<p>I attend Baruch College, and it’s not required of all business majors. I forget the name of what it’s called, but a quick google search for Baruch’s acc2203 will tell you what’s required of non-accounting majors. Accounting majors take cost accounting instead.</p>
<p>The only exam remaining is the final, and it’s worth 35%, and also is cumulative. After thinking about my situation since my post, I’m pretty much set on withdrawing unless someone points out I’m being irrational.</p>
<p>Hi, my first question on this thread. What is your view on Liberal Art Colleges offer Accounting degree and the college is not accredited by AACSB? Should I forgo the small class size and the quality of the program and go for the accredited ones? Because the accredited institutions has a set of standards whereas LAC don’t?</p>
<p>AACSB is NOT required particularly for a job or for an interview. Doesn’t anyone read my first post here? It is nice and useful for getting into graduate programs that are AACSB accredited.</p>
<p>Also, as long as the business program is AACSB accredited, you don’t need it for the accounting program too. My take is that if you are attending a good school, feel that you are getting a good education, don’t worry about the AACSB. It is nice to have, but is only an optional extra benefit.</p>
<p>I know a neighbor who’s a CPA who works for the government, and he makes 98k per year. That pretty awesome in today’s economy imo.</p>
<p>Can some of you guys answer my question on how important the statement of purpose essay is for masters of accounting programs. My GMAT will probably be 20 points below average, will a great essay make up for that deficiency?</p>
<p>If you are within range of what they want, even if below median, your statement can make the difference. It might also make the difference if you emphasize something highly desirable that the school didn’t know: i.e. you won some special award, wrote a book, participated in the Olympics etc. My son applied to a grad program and was at least 100 points below the medium GMAT for his school. However, there was an essay as to why he wanted to go to that school. My son wrote one of the best, creative essays I have ever seen. It might have made the difference. He also did one other very important thing: He want to the school’s open house and personally met the dean. Don’t forget business schools understand the importance of networking and one-on-one communication in business. I guess my son impressed the dean since he was admitted, although provisionally, Just an aside,despite being admitted provisionally, my son graduated with highest distinction from the masters program and was the top student. So much for the correlation with GMATS.</p>
<p>Thx taxguy, could you tell me if this seems like a good topic to write about. I’m writing about how I believe accounting is the best career for me, the fact that I came to the US as a kid and hardly knew any English, the fact I got a bachelor’s degree despite this, and the fact that I ran a small business for a short time (a few months).</p>
<p>Also, is there a place I can get my essay evaluated?</p>
<p>That might be good. My son’s essay was about why he wanted to go to a specific school. It is hard to figure out what topic would get you the biggest bang.</p>
<p>I have worked for 2 public accounting firms and I am currently a senior. I recently jumped ship to a national firm where I primarily do tax compliance and consulting for corporations. I only have a bachelors degree in accounting and graduated from a very low ranking school with top grades. </p>
<p>To the guy that is having a hard time with the first accounting course you may want to reconsider your career path. If you have a hard time with that I can only imagine what upper division courses will be like for you or the CPA exam. The latter is far more difficult than the former. I have known licensed attorneys that failed the CPA exam but could pass the BAR. The CPA exam is VERY hard. </p>
<p>Accounting is not about intelligence although a base level is probably necessary to grasp the concepts. It is mostly about commitment and focus. The latter is the most important. If you cannot focus for extended periods of time you have no business in accounting. There have been days where I have gone 5-6 hours straight without a meal or a bathroom break until my mind turned to jello.</p>
<p>I don’t know anything about grad school FYI. I may go back to school but right now work consumes my life. FYI you don’t need a masters to be successful as a CPA. The masters only matters to get you the job. After that performance is what matters. It doesn’t matter if you have an MSA from UT Austin pedigree if you can’t meet your budgets and deadlines. Partners and managers want people on their teams that will make them money by billing hours making deadlines and meeting budgets. I don’t care what school you graduated from if I am reviewing your work and your 1120 and M3 cannot be tied to your workpapers and your workpapers cannot be tied to the PBC’s you have made mistakes. Continue ****ty performance after your 6 month to 1 year staff anniversary and you can get fired or pushed out. My advice is stay cheap accredited and CPA eligible and work on your leadership skills. Don’t go into debt!</p>
