[Anonymous]

Hello

I’m a junior looking for full time audit position at Big 4 next fall recruiting season

I have not gotten any offer for big 4 summer internship, so I was planning to take more accounting courses and raise my GPA to prepare for the upcoming recruiting season.

But today, I got an offer from one of the nationwide investment bank as an internal audit position.

As of now, my GPA is very low (barely 3.0 depending on my current semester) and I lack accounting units due to the fact that our school does not have accounting major. (only 12 units at UC Berkeley). I was planning to take 8 more accounting units this summer and 12 more next fall to meet the 30 unit requirement.

Also as I said, my GPA is not that high, so 8 more accounting units in the summer will help me raise my GPA to about 3.2 level.

That said, what would be my wiser choice during this summer?

1. Accept Internal audit internship offer at nationwide IB and sacrifice GPA and accounting units during summer (probably take accounting courses online)

2. Decline the offer and raise my GPA and take more accounting courses.

I do have two summer internships, but both are not accounting/fiannce related.

I should reply by end of this week and I’m not sure which way will give me a better shot at big 4 audit position next recruiting season.

Any word of advice?

[Study Monk]

I got a Big 4 interview back in the day with a 3.0 gpa when I attended UCSC. Dkswodud is going to one of the best business schools in the country assuming he isn't enrolled at UC Berkeley extension. With an internship, 3.2 at Berkeley, and membership at a bunch of on campus clubs he may still have a chance at joining a Big 4.

I spoke to an ancient wise man who sent me on a mushroom induced journey through an ancient forest to find the key to passing the CPA exam. A talking spider monkey told me to throw the last of my drinking water in the dirt to find what I was looking for. So I followed his instructions and the following message appeared in the soil:

"Do 5000 multiple choice questions for each section"

[Anonymous]

Well, I am straight-up geared for Big 4, so I would not settle with full-time offer even if I get one after my internship.

Do you think I can make up .2 difference in GPA with my networking opportunity? I have a sold reason why my GPA flunked and it is showing rapid improvement after my personal difficulties. But on the other hand, I would want to meet that cut-off line and add more accounting units in my transcript to show that I'm prepared.

Another question, do big 4 recruiters care where I take my accounting courses? My internship offer is in LA, so I won't be able to take any courses at Berkeley. If I take online accounting courses to fulfill my requirement, would it be a detrimental factor? I heard recruirters even look whether I took it for grade or P/NP option.

[Anonymous]

Well, I am straight-up geared for Big 4, so I would not settle with full-time offer even if I get one after my internship.

Do you think I can make up .2 difference in GPA with my networking opportunity? I have a sold reason why my GPA flunked and it is showing rapid improvement after my personal difficulties. But on the other hand, I would want to meet that cut-off line and add more accounting units in my transcript to show that I'm prepared.

Another question, do big 4 recruiters care where I take my accounting courses? My internship offer is in LA, so I won't be able to take any courses at Berkeley. If I take online accounting courses to fulfill my requirement, would it be a detrimental factor? I heard recruirters even look whether I took it for grade or P/NP option.

[Study Monk]

@ dkswodud

Maybe you could enroll in some USC or UCLA summer courses, unless if by LA you meant Lousiana.

I spoke to an ancient wise man who sent me on a mushroom induced journey through an ancient forest to find the key to passing the CPA exam. A talking spider monkey told me to throw the last of my drinking water in the dirt to find what I was looking for. So I followed his instructions and the following message appeared in the soil:

"Do 5000 multiple choice questions for each section"

[Study Monk]

@ dkswodud

Maybe you could enroll in some USC or UCLA summer courses, unless if by LA you meant Lousiana.

I spoke to an ancient wise man who sent me on a mushroom induced journey through an ancient forest to find the key to passing the CPA exam. A talking spider monkey told me to throw the last of my drinking water in the dirt to find what I was looking for. So I followed his instructions and the following message appeared in the soil:

"Do 5000 multiple choice questions for each section"

[AOCI]

Internship >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Summer Class

FAR-82!
REG-82 Again!
BEC-78!
AUD-84!

Done with the exam and LICENSED in VA as of 11/17/2015.

[AOCI]

Internship >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Summer Class

FAR-82!
REG-82 Again!
BEC-78!
AUD-84!

Done with the exam and LICENSED in VA as of 11/17/2015.

[jopa16]

Big 4 will not care where you took your accounting classes. Whether or not you want to “settle” for an internal audit gig may not be up to you. Getting a Big 4 spot isn't easy, and it's made even harder that you didn't intern there. Big 4 tends to take the amount of interns they want to hire. There may be a couple of spots open per firm for straight up associates. I'll make this as clear as I can: My firm literally has software that rejects applicants with below a 3.4. Take the internship.

REG 2/26/14 - 90
BEC 4/08/14 - 92
FAR 5/31/14 - 90
AUD 7/09/14 -

[jopa16]

Big 4 will not care where you took your accounting classes. Whether or not you want to “settle” for an internal audit gig may not be up to you. Getting a Big 4 spot isn't easy, and it's made even harder that you didn't intern there. Big 4 tends to take the amount of interns they want to hire. There may be a couple of spots open per firm for straight up associates. I'll make this as clear as I can: My firm literally has software that rejects applicants with below a 3.4. Take the internship.

REG 2/26/14 - 90
BEC 4/08/14 - 92
FAR 5/31/14 - 90
AUD 7/09/14 -

[Study Monk]

Don't worry I know a firm that has software that weeds out everyone with over a 3.2 gpa.They rent office space in the back of a Panda Express, but you get a 10% discount on orange chicken!

I spoke to an ancient wise man who sent me on a mushroom induced journey through an ancient forest to find the key to passing the CPA exam. A talking spider monkey told me to throw the last of my drinking water in the dirt to find what I was looking for. So I followed his instructions and the following message appeared in the soil:

"Do 5000 multiple choice questions for each section"

[Study Monk]

Don't worry I know a firm that has software that weeds out everyone with over a 3.2 gpa.They rent office space in the back of a Panda Express, but you get a 10% discount on orange chicken!

I spoke to an ancient wise man who sent me on a mushroom induced journey through an ancient forest to find the key to passing the CPA exam. A talking spider monkey told me to throw the last of my drinking water in the dirt to find what I was looking for. So I followed his instructions and the following message appeared in the soil:

"Do 5000 multiple choice questions for each section"

[acamp]

OK so we know firms use minimum GPA as a screening tool. The question is where is the grey area? Do they do a hard cutoff at 3.4 or a 3.4 to 3.2 range if you make a good impression? I remember seeing a forwarded email from one of the Big4's HR departments reminding everyone (partners included) that while they appreciate recommendations, firm minimum requirements were still required to be met by applicants.

Did you attend the most recent “meet the firms” or whatever they call it? When is the next one?

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

Becker Videos: [AUD - 82]

California CPA

[acamp]

OK so we know firms use minimum GPA as a screening tool. The question is where is the grey area? Do they do a hard cutoff at 3.4 or a 3.4 to 3.2 range if you make a good impression? I remember seeing a forwarded email from one of the Big4's HR departments reminding everyone (partners included) that while they appreciate recommendations, firm minimum requirements were still required to be met by applicants.

Did you attend the most recent “meet the firms” or whatever they call it? When is the next one?

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

Becker Videos: [AUD - 82]

California CPA

[Author]

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