[Anonymous]

Hi Everyone,

Just following for some opinions on balancing work with school. Assuming my social life goes down the gutter..do you think its doable to finish a MAcc program in 2 semester – i.e., 5 classes a semester? Below is a list of the classes

•Advanced Accounting Information Systems

•Current Issues in Auditing

•Environment of Accounting and Auditing

•Special Topics in Accounting

•Evaluation of Financial Reports, Business Analysis, and Valuation

•Value-added Tax Strategies for Business Decisions

•Information Technology Auditing

•Global Accounting, Auditing, and Financial Strategy

•Fraud Examination

•Managerial Control and Controllership

Thanks!

[Da Bears]

You will want to die if it's a rigorous program. I would suggest spring 13 (2 classes), summer 13 (1 class), Fall 13 (2-3 depending how you much you hated life in spring), spring 14 (2), summer 14 (1), fall 14 (2). You want to get good grades presuming your employer is paying for it and you need atleast B's?

FAR- 8/14/12 91
AUD- 10/16/12 88
BEC- 11/07/12 92
REG- 01/05/13 86
NIU CPA Review

[musicamor]

I agree with Da Bears…that looks like an over-rigorous schedule if you are duly working full time.

Texas CPA - licensed in 2012!!!

[mla1169]

It can absolutely be done but you have to be an especially driven person.

FAR- 77
AUD -49, 71, 84
REG -56,75!
BEC -75

Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

[subie_rex]

Not to going to say I'm some kind of superhero or anything, but I worked full time (40 hours a week, no overtime) and did a full time master's in taxation program at Arizona State. It was a one year deal just like your program. It was intense, not going to lie and I really wanted to kill myself on a few occasions but I graduated…with a 3.97.

I really took it week by week..

So I guess it can be done…I just don't know to this day how I did it-haha.

BEC-86 (07/07/12)
FAR-87(08/25/12)
AUD-93(10/08/12)
REG-87(11/17/12)

[Erica H]

Stetson University also has a 1-year AACSB-accredited MAcc that I'm currently enrolled in. 1 year (calendar year, not school year), 30 credits.

The value of doing a program designed to be finished in one year is that some (not all) of the instructors adjust the volume of deliverables (writing assignments) for the shorter 5 week class term. I find the reading volume is the same, but the “nice” instructors just test you on some of the reading and don't require as many case/discussion board writings. The “not-so-nice” instructors clearly don't adjust the volume…. Classes have been about 50/50- two had moderate work loads, two had INSANE work loads.

Knowing what I know now, I would seriously hesitate to take more than 2 classes at a time on a long-course format. You won't be getting any breaks on how much work you are assigned, and in grad school it WILL be a lot of work. I feel like an average week's reading/writing assignment is more writing than I would do for entire courses when I was an undergrad. Not kidding.

AUD - 92
FAR - 73, 82
REG - 72, 82
BEC - 84 DONE!!!!!! 🙂

[MintsRGood]

I worked full time while obtaining my MAC and it is no picnic! I strongly advise you to reconsider your course load unless there is some specific reason that you MUST complete the program in 2 semesters!

You won't be doing yourself any favors for the CPA exam by limping through 5 classes per semester and working full time…TRUST ME on that! There is no way that you can absorb all you need to for the CPA exam with that schedule and working a full time job.

Looking back on my program, I realize now that the semesters where I crammed in too many courses are now the very same topics that are giving me hell on the exam!

Take the time you need to get the most out of your program! A strong foundation is the best defense against this beast of an exam!!!!!!!!!!!

Good luck!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 🙂

REG: 75 DONE 🙂
AUD: 61, 71, 68, 92 DONE 🙂
BEC: 76 DONE 🙂
FAR: 72, 74, 79 DONE 🙂
Licensed Michigan CPA 🙂
-Some people dream of success...others wake up and work hard for it!!!
-The cowards never start and the weak die along the way!
-You better work, b***h!
-Only those who dare to fail greatly can ever achieve greatly.-JFK

[Author]

Replies