[Anonymous]

I apologize in advance if this may seem like a stupid question to you guys but I have been receiving mixed answers from people in regards to this question. I am a junior BBA accounting major at the University of Texas At Austin seeking a Big 4 internship and I have noticed on our Online Recruiting System that the Big 4 Audit internship postings (besides Big 4 Risk Assurance) have a desired major preference of “MPA” (Masters of Public Accountancy) and this is for those in the 5 year integrated BBA/MPA program here at UT.

2 people I know have gotten audit internships at KPMG here that are regular BBA accounting majors but I don’t know if it was personal connections/networking or just luck. While others I have met that are at different universities landed Audit internships positions at various Big 4 that are also regular BBA accounting majors. Is this something that varies university to university or do the Big 4 only take those in the special integrated 5 year BBA/MAcc programs for both internships and full time job offers?

Thanks

[barelystayingsane]

I guess it probably depends a little bit on the hiring preferences of the Big 4 offices near your university, but I was hired as a BBA. The way I “got in” was that I participated in a couple of the Big 4's case competitions, which created some great networking opportunities and led to successful interviews. I also had a high GPA.

[Mayo]

“2 people I know have gotten audit internships at KPMG here that are regular BBA accounting majors but I don't know if it was personal connections/networking or just luck.”

I think you just answered your own question. All things being equal, if a 5 year program is setup like the one at your school, students in said program will probably get higher priority.

Additional info, etc. Check previous posts in this forum. The last month or two is literally littered with them.

Mayo, BBA, Macc

[fuzyfro89]

I think all they truly care about is having your 150 credits and being CPA eligible. Perhaps a slight preference for those with MPA or masters just because its relatively common. I don't think they'll hire you if you don't have all your credits before starting work.

[Having To Eek My Way Thru Life]

You should probably ask your fellow longhorns or the recruiters. Big 4-Houston recruits heavily from UT and A&M. I'm starting to question UT as one of the “top business schools”. May have to tell my big 4 recruiter to pull more from A&M, Baylor, and Tech.

*Kidding*

[Anonymous]

Heeey, how about Sam Houston?? :)) We have a pretty good accounting program!

[Mayo]

Didn't know they had accounting program?

j/k 😛

Mayo, BBA, Macc

[NoOrigins]

Just curious – why aren't you going for the integrated MPA? Since you've already established that you're going to a B4 “preferred” school, the next question will be whether or not you will meet the 150 credit requirement to get the CPA. If you go through the recruiting process, you will almost certainly be asked those questions. Whether you make it through our not will depend on whether your answers satisfy the recruits and managers/partners interviewing you.

If you will be able to meet the 150 credit requirement, then all I can advise is network like mad. Not getting the MPA while a majority of UT accounting kids are will make you less appealing on paper… and how you look on paper is important in deciding whether you even get a first interview.

FAR: Passed
REG: Passed
BEC: Passed
AUD: Passed

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the responses guys I appreciate it. To clear things up for those who had questions, upon graduating in two years I will be about 10 credits shy of the 150 credit requirement but I will be taking classes in the winter to make up for that hopefully.

@No origins: Picking accounting as my major was a recent change after a long and grueling decision process over my major (it was accounting or finance). The reason I chose accounting was 1) I enjoyed my accounting classes I have taken and 2) The degree has the flexibility to take me into various industries I am interested but I could never break into in a Finance degree (not only I could enter the finance job market but I would also have the flexibility to enter the public accounting market). By the time I decided I wanted to become an accounting major the deadline had passed to apply for the 5 year program. Prior to that when I was a finance major I didn't think about the MPA program nor did I know the benefits of it.

Luckily though I talked to the director of admissions and she is giving me the opportunity to apply for the program next summer (which is extremely good and rare!), but the dilemma is I would like to hopefully land a big 4 gig (if it was possible) for next summer as an internship and then extend that into a FT offer in case I don't happen to get into the 5 year program since it quite difficult to get into (just to play things safe and hopefully get a FT offer in that case because I definitely don't want to go through FT recruiting)!

I also happened to glance at the job postings one more time and although it restricts me from applying to the program since I am not on the list of desired majors (MPA program major) the job qualification says: “Pursuing a Bachelor degree in Accounting OR a commitment to satisfy all of the minimum requirements for CPA licensure per respective state regulations. ” Is this something I should ask with our career services center or should I even bother since I clearly can't apply for the position?

[Having To Eek My Way Thru Life]

I start at the big 4 FT in September and I never had a public accounting internship. I did have an accounting internship though. I did not do the PPA program. I went to Tech and I graduated with a BBA in accounting and finance. I then applied for the MSA program. Long story short…same thing.

I wouldn't recommend doing the certificate if your trying to go big 4.

[barelystayingsane]

@bruce.wayne I was the same way about realizing I wanted to do accounting too late. I was primarily a finance major (but was also getting an accounting major because I knew it would be good knowledge to have). I absolutely hated my first two accounting classes, and it wasn't until I got into my intermediate and advanced accounting courses that I found that I loved accounting. I also did not do an accounting internship. I had an insurance-related internship and two finance-related internships. As I mentioned in my post above, none of this prevented me from getting into the Big 4. I maybe had to work a little harder to prove myself and stand out from the MAcc students, but if you have the work ethic (and it sounds like you do!), you should be fine!

[Author]

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