[Anonymous]

I just took my last section last week and now I have to start looking for employment. So here’s a little history. I screwed around a lot in college and didn’t really focus on school. And now I’m stuck with a 2.9 GPA. I didn’t network and join any accounting societies, which I now regret. The only thing I did was an internship at a small private company handling their books. So right now, I graduated with 130 semester units. I really want to go into tax.

So what are your suggestions? I really need some job experience. I’ve started to register for networking events. I think my GPA is really going to hurt my chances, but at the very least, I hope I can establish relationship with the recruiters. If I don’t get a job the end of this year, I’m going to need 150 hours to get my license(I live in CA). My thinking is that if I don’t land something by the end of busy season next year, should I go for MST? The only MST around SoCal is USC, CSUF, CSUN and Golden Gate in San Francisco. I think going for my Masters may be beneficial for the contacts and to get my 150 hours (although I’m not quite sure MST will provide the correct classes yet). I’ll be talking to my tax professor this week and a couple of other people, but I’d like to hear your input.

I’m in the process of revising my resume if anyone would like to take a look. I’ll send it out as soon as I get it ironed out. Thanks everyone!

[futuremdcpa]

I think with a 2.9 it'll be a bit tough to get a job, but im not sure.. I've heard of people with lower GPA's get great jobs as well, they just have to put in extra effort. I also think getting a MST, and having a high GPA when you graduate will most likely overshadow your undergraduate GPA. So when you apply for jobs, you'd have a high MST GPA, passed all 4 parts of the CPA. I would maybe leave out the undergrad GPA, or just not include undergrad.. im not sure though you may want to talk to career services about help with the resume.

Nothing is impossible.. You just have to want it bad enough!

REG: PASS || BEC: PASS || AUD: PASS || F: SCORE PENDING..

[Anonymous]

With the CPA if you are interested in Taxation, you could look into the H&R Block system as a method of getting experience under your belt. Then parlay that into your own Accounting/Bookkeeping/Tax business.

I'd rather have my own business and there's no better time than when starting out to do it. It's darned near impossible once you are my age (29 and holding) and have kids a wife and a mortgage.

[sarah210]

I already have my 150 and had a good GPA, but I'm still somewhat concerned about getting into public this recruiting season because I don't have an accounting degree. I majored in history, and then went back and got all my accounting and business hours, but no second degree. I think the greatest resource available is on campus stuff. If I don't get a job this season, I'm going to go back for the M.Acc. That way I'll have more access to the on campus recruiting and networking stuff, plus I'll get an accounting degree. It'd only take a year to complete. Have you thought about doing something like that?

REG- 53, 91
BEC- 88
FAR- 62, 85
AUD- 85

Ethics- 93

[Whatdidyou]

Well passing the CPA exams is definitely a plus and will help. Probably not enough to overcome that GPA for many positions/companies though, but some very small companies with a large need might bite.

Obviously, networking is where it's gonna matter for you if you want to get a job before going back for a Masters.

You're definitely in a tough spot. As that GPA will effect your ability to get into good Masters programs as well and will still be the GPA that is requested during primary recruiting season during the Masters (unless it's a two year program). Realize that IF you do a Masters, you will likely be passed over during public accounting recruiting season, but then, if you do well and interview well, get picked up by a private company or smaller public accounting firm towards the end of the year when your Masters GPA becomes relevant.

I think your best bet right now would be something like Campus Point. And they can place you into a temporary position that has the potential to transition to a permanent one if you do well.

REG - Passed!!
BEC - Passed
FAR - Passed
AUD - Passed

Study Materials: Becker basic course

[Anonymous]

Thanks for all the advice. My last 60 semester units is around 3.3 GPA, but it wasn't enough to bring up the grades I got my 1st two years of school. Let's just say that I got a D in my sign language class and I was perfectly fine with that.

I've thought about MSA/MAcc, but I'd like to go into tax. I'm still trying to decide between MST and MSA.With a MAcc, do you think they'll only care about that grades in get in that program and not so much about my undergraduate? I just turned 25 so if I do go back to school, I'll be 27-28 by the time I'm done. It'll take a while to go through admissions and taking my GMAT, so I'm guessing I'll be 26 by the time I start.

[Anonymous]

Hey Dualmatrix

I was in a similar position that you are in. Messed around first half of my collegiate career and by the time i tried to make amends, the damage had already been done. Luckily, I was able to find a position with a local CPA Firm doing tax. GPA was never an issue in the interview process, although, they did have me take a test based on tax.

I've also looked into a MST and I would highly suggest going that route. Especially if you plan on entering the Tax world. I've been here for a little over a year and I am completely amazed at how deep tax goes. What the CPA exam covers is just the absolute basics. We've had a lot of seminars on various tax subjects that are given by holders of MST or LLM.

I'm in NorCal and debating whether to go to SJSU or Golden Gate. I know with SJSU, if you passed your CPA exam then that could replace the GMAT. Also i believe the gpa is 2.5? but i'm not entirely sure. Something to consider, if you are studying for the GMAT and may not even need to.

[Anonymous]

It has been my experience, painfully so, that the only people who asked about my GPA we're the public accounting crews. I had a 3.5+ in undergrad and a 4.0 in my MBA (with honors)…so I wish that they would ask!

I don't think a 2.9 is that bad, given you passed the exam.

[Anonymous]

@dualmatrix I had a 2.9 GPA in my undergrad as well and I got a job offer from the first accounting firm I interviewed with. It was a very small public accounting firm in the suburbs of Chicago, but ended up being a GREAT first job for me.

