[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: ?????

[Kenada]

So it's kind of nice to hear from those that are in the Bay area. in the finance, that may have a bit more insight esp since I am not from here.

I can tell you about the good Uni's in the Uk and Canada since I lived there long enough to know 🙂 For US – still a newbie

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

[Kenada]

So it's kind of nice to hear from those that are in the Bay area. in the finance, that may have a bit more insight esp since I am not from here.

I can tell you about the good Uni's in the Uk and Canada since I lived there long enough to know 🙂 For US – still a newbie

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

[acamp]

We have a few SF State'ers, myself included, here at the Green Dot of SF. I don't think we actually recruit from SFSU, but I worked contacts to get an interview and found my degrees from SF State to be of no issue.

Ninja + Wiley Test Bank: [FAR - 81] [REG - 76] [BEC - 88] [AUD - 73](doh!)

Becker Videos: [AUD - 82]

California CPA

[acamp]

We have a few SF State'ers, myself included, here at the Green Dot of SF. I don't think we actually recruit from SFSU, but I worked contacts to get an interview and found my degrees from SF State to be of no issue.

Ninja + Wiley Test Bank: [FAR - 81] [REG - 76] [BEC - 88] [AUD - 73](doh!)

Becker Videos: [AUD - 82]

California CPA

[Kenada]

Thank you acamp, that information helps me a lot for my situation 🙂

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

[Kenada]

Thank you acamp, that information helps me a lot for my situation 🙂

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

[onmywhey]

I know a few people who placed into Big 4 from SFSU and i'm not even from California so that should say something. Does anyone know about the recruiting environment in the SF? Is it super competitive? What out of states have the most students in the Bay Area, i.e. WA? AZ? UT?

[onmywhey]

I know a few people who placed into Big 4 from SFSU and i'm not even from California so that should say something. Does anyone know about the recruiting environment in the SF? Is it super competitive? What out of states have the most students in the Bay Area, i.e. WA? AZ? UT?

[tough_kitty]

I have an MS in ACCY degree from CSUS – California State University, Sacramento. It's VERY affordable and it's entirely online, however, it doesn't show on your transcript that it's an online program. Plus, the College of Business Administration is AACSB accredited and you have to pass GMAT to be admitted.

I had classmates from other states, including Idaho and Wisconsin, who were enrolled in this program. I think it would be a better alternative to all other online universities. Very convenient…and Tom Hanks graduated from CSUS 😉

Moss Adams – regional CPA firm hired at least 3 of my classmates who got their MSA at CSUS.

More info: https://www.cba.csus.edu/about.html

https://www.cba.csus.edu/graduate/MSA.html

FAR: 81 (May 2013)
BEC: 81 (July 2013)
REG: 83 (August 2013)
AUD: 82 (November 2013)
California CPA since 1/30/14

[tough_kitty]

I have an MS in ACCY degree from CSUS – California State University, Sacramento. It's VERY affordable and it's entirely online, however, it doesn't show on your transcript that it's an online program. Plus, the College of Business Administration is AACSB accredited and you have to pass GMAT to be admitted.

I had classmates from other states, including Idaho and Wisconsin, who were enrolled in this program. I think it would be a better alternative to all other online universities. Very convenient…and Tom Hanks graduated from CSUS 😉

Moss Adams – regional CPA firm hired at least 3 of my classmates who got their MSA at CSUS.

More info: https://www.cba.csus.edu/about.html

https://www.cba.csus.edu/graduate/MSA.html

FAR: 81 (May 2013)
BEC: 81 (July 2013)
REG: 83 (August 2013)
AUD: 82 (November 2013)
California CPA since 1/30/14

[Jimps88]

@tough_kitty has your MS helped you get a job and did you mention it was completed entirely online? My entire accounting background, with the exception of an intro accounting class, was competed online so I'm wondering how employers would view that. My Extension Certificate in accounting also doesn't mention that it was done online. I haven't applied anywhere yet but was hoping that passing all parts of the exam first and my undergrad major would compensate for that if it were ever brought up. I have Audit and Regulation left.

BEC 4/3/13 84
AUD 5/7/13 69, Retake 11/9/13 82
FAR 8/13/13 78
REG 10/11/13 85

Ethics CA (78%, 90%)

Done

[Jimps88]

@tough_kitty has your MS helped you get a job and did you mention it was completed entirely online? My entire accounting background, with the exception of an intro accounting class, was competed online so I'm wondering how employers would view that. My Extension Certificate in accounting also doesn't mention that it was done online. I haven't applied anywhere yet but was hoping that passing all parts of the exam first and my undergrad major would compensate for that if it were ever brought up. I have Audit and Regulation left.

BEC 4/3/13 84
AUD 5/7/13 69, Retake 11/9/13 82
FAR 8/13/13 78
REG 10/11/13 85

Ethics CA (78%, 90%)

Done

[tough_kitty]

@Jimps88 – there is never a need to mention that your classes were online, unless they ask! The program I did was offered through CSUS, so they may assume it was a regular classroom, but it really doesn't matter. The only difference was – I didn't have to come to a classroom on campus. CSUS is accredited university, so this alone is good enough, in my case.

It did help me get a job, but that's because I changed my career – from linguistics to accounting, so I needed a new degree and did my masters. Not sure what value it has for those who already have a BS degree in accounting. That's something everybody has to decide for themselves. But as I mentioned before, a few of my classmates got hired with a regional CPA firm for their audit team. That specific firm doesn't really differentiate between BS or MS degrees – they were recruiting on campus, so if they liked someone, they hired me. I am pretty sure the starting salary was the same for both.

FAR: 81 (May 2013)
BEC: 81 (July 2013)
REG: 83 (August 2013)
AUD: 82 (November 2013)
California CPA since 1/30/14

[tough_kitty]

@Jimps88 – there is never a need to mention that your classes were online, unless they ask! The program I did was offered through CSUS, so they may assume it was a regular classroom, but it really doesn't matter. The only difference was – I didn't have to come to a classroom on campus. CSUS is accredited university, so this alone is good enough, in my case.

It did help me get a job, but that's because I changed my career – from linguistics to accounting, so I needed a new degree and did my masters. Not sure what value it has for those who already have a BS degree in accounting. That's something everybody has to decide for themselves. But as I mentioned before, a few of my classmates got hired with a regional CPA firm for their audit team. That specific firm doesn't really differentiate between BS or MS degrees – they were recruiting on campus, so if they liked someone, they hired me. I am pretty sure the starting salary was the same for both.

FAR: 81 (May 2013)
BEC: 81 (July 2013)
REG: 83 (August 2013)
AUD: 82 (November 2013)
California CPA since 1/30/14

[Author]

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