[Maguel]

I’m at a crossroads in regards to beginning a career.

I graduated from a SUNY in 2010 with a BS in accounting with a 3.1 GPA, no real work experience of note, no Big 4 came for OCR.

I started attending Pace University in Fall 2010; originally, I planned to do a MS in accounting, but this degree wasn’t being offered to incoming students with a BS in accounting, yet.

Instead, it was suggested that I do a MS in finance, as it would still allow me to sit for the CPA exam. I am currently very close to finishing this program, but I feel I’ve been overlooked in OCR for the Big 4, because of a perceived lack of passion for the accounting field (I guess it seems sketchy for a MS in finance student to be applying for audit).

The overlap in some courses between programs has me wondering, should I switch to a MS in accounting? I could finish the program relatively quickly, and be able to hit up on campus recruiting hard (I believe all Big 4 come to campus, as well as other large firms).

I have a 3.5 GPA currently, with the potential to raise it even more with additional accounting classes. I’ve been interning at a large private REIT in NY directly under the controller for about 6 months now, gaining relevant (I think) experience with internal audit, Quickbooks and such. If I switch majors, I plan to rush Beta Alpha Psi in the Fall and hopefully do another internship over this summer/fall.

I’m quite adamant about going into Big 4, or at the very least a large public firm. The choice is tough because I’d really hate to delay earning a salary for yet another year. With my GPA, experience, and extracurriculars, would I stand a legit shot at getting a Big 4 offer at 24 years old?

[jeff]

I changed your title to draw the attention of someone who could give their perspective.

[Texas27]

Yes, I am 24 and I interned with a Big 4 when I was 23. I am starting full-time in a few months with the same firm. You are only going to be a year older than most new hires.

BEC - Feb 2012: 80
AUD - Feb 2012: 84
FAR - Apr 2012: 78
REG - May 2012: 90

Thanks Becker!

[Maguel]

I guess I should clarify something: I'm 23 now, but will be 24 when I'm interviewing, and 25 in Sept 2013, assuming a job offer is made (my birthday is in June). I'm not too concerned about my age, though. It's more about whether or not my credentials (~3.6 GPA, MACC, year or so of internship experience) will match up with what Big 4 is looking for.

[Trisha]

I got an internship in Tax with KPMG in Portland, Oregon, at 27 years old. I know the market here isn's as competitive as one in NY would be, but I personally didn't feel that age mattered in my situation. Good luck to you!

REG 72, 86 and DONE!!!
BEC 80 🙂
FAR 72, 78 🙂
AUD 73, 76 🙂

[Texas27]

@Maguel…To add to what I said earlier I also had a 3.4 undergrad and 3.5 graduate GPA when I received an offer from a Big 4… You are in decent shape to get a job with one

BEC - Feb 2012: 80
AUD - Feb 2012: 84
FAR - Apr 2012: 78
REG - May 2012: 90

Thanks Becker!

[strawker]

Maguel, let me share my experience, but I'm a bit of an anomaly though… I am 29 and starting Big 4 this year. It is definitely older for starting out, but not unheard of. I was really concerned about my age a year and a half ago when I applied, but one of the first years I met with was 32 years old. If you show maturity and experience, it can really help your chances compared to some greener students. I don't mind that my seniors will be younger than I am, but some people might

[iwantmylifetobegin]

Maguel – Worked in a big four. I've had coworkers that graduated with majors other than accounting (finance/econ/business/etc). I think your fine as long as you're able to sit for the exam. Even that, I knew a couple of people who took courses during their first year that were a few credits short to sit for the exam. With your GPA, internship, possibly applying to BAP, and the other stuff, I'm sure you'll do fine in getting an interview from more than 1 big 4 firm.

Also, I got into a big 4 at age 27. Most of coworkers in my start class were recent college graduates (early 20s). No problems other than my coworkers giving me a nickname – Uncle. 🙂

Good luck!

AUD - 84 (expired May '13) 84 - 08/13
FAR - 79
BEC - 77
REG - 63

[Anonymous]

I'm currently in a graduate masters of accounting program.

You actually stand a better chance of getting hired by the Big Four if you're older..it's easier to come across as more mature/experienced in the interviews.

I say this as a 22 year old with a near-perfect GPA who got shot down by all of the Big Four last semester when many others with weaker academic backgrounds but had other strengths going for them [mostly previous professional experiences] got offers.

[Maguel]

Thanks for the advice guys. I've been networking like crazy recently. I plan to show my face at all campus events next fall, and I also know a few people at the manager level or higher in big 4. I think I have my method down as to how I'm going to attack OCR next fall.

The part about the near-perfect GPA and all rejections does kind of scare me though, I'm not sure where I go if I fail to get offers in OCR.

[Anonymous]

Maguel: I'll let you know if anything good comes out of the efforts I'm making now to get hired..I'm certainly trying.

[Anonymous]

Why apply only for audit … If i were you i would apply for TAS too !

[Lizzerz79]

I'm 32 and just started with big four in January. I was 31 when interviewing & when I accepted the offer. As long as you don't mind that there will potentially be seniors younger than you then I don't think your age is a problem. I only say that because I know some people do mind working for people that are younger than them. I don't mind at all. As long as they know what they're doing and are nice people then I'm good. I've actually been on the other side in my career. I was AP manager for a bit in my 20s and most of the people I supervised were several years older than me.

AUD 4/1/12 98
FAR 5/30/12 96
BEC 7/1/12 92
REG 8/18/12 94

[MadOak]

I'm not sure how things differ in NY, but here in the midwest it seems people want to like the people they're working with and will sometimes put that before “the near-perfect GPA”. I have a degree in Economics and after two years went back to school to get my master's degree in accounting. I am now 27 going on 28, never worked in accounting before, and will be starting with the Big 4 after graduation – yes I will be older than most of my seniors, but who cares?! Age and GPA are only numbers – show them who YOU are. Best of luck.

FAR - 04/03/12 - 86 (studied 7 weeks)
REG - 05/03/12 - 86 (studied 3.5 weeks)
AUD - 05/30/12 - 73 (studied 2 weeks, guess it wasn't quite enough :()
AUD - 07/19/12 - 81
BEC - 08/31/12 - 78 (studied 6 weeks while working)

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