Everything you wanted to know or should know about accounting

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1821

<p>The partners at regional firms earn around 150k–400k in my area. In my area that buys you more than 600k a year would buy you in new york. I also have a more realistic chance at making partner since there is less competition. Also the busy season is never more than 55-60 hours a week. </p>

<p>I have a friend the works at a big 4 in silicon valley in corporate tax. He works close to 80 hours a week year round. Adjusted for the cost of living he makes only 10k more per year than I do and he is a senior tax accountant with a specialty in high tech businesses. He has been with the firm for 4 years. He actually applied for a position at my firm but the partners couldn’t hire him since he has no agriculture experience. </p>

<p>Most people will never last at the big 4. I always laugh when an undergraduate that did an internship at a big 4 and thinks their disneyland introduction resembles real public accounting work.</p>

1822

<p>Working at the Big 4 is just like Navy SEAL training, you guys!!..except with slacks and excel spreadsheets!</p>

1823

<p>Valley, thank you for the clarification of GGU is more targeted for working adults/mid-career type. College is a business at the end. Each college has a market it serves. Most here are students or parents of students that not even start their career yet. Sometimes, information can be too overwhelming that it misleads.</p>

1824

<p>I am not sure what you are referring to as overwhelming. As an accountant I deal with what most people would consider an overwhelming amount of information on a daily basis.</p>

1825

<p>ValleyAccountant,</p>

<p>Thank you for sharing the info about GGU in this forum. That prompt me to research about them in continuing my education, and perhaps finishing my degree at GGU. I got to talk to them today, and it seems to me that they have a great accounting program for working adults. Because they are right in the financial district in San Francisco, they are well connected in the industry, and their educational programs cater to local accounting firms. I also like that they offer scholarships to students that have good GPAs. In that scholarship alone you can save up to 30% of your tuition.</p>

1826

<p>Yeah I should have told you about them earlier lusitano. Their MST program is excellent. I may commute to the bay area in a few years just to go to the on campus program in downtown SF. I don’t know why people go to the for profit’s like university of phoenix and devry when they could go to GGU for the same price. Probably because GGU actually has admissions standards. They do allow you to sub your cpa scores for the gmat or gre which is nice.</p>

1827

<p>I read that GGU’s MST program is well known across the country as being the biggest and the best. I was reading about who were their alumni, and it just blew me away.
I wouldn’t even compare University of Phoenix and DeVry, with GGU, because GGU specializes in a few “things” (business and law) and is extremely good at it. They are very well connected in the field!
Just so you know I started the application process to be admitted at GGU and I am very excited about it!</p>

1828

<p>be careful about the for-profit schools that are out to get people. before considering a regional private school, you have to ask:</p>

<p>is the gmat required? if so, what’s the average score?
how many people find jobs within 3 months of graduation?
what is the average starting salary?</p>

<p>the gmat score is usually a good indicator of the quality and reputation of the program. i would not recommend enrolling at a school which does not have the gmat requirement.</p>

1829

<p>I wouldn’t recommend Golden Gate University. It sounds so bootleg.</p>

1830

<p>With comments like that Dawgie, how can I take you seriously?<br>
I am very disappointed with SOME of the so called “experts” in this forum that I thought were interested in having a constructive conversation about accounting, and help new people in the field have a better understanding about it.
For the ones that seem to know very little about GGU, I encourage you to take the time to learn about this great university before putting out blurbs of negativity.</p>

1831

<p>How can you take me serious? It’s a for profit university with no GMAT requirement. Enough said. I am only imagine the caliber of students there.</p>

1832

<p>From princetonreview.com…</p>

<p>Average GPA (undergrad): 2.7
“We accept applicants on a ROLLING basis.”</p>

<p>And, the website says it has multiple locations along the West Coast and has “online courses that allow students to earn full degrees and/or professional certificates.” </p>

<p>Now, I can’t deduce that GGU is a bad school from those points, but I can infer that GGU looks a lot like a combo online school / glorified commuter school.</p>

1833

<p>trizz75: I didn’t even need research any further. I already know that is a garbage school just based on the factors I listed prior.</p>

1834

<p>Tuitions at top 10 accounting schools, according to us news and world report:</p>

<ol>
<li>University of Texas–Austin (McCombs)
In-state, full-time: $30,128 per year; Out-of-state, full-time: $45,128<br></li>
<li>University of Pennsylvania (Wharton)
Full-time: $48,550 per year<br></li>
<li>University of Chicago (Booth)
Full-time: $50,900 per year<br></li>
<li>University of Illinois–Urbana-Champaign
In-state, full-time: $17,500 per year; Out-of-state, full-time: $27,826 per year<br></li>
<li>University of Michigan–Ann Arbor (Ross)
In-state, full-time: $45,000 per year; Out-of-state, full-time: $50,000 per year<br></li>
<li>Stanford University
Full-time: $53,118 per year<br></li>
<li>Brigham Young University (Marriott)
Full-time: $10,280 per year<br></li>
<li>University of Southern California (Marshall)
Full-time: $44,917 per year<br></li>
<li>New York University (Stern)
Full-time: $44,400 per year<br></li>
<li>University of North Carolina–Chapel Hill (Kenan-Flagler)
In-state, full-time: $21,475 per year; Out-of-state, full-time: $43,599 per year<br></li>
</ol>

<p>BYU is the cheapest out of the top 10 schools at $10,280, while Chicago/Michigan being the most expensive at around $50k. </p>

<p>Now, having an idea of the tuition range at top schools, consider the following link:</p>

<p>[Tuition</a> and Fees - Tuition & Financial Aid - Admissions and Costs - Golden Gate University](<a href=“Golden Gate University”>Golden Gate University)</p>

