[testsz]

Hello everyone.

First time user and viewer of this website and I am truly amazed at the amount of discussion that goes on around here. The level of help that posters receive is outstanding!

I am in a dilemma and need your help. I am currently 22 years old and will be graduating from UCR (University of California Riverside) with a BS degree and a concentration in Accounting in one month. Throughout university I did not attain any accounting experience whatsoever because I decided to travel during the summer and work a part-time job and take classes. I regret not attaining any internships right now because it seems 95% of entry-level jobs require relevant experience (and internships usually lead to job offers). In addition, I networked a little bit….but due to personal and financial issues decided to scoff job-hunting until post-graduation (which I regret again). Fortunately I kept my grades up (3.75 GPA) and attained volunteer experience at a religious temple and hospital.

The next step is to look for an accounting-related job whilst studying to pass the CPA exam. Unfortunately, I still need 2 more accounting courses to sit for the exam (and 41 more units to become licensed) and need to figure out how to get thees units. My university just devised a new masters in accounting program (MPAC or Masters of professional accountancy) which starts this fall. If I decide to go this route I need to fill out the application and still take the GMAT (I have not prepared for the test whatsoever…not sure how well I would do by winging it). The other route is to take on a piece-meal approach which is taking extra courses via extension and CC. From a cost-benefit analysis, a year for the MPAC is about 35k with an additional year of networking opportunity; however, I don’t think the program would really improve my “educational accounting” skills much because the program is VERY new and it seems like it was particularly devised just to help fulfill the new CPA California requirements. The main selling point for the program is the networking opportunities and the “masters” over bachelors (From what I have read on the forums…most employers don’t care if you have a masters in accounting as long as you have your CPA).

The other choice is to take classes while studying to pass the CPA exam and looking for a job.

Which choice do you think is best to pursue?

It seems like the MPAC program would be the best route…but I don’t know if I want to dish out 38k for a program that doesn’t really feel like a true masters program.

Any help would be much obliged.

P.S. How to get your foot in the door for an accounting job (public preferred…but in this market I will take any Accounting job).

I did not develop any networking abilities….so any help with that would be much appreciated.

Thanks!

[Rebecca_AZ]

1. based on what you've said about the “Master's” program at UCR, I wouldn't waste my money. $35k is a lot. If you're going to spend that kind of money, you should attend a school that has a fully developed program. If you want to get a Masters, get a Masters at a school with a reputable program. It doesn't sound like UCR has a reputable program yet. Whether or not you have a Masters depends upon where you are trying to get hired. We have two new staff who both got their Masters at good schools, one at University of Arizona and I think the other went to New Mexico State (not sure), and they are both sharp as tacks! I tell them to do something and they just go with it. They don't ask needless questions on stuff they should know and I can trust them to get work done while I'm out of the office. My point is, from my experience, if I had to choose between one candidate with a Masters and one without, I'd pick the one with the Masters. (Assuming all other factors are equal. a Masters does not equal employment if you're not a good fit for the firm)

2. I'm not familiar with California's education requirements, but unless they require the Masters, I would take the extra classes anywhere you can get them. It doesn't sound like you need a full degree to get the credit you need. I personally took the Bachelors + extra classes route but that was because I went to school in WI, graduated with 150+ credits, then moved to FL, waited a year before deciding to apply for the CPA exam, found out I needed more credits in accounting, enrolled at USF (University of South Florida) for a class in the fall, took busy season off, and then ended up moving to Arizona and waiting another two years before finally deciding to take the exam.

3. Have you looked into a student membership with the California Society of CPAs or the AICPA? You could attend some of their networking functions and a membership will be a lot cheaper than the Masters.

4. Internship – you do know most internships in accounting are paid right? You should apply for both internships and full time positions and take what you can get to get your foot in the door. You can work at an internship while taking your classes. I had an internship in college but then moved to Florida after graduation so I had no connections. I worked with a head-hunter and worked temp jobs (non-accounting) for months until I got my foot in the door in the accounting department at a private company. After a year, a contact called me and told me about a position in a small public accounting firm (small means 2 partners, three staff including me, and one admin). I only worked there 18 months before I moved to Arizona but I learned so much it was amazing!

One other thing – I've nearly always used a recruiter to do the dirty work for me. It's free to you – the companies pay the recruiting firms like Robert Half, Lucas Group, etc to find qualified candidates. If you have a LinkedIn account, you probably have them connecting with you left and right. It couldn't hurt to call one up and send your resume. I'm not promoting one firm in particular by mentioning the two above, those are just two that came to mind off the top of my head. There are tons. Pick one. (Not more than one so that you don't have two recruiters sending your resume in for the same job)

Good luck! hope this helps!

I passed in 2012!

BEC - PASSED - I'M DONE!!!
AUD - PASSED (finally!!)
REG - PASSED (Twice - lost credit first time)
FAR - PASSED!

[testsz]

Thanks for the help.

Any other help is much appreciated.

Thank you.

[Author]

Replies