I would suggest getting a job before starting grad school. I know it may take longer to complete your MST, but a lot of companies are willing to pay for a portion or all of your further education. In addition, you want to start your salary now while you're young. In my experience, after working for three years my salary was 175% of what my starting salary was. It will be beneficial to have some income coming in while going to school to help offset the debt you're taking on. Of course this all depends on your situation and if you will even need student loans and also if you have current student loans that will be deferred while in grad school, etc. Either way, if you can swing it, I would suggest working while going to grad school.

With that said, I will be the first to tell you not to wait too long if a Masters degree is what you really want. I waited until I was 29 to start the CPA exam and I am kicking myself now as I wish I would've gotten this done long ago.

Good luck with whatever you decide!

[Anonymous]

I was in your position about 4 years ago. I graduated with a 2.7 GPA. I was however the President of my school's Accounting Society which got me into interviews through the on campus interview program, but unfortunately not a offer.

If you want to get into tax, you should get a tax position prior to going for a masters in tax. As of right now, you really have no idea if you'll actually enjoy working in tax so DO NOT spend money on a masters in tax until you've actually worked at least a year in public accounting. In fact, some master's programs require work experience before you can be admitted, but then again all they really want is your money. I've heard great stories of master program students getting wonderful offers while completing their masters, but that's not a guarantee. Another benefit to waiting to start a masters program after finding a job is that some firms are willing to pay your masters. My firm offers it to me, but they would have me tied up for a long time which is something I don't like, but it's free if I want to take it.

Try to get a tax season job for Sept/October (extensions are due soon) and a tax season position for next year (Jan-April). A lot of small firms need help and that was exactly how I got my job. I'm now a full time CPA at the firm.

H&R block makes you take their tax class which takes about 10 weeks to complete. Their level of tax difficulty is a joke. Even a monkey can input a W-2 and a 1099 interest income into a tax return.

If you don't want to pay for a class and are okay with volunteering, look for VITA offers out there. My first tax job was volunteering for a small business administration type company and did a handful of 1040's. It looked good on my resume and that's how I landed my job in a CPA firm.

Email me your resume and I'd be more than happy to review it. cpthecpa@gmail.com

If you can get some tax experience under your belt, I'd be more than happy to send your resume to my manager for next tax season.

[Keely]

Let me tell you a little story…I failed out of school my first semester, transferred to multiple colleges afterward, dropped out, went back, took two classes here and there, changed my major, etc. In total, it took me 8 1/2 years to get an undergraduate degree. I graduated with a 3.3.

I sent out maybe 10 total resumes to public accounting firms and received three callbacks and three job offers from the interviews. I do put my GPA on my resume because I was given advice that if you don't put it on there, people will assume it's less than a 3.0. But no one has ever asked me about my GPA. An interviewer asked me to submit my transcripts, which I thought was going to automatically prevent me from getting a job (a few F's, retakes and about four pages of transfer credits…even got a C in Auditing and I was applying for an Audit Staff position!), but it didn't. I got offered the job, and today was my first day!

Basically what I'm trying to say (if it hasn't already been said before, sorry I just skimmed the responses) is that your GPA is what it is. You're not going to get in at a Big 4, but who the hell cares, most people don't get into Big 4. I didn't even apply because I knew my college career wasn't good enough. I got several very fair offers from mid-sized firms, and I genuinely believe it is because I was completely honest about my shortcomings in college and told them it was a total learning experience and look, I've passed two exams, I'm dedicated! Apply to the firms you are qualified for, play up your strengths, whatever they are, and if you are articulate and present yourself well, you will have just as good of a chance as anyone. They are people too, they understand a GPA is not the be all, end all to how you are going to perform as an employee.

JMHO.

BEC: (4/2012) 88
AUD: (5/2012) 91
REG: (8/2012) 82
FAR: (1/2013) 78 🙂

VA CPA #42010

[Anonymous]

@ dualmatrix – get Linkedin and start emailing all the recruiters for all the mid tier to small firm or even big 4. I heard from others this is a effective way to get interviews and by pass their screening process. Try to network with the recruiters. Someone mention they got a interview with a big 4 this way( it was someone that post here, try searching for that post. I think he said he sent over 100 mails to different recruiters and he finally got a reply back from someone with a big 4 and they offer him a position) So give it a try.

[gennatay]

@keely

how did you contact the firms, through email or regular mail with a cover letter?

[Anonymous]

Use Linkedin non-stop. When you're a recent grad with little real world experience, it's a numbers game. Hit up every recruiter you see! Literally, EVERYONE! All you need is one hit and everything will change.

I wish you the best of luck and many opportunities!

[MeaDebitum]

@Keely – The rule I always heard was to not post your GPA unless it was over 3.5. Which I also think is the minimum accepted GPA by most of the Big 4 (if going through their formal recruiting process). Maybe its different for other areas then?

[Keely]

@Gina, I created a list of firms in my area (Houston) that were small to mid-sized. I realized I had little to no shot at Big 4, so I didn't even bother. The jobs I got interviews with were all ones I submitted through email. One I emailed HR, and the other I emailed HR and she responded that she'd get back to me but never did, so I emailed the audit partner directly. I mean, who cares, what is the worst they can do, say no? Go for the people who actually do the hiring, that's my opinion. Now, if you're interested in Big 4 or somewhere huge, that's a different story.

@Mea: I have always heard 3.0, but I could understand the 3.5 rule if you were wanting a top-tier or Big 4 firm. To me, my GPA of 3.3 was nothing stellar, but it at least showed that I was not in the 2.0 range. But, that's just my opinion. I think once you pass the exams, GPA gets less attention.

BEC: (4/2012) 88
AUD: (5/2012) 91
REG: (8/2012) 82
FAR: (1/2013) 78 🙂

VA CPA #42010

[Author]

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