<p>The tuition at GGU comes out to be around $2,500 for every 3-unit course. assuming 5 classes a semester and ONLY 2 semesters a year, that’s $25k right there.</p>

<p>The point i’m trying to make is that the annual tuition at GGU of $25k falls right in the range of the tuition at top 10 schools. </p>

<p>therefore, all else equal,
IF YOU ARE PAYING THIS MUCH FOR GGU, YOU MIGHT AS WELL GO TO A TOP SCHOOL. </p>

<p>and don’t give me that scholarship bs. most of the top schools offer tuition assistance as well, assuming you are able to impress them with your resume or convince them that you’re special with your essays.</p>

1835

<p>Out of curiosity, I also looked into GGU.</p>

<p>The school is private nonprofit, classified as National Universities. Although in many ways, it doesn’t seems to me a “traditional” college/university. It offers more certificate program than degree program. Majority of students are part-time. It definitely gears towards working adults. (see fast facts below)</p>

<ul>
<li><p>It has a good tax program coming from both graduate degree program and certificate programs. Deloitte recruits from GGU, but only for tax.
[Deloitte</a> Mobile](<a href=“http://careers.deloitte.com/united-states/students/csc_general.aspx?CountryContentID=16055]Deloitte”>http://careers.deloitte.com/united-states/students/csc_general.aspx?CountryContentID=16055)</p></li>
<li><p>The part-time law program ranked #46 in US News ranking</p></li>
<li><p>For undergraduate, stay away from it. The freshman retention rate is 50%, 4-year graduation rate is 0%
[Golden</a> Gate University | Best College | US News](<a href=“http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges/golden-gate-university-1205]Golden”>http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges/golden-gate-university-1205)</p></li>
</ul>

<p>=====================================
Fast Facts (GGU’s website [Fast</a> Facts - About GGU - Golden Gate University](<a href=“http://www.ggu.edu/about/FastFacts]Fast”>http://www.ggu.edu/about/FastFacts))</p>

<pre><code>* Founding date: 1901

  • Organization type: private nonprofit

  • Accreditation: Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC), American Bar Association (ABA), The State Bar of California and the Association of American Law Schools (AALS)

  • Programs offered: graduate and undergraduate degrees and certificates in law, business, taxation, accounting, finance, financial planning, information technology, and related professions such as psychology, health services management, human resources, marketing, project management and public administration

  • Number of graduate degree programs: 15 plus 24 concentrations

  • Number of graduate certificate programs: 21

  • Number of undergraduate degree programs: 2 plus 8 concentrations

  • Number of undergraduate certificate programs: 10

  • Number of online degree and certificate programs: 11 graduate degrees, plus 18 concentrations; 2 undergraduate degrees, plus 8 concentrations; 17 graduate certificates and 10 undergraduate certificates

  • Locations: main campus in San Francisco and teaching sites in Los Angeles, Seattle, and Silicon Valley

  • Average age of students: 34

  • Average class size: 15

  • Total graduate students: 4.376

  • Total undergraduate students: 602

  • Classes taught by practicing professionals: greater than 80 percent

  • Number of alumni: 67,000

  • Scholarship funds distributed: more than $4,171,076 to 627 students (in addition to federal loans)

  • Students attending part time: 82 percent

  • International student population: 12 percent, representing 60 countries

Statistical information is based on GGU’s enrollment for all programs in the 2009-2010 academic year.
</code></pre>

1836

<p>Note: The websites states "Statistical information is based on GGU’s enrollment for all programs in the 2009-2010 academic year. " But it doesn’t break down the number of students that pursuing the degree and certificate separately. </p>

<p>I couldn’t find the common data set for GGU and couldn’t find how many graduate degree it grants out of the 4K+ students from its website.</p>

1837

<p>I see a lot of smart people here, but some are just way too arrogant for my taste saying that GGU is for-profit (obviously I can’t take you seriously). a<em>mom, thank you for looking into it. Your information is accurate since I had already looked it up.
One other variable that I didn’t disclose is that, I live far away from all those top 10 schools, and I have a full-time job and a family that I provide for. None of them offer online bachelor’s degrees in accounting. As you can tell my only option is online and I know that limits me for my bachelors. I am looking at Brandman University and GGU, as it seems like they are my two best options online for a bachelor’s in accounting. I also looked at Northeastern University’s online bachelor’s program, but the only degree they have that is the closest to accounting, is a BS in finance and accounting management, which I think it wouldn’t serve me for my accounting course requirements.
A lot of your points are valid a</em>mom and gobluecpa, but I am trying to find a school that fits my situation. I am half-way through my bachelor’s and I plan on continuing my education towards taxation, that is why I think GGU is the best option for me unless you know of something else I overlooked. I have researched schools the last 4 months and I think I covered pretty much everything. Please let me know if I didn’t.</p>

<p>Thank you.</p>

1838

<p>One more thing, I am not looking to apply or work for a Big 4 company. I will be interested in working in agriculture (my background) for a local accounting firm, or perhaps IRS in taxation. I know some in this forum think that an older student has no chance in accounting, but that is what I am, an older student that is going to get his bachelor’s in accounting.</p>

1839

<p>Lusitano, personally I wouldn’t suggest to do online degree unless you just “need” a degree to move up within your company. For accounting, you don’t have to have a top-10 program. But a program that your future employers are familiar with will help. I didn’t read all your previous posts. Do you really need an accounting degree or an accounting certificate program is sufficient in your case?</p>

1840

<p>Hah I thought tax was boring, discussing how to get to 150 CPA hours is ridiculously boring.</p>