<p>I am currently attending UMD-College Park. I have lived in Maryland all my life, and would like to move to South Cali after I graduate and work for the big 4. In order to work in LA, will I need to pass the CPA exam in Cali? Also, do you guys think it will be better to get a MAcc at USC after I graduate out of here or should I get the 150 done here at MD and then take the test in Cali? Will the school affect my chances of working at a big4 firm in LA?</p>
<p>USC’s Leventhal school of accounting (inside Marshall school of business) is one of the top 5 accounting programs in the country. It’s basically an accounting factory for the Big 4 firms. </p>
<p>If you want to be an accountant in LA, there is no better place to have on your resume than USC.</p>
<p>In general, passing the exam isn’t going to affect your chances of getting a job because offers are usually given well before candidates have a chance of sitting.</p>
<p>If you want to work in California, then you shoould apply and sit for California, but you don’t physically need to take the exam in California. You can sit for any state (as long as you qualify under their rules) and physically take the exam anywhere.</p>
<p>You’re going to want to be qualified to sit before you start working. You can do that in either MD or CA–if you do it in Maryland, you just interview with the local offices and they will happiliy refer to you CA for the second interviews. If you have to take additional classes, however (i.e. can’t get the 150 in undergrad and need a MAcc), it might not be a bad idea to do it in CA to simplify the recruiting process.</p>
<p>how much do accountants at big four firms make out of college, 5 years after, and 10 after that???</p>
<p>not that much.</p>
<p>I don’t think the value of working at the big4 is the salary your making, but the doors it opens up later in your career…</p>
<p>yea i just wanted to know though</p>
<p>big4 get paid best out of most accountants. besides those accountants who own their own firms or move on into more lucrative jobs, big4 accountants make the most money. </p>
<p>I’ve heard big4 entry-level is like $50,000 salary with a 10-12% increase a year. After a few years, this starts to amount to quite a good salary.</p>
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Sure is better than the salaries of some Humanities majors!!</p>
<p>Yeah, but many have to work 70-80 workweeks for much of the year, which is not the route everyone is willing to take. That said, after working there for 3-4 years it will open a lot of doors.</p>
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The 70-80 hr weeks come from tax season. At other times, especially during the summer, its not as demanding. More like 50.</p>
<p>everyone i talked to that is an accounting major in levanthal has a job offer… and its not limited to accounting jobs. Some of my friends have jobs offers in consulting and ibanking. Apparently accounting is really in demand.</p>