[sonygal57]

About Me:

I am working toward getting the CPA exams out of the way.

I graduated from Western International University with a 4.0 for my bachelors in accounting.

I currently work year-round at a McTax place (4yrs).

I do have my EA.

My Options:

WIU, UOP, NOVA (and other online schools)

State school where big four does campus recruiting (approx 90 miles away)

MAIN ?: I was wondering if I tried to get my masters from a college such as WIU, UOP, or Nova if I would be killing any shot I would have at a Big 4.

More info:

I am in a small town and would have to commute over 90 miles to go to the closest state school. I can’t move because I can’t afford to pay my mortgage and keep a second home (I don’t want to rely on selling or renting because neither market is good where I live). The commute would obviously be quite costly.

I am really considering returning to WIU for my masters because I can get the degree for less cost (including commute and living expenses) than any of the other schools I can find. What do you guys think?

Good old Gandalf, "All we have to do is decide what to do with the time that is give to us."
"Not all those who wander are lost."

FAR: I slayed the Dragon!
BEC: I defeated the Siren!
AUD: I eliminated Medusa!
REG: ?????

[kmaahs]

A while back I had my friend who worked at a big 4 handle my resume at a career fair at a state college where I got my non accounting undergrad. I was applying for an internship. I got my masters in accounting at a different public college a few years later. While the school isn't prestigious, it is accredited and 3/4 big 4 regularly recruit there. Since this firm wasn't at my graduate school, I went to the other schools fair and gave my resume to my friend. He told me he could essentially guarentee a first round interview. He was shocked to find out they declined me a week later. He talked to the lead recruiter and he simply said he doesn't work with my school.

My point in this ramble is that school does matter. It doesn't matter that I had a near perfect gpa, beta alpha psi involvement, vita, cpa exams passed. This guy threw my resume out, ignoring his recruiters great score on it.

And this was just for an internship…

I don't know about u of p, but do your best to get into the best and most well respected school possible.

C.P.A.

[kmaahs]

A while back I had my friend who worked at a big 4 handle my resume at a career fair at a state college where I got my non accounting undergrad. I was applying for an internship. I got my masters in accounting at a different public college a few years later. While the school isn't prestigious, it is accredited and 3/4 big 4 regularly recruit there. Since this firm wasn't at my graduate school, I went to the other schools fair and gave my resume to my friend. He told me he could essentially guarentee a first round interview. He was shocked to find out they declined me a week later. He talked to the lead recruiter and he simply said he doesn't work with my school.

My point in this ramble is that school does matter. It doesn't matter that I had a near perfect gpa, beta alpha psi involvement, vita, cpa exams passed. This guy threw my resume out, ignoring his recruiters great score on it.

And this was just for an internship…

I don't know about u of p, but do your best to get into the best and most well respected school possible.

C.P.A.

[ParanoidAndroid]

I wen to a state university and Big 4 and other large firms completely ignore me because this school's program is not well recognized..It's AACSB accredited and everything, but it's in the middle on nowhere..FML..

CPA for life...

[ParanoidAndroid]

I wen to a state university and Big 4 and other large firms completely ignore me because this school's program is not well recognized..It's AACSB accredited and everything, but it's in the middle on nowhere..FML..

CPA for life...

[MintsRGood]

Just make sure your state board considers the school as an accredited program before you give them one dollar. I live in Michigan and according the state board not all MAC programs are considered equal! It would be awful to find out after giving them your visa and wasting time on courses that your state board doesn't accept that program for licensing.

REG: 75 DONE 🙂
AUD: 61, 71, 68, 92 DONE 🙂
BEC: 76 DONE 🙂
FAR: 72, 74, 79 DONE 🙂
Licensed Michigan CPA 🙂
-Some people dream of success...others wake up and work hard for it!!!
-The cowards never start and the weak die along the way!
-You better work, b***h!
-Only those who dare to fail greatly can ever achieve greatly.-JFK

[MintsRGood]

Just make sure your state board considers the school as an accredited program before you give them one dollar. I live in Michigan and according the state board not all MAC programs are considered equal! It would be awful to find out after giving them your visa and wasting time on courses that your state board doesn't accept that program for licensing.

REG: 75 DONE 🙂
AUD: 61, 71, 68, 92 DONE 🙂
BEC: 76 DONE 🙂
FAR: 72, 74, 79 DONE 🙂
Licensed Michigan CPA 🙂
-Some people dream of success...others wake up and work hard for it!!!
-The cowards never start and the weak die along the way!
-You better work, b***h!
-Only those who dare to fail greatly can ever achieve greatly.-JFK

[Kenada]

Is there anyone that has studied with Saint Mary's College – Moraga in California. Or know anyone that has a degree or masters with them?

