is short and all that jazz.</p>
<p>Also, funny you mention impairment, I just did a FASB and IFRS presentation on Impairment and Long-lived assets. Can’t say I was very passionate about that, to be honest.</p>
<p>I have several questions and concerns that im sure any accounting major would appreciate input on. What is the best path as far as job outlook, marketability, earning capacity and all that good stuff? Should one simply get a masters in accounting, or would double majoring/minoring be better? If so how about accounting/finance or accounting/economics, which would be better? What about specialization?? I hear tax could be good, but what about the outsourcing. That then rises accounting information systems. Anyone whith any experience, advise or input would be appreciated.</p>
<p>The only thing that I would imagine can be outsourced is tax compliance. Data entry after decisions have been made is relatively easy. Tax planning, audit representation and tax strategy is not something that can be outsourced. Partners and managers need to meet face to face with the client and maintain a very strong relationship. WE NEED THEIR INFORMATION. Also in many industries foreigners are not trusted. As I deal with farmers if you are going into an agricultural speciality or food manufacturing you need to know english very well and lose your accent. We had about a dozen asians apply for a staff accounting position last year. All were excellent on paper but we could never put them in front of a client. Their verbal communication skills were at around a 3rd grade level. Some of them had even graduated from top tier schools like UC Berkeley. </p>
<p>In school you get tons of time to prep for a presentation so these asians can memorize responses. In real life sometimes you have to just wing it when a wealthy client comes calling. Verbal communication is more important than technical skills. Getting information from clients can be challenging at times and getting them to trust you is even harder. </p>
<p>The clients need to realize that they need to consult you before making decisions. We had a huge client once that paid his employees christmas bonuses in $1000 gift cards. While it was very nice thing to do he didn’t tell us about it, wrote it off as some other type of expense and eventually wound up being audited. He owed a lot of payroll taxes and penalties.</p>
<p>^^There is TONS of audit and tax work being outsourced that was being done by interns and first years. It is not a fail-safe system…YET, but many people within the Big 4 believe the trend will continue and you will see less people being offered internships and full-time jobs. </p>
<p>This work is your simple ticking and tying and strategic decisions and face time with clients is still, of course, being handled by US staff…but the possibility of a decrease in hiring is definitely real.</p>
<p>Hi, Im new to here, and have a question about the accounting job. So I just finished the certificate in Accounting from UCLA Extension with GPA 3.6, and I dont have any accounting related working experience. My BA was in Bioscience, so it wouldnt help with accting job search at all. I know a partner from KPMG and he’s willing to help me out. At this point, I am wondering if its very difficult for me to get into Big 4 since my background is pretty weak… although I have sort of network… your opinions are much appreciated. Thanks</p>
<p>GPA is only one measure of performance. GPA is also a very bad measure of performance. Extracurriculars, work experience (any type), leadership positions, school name and second languages are all good paper criteria. After your paper gets you the interview it is up to you to get the interviewers to like you. </p>
<p>GPA is very relative also. In many cases a 3.5 gpa will beat out a 4.0. The latter applicant could be on his seventh year of college and taking 12 units a semester with summers off. This 4.0 person could never have had a job and had no participation in anything outside of school. The former (3.5 gpa person) could have been the president of accounting society, taken 20 units a semester, volunteered at the homeless shelter while working 25 hours a week at an internship. </p>
<p>GPA is relative it must be taken into context. There are a ton of people with good grades. There are very few people that can balance good grades, work, and leadership positions. This being said public accounting is hard work and it would be a very difficult transition from 15 units a semester with no work and summers off.</p>