<p>ijamjl,</p>
<p>You should withdraw. It is going to ruin your GPA and you wont be able to apply to any internships, especially when you are a transfer student and do not have many credits. Currently, at Baruch College, I think that in each upper level accounting class, 60% is always failing.</p>
<p>Tosh,</p>
<p>Thanks for the advice. The mean grade for the class was around 75 so I doubt that, even with a curve, I would have a decent grade.</p>
<p>Going to the registrar today.</p>
<p>@ Valley and/or Taxguy
I’m also wondering how much companies care about what school you got you degree from. I know the Big 4 have their target schools and if you’re not from one your chances of getting in are slim, but what about medium and small sized firms? What about corporations, do they care where you went to school. Or does is the only important thing that your school is accredited and nobody really cares if its a certificate, bachelors, or masters?</p>
<p>I wouldn’t say your chances are “slim” if you went to a non-target school. Recruiting is case specific and there are many non-target school kids that are hired by the big 4 and other national firms every year. I went to a non-target school and had an offer from a big 4. If you are at a non-target school you will have to impress with higher grades and better undergraduate leadership than your target school counterparts to win the same job. Experience always trumps school name though. After 2 years in the public accounting and a senior promotion it won’t matter if you went to podunk state. Many of the target school kids will burn out just like the non target. I wouldn’t recommend quitting and jumping to industry before the 3 year mark though. Someone with 1 year of accounting experience at the big 4 or another firm typically doesn’t know ****. It takes 3-5 years to be a somewhat stand alone professional. </p>
<p>Thats my 2 cents</p>
<p>I haven’t visited here in a while. I am here to answer any questions that you noobs may have.</p>
<p>Background: 3rd year as a senior at Big 4, CPA and CFA Level 3 Candidate looking towards going to business school in the upcoming years.</p>
<p>I’m looking to complete a program after college to sit for the CPA in California. I will be many years out of college and I am curious if accounting firms like big 4 and smaller regional ones discriminate based on age say mid twenties to early thirties? Will I be stuck progressing if I want to look for work at a Fortune 500 or a finance firm later after leaving? Can I still get a big 4 job if all I have are classes completed to sit for the CPA exam at a community college, barring going to 4 year or a csu be costs are too much and I have a diploma in another field?</p>
<p>Is accounting still a solid field to break into or should I consider something else?</p>
<p>Also, does the work hours get better once you leave the big 4 and better pay at 80k to 100k range as I see some reports in California, is this a more than comfortable stable career path since I’m switching midway through my twenties?</p>
<p>I’m pretty sure if you’re in your twenties, you’re fine. If you’re going into your thirties, then I can’t really speak for it because I’m currently a student still. However, I’m making my assumption based on other threads/comments I’ve read.</p>
<p>Viddar, although firms tend to interview at select schools in different areas, I have found that if you have a very strong GPA and good interview skills, it won’t matter. You can get an interview. I interviewed and got a job in Florida even though I attended school in Manhattan, NY.</p>
<p>Viddar, see my responses.
I’m looking to complete a program after college to sit for the CPA in California. I will be many years out of college and I am curious if accounting firms like big 4 and smaller regional ones discriminate based on age say mid twenties to early thirties?
Dawg: Mid twenties, not that big of a deal, but you will be hired as a noob.
Will I be stuck progressing if I want to look for work at a Fortune 500 or a finance firm later after leaving?
Dawg: Yes your career is essentially over.
Can I still get a big 4 job if all I have are classes completed to sit for the CPA exam at a community college, barring going to 4 year or a csu be costs are too much and I have a diploma in another field?
Dawg: You need go to a legit grad school if you really want a solid shot at Big 4 through career services.
Is accounting still a solid field to break into or should I consider something else?
Dawg: It pays the bills.</p>