I am considering doing my Masters in Accounting with them since they offer a hybrid of online and a in-class course.

I just wonder how employers view this institution in the Bay area.

FAR 05/27/14; 786/110 - Done !

[Kenada]

Is there anyone that has studied with Saint Mary's College – Moraga in California. Or know anyone that has a degree or masters with them?

I am considering doing my Masters in Accounting with them since they offer a hybrid of online and a in-class course.

I just wonder how employers view this institution in the Bay area.

FAR 05/27/14; 786/110 - Done !

[Jennifer241]

It's just to bad that Big 4 firms have to be so stuck up like that.

I guess since I chose to work full time, go to school full time, during which I was raising my 2 children, but chose to go to an online school shows that I somehow “skated” by? That my degree is somehow less than anyone else's? I worked darn hard for it, I was raised that you get out what you put in, if I was going to pay 40,000 for 2 years of college that I was darn sure going to learn something from it to carry with me forever, besides a piece of paper.

Is this really about education, or is this about being able to discuss how the college football team is doing during your staff meetings….

AUD - Jan 9,13 Pass
REG - Aug 30,13 Pass
BEC - Oct 26,13 Pass
FAR - Dec 4,13 Pass

Licensed CPA in the state of Oregon

[Jennifer241]

It's just to bad that Big 4 firms have to be so stuck up like that.

I guess since I chose to work full time, go to school full time, during which I was raising my 2 children, but chose to go to an online school shows that I somehow “skated” by? That my degree is somehow less than anyone else's? I worked darn hard for it, I was raised that you get out what you put in, if I was going to pay 40,000 for 2 years of college that I was darn sure going to learn something from it to carry with me forever, besides a piece of paper.

Is this really about education, or is this about being able to discuss how the college football team is doing during your staff meetings….

AUD - Jan 9,13 Pass
REG - Aug 30,13 Pass
BEC - Oct 26,13 Pass
FAR - Dec 4,13 Pass

Licensed CPA in the state of Oregon

[onmywhey]

To be fair, I don't think the hesitancy of Big 4 to hire people from online colleges is unique to accounting. It's unfortunate that there are hard working people like you who are more than likely capable but get passed up because of the school.

It really just comes down to risk, if you were an employer, would you hire from a school that produced results or a school that you had no experience with? In other words, if you saw two equal investments and one had less risk, which would you go for?

It also comes down to relationships, the Big 4 maintain relationships with certain schools that feed them. For example, the colleges I have seen where the Big 4 recruit from allow special and important statuses to the Big 4 like giving them the best areas at a career fair or giving them access to students via presentations. This status is conferred upon the Big 4 because the Big 4 recruit from their school which in turns increases their ranking and vice versa.

[onmywhey]

To be fair, I don't think the hesitancy of Big 4 to hire people from online colleges is unique to accounting. It's unfortunate that there are hard working people like you who are more than likely capable but get passed up because of the school.

It really just comes down to risk, if you were an employer, would you hire from a school that produced results or a school that you had no experience with? In other words, if you saw two equal investments and one had less risk, which would you go for?

It also comes down to relationships, the Big 4 maintain relationships with certain schools that feed them. For example, the colleges I have seen where the Big 4 recruit from allow special and important statuses to the Big 4 like giving them the best areas at a career fair or giving them access to students via presentations. This status is conferred upon the Big 4 because the Big 4 recruit from their school which in turns increases their ranking and vice versa.

[Kenada]

How would a online program from California State University -Sacramento State’s Online Master of Science in Accountancy (MS Accountancy) fair with employers?

Would employers be more accepting if the University was California State University?

FAR 05/27/14; 786/110 - Done !

[Kenada]

How would a online program from California State University -Sacramento State’s Online Master of Science in Accountancy (MS Accountancy) fair with employers?

Would employers be more accepting if the University was California State University?

FAR 05/27/14; 786/110 - Done !

[Jennifer241]

@insiyah24

I would go online to Linkedin and look at the people who are working at the Big 4 firms, you should be able to see the colleges they went to. I would begin your research there.

@onmywhey

I thought that once a college was accredited that it's curriculums could be relied upon?

AUD - Jan 9,13 Pass
REG - Aug 30,13 Pass
BEC - Oct 26,13 Pass
FAR - Dec 4,13 Pass

Licensed CPA in the state of Oregon

[Author]

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