[Anonymous]

I just started at a regional firm in NJ as a staff. Is an MBA something I should actively pursue early? Can I just put it off until I move up in rank? How do MBA classes differ from undergrad accounting classes in terms of structure and difficulty?

[tough_kitty]

Wow! That's expensive! I wouldn't do it……CPA is good enough for now, and wait with the MBA program until you find an employer who would help you pay for the master's program!

FAR: 81 (May 2013)
BEC: 81 (July 2013)
REG: 83 (August 2013)
AUD: 82 (November 2013)
California CPA since 1/30/14

[tough_kitty]

Wow! That's expensive! I wouldn't do it……CPA is good enough for now, and wait with the MBA program until you find an employer who would help you pay for the master's program!

FAR: 81 (May 2013)
BEC: 81 (July 2013)
REG: 83 (August 2013)
AUD: 82 (November 2013)
California CPA since 1/30/14

[Anonymous]

Oh cool I am at Rutgers flex MBA (double concentrating in accounting and finance) student so I have some insight.

The general Accounting class that everyone has to take, Accounting for managers, is very easy. It is mostly Financial Accounting and with a few chapters of managerial accounting which a lot of the professors don't get to.

At least my professor didn't even test on debits and credits. Also big curve. Easy class if you were an accounting major undergrad.

I would say that the classes are equivalent to undergrad with some classes being easier due to the fact that it seems like professors are more reluctant to give bad grades compared to undergrad, but less complete slackers. More group projects which gets annoying.

[Anonymous]

Oh cool I am at Rutgers flex MBA (double concentrating in accounting and finance) student so I have some insight.

The general Accounting class that everyone has to take, Accounting for managers, is very easy. It is mostly Financial Accounting and with a few chapters of managerial accounting which a lot of the professors don't get to.

At least my professor didn't even test on debits and credits. Also big curve. Easy class if you were an accounting major undergrad.

I would say that the classes are equivalent to undergrad with some classes being easier due to the fact that it seems like professors are more reluctant to give bad grades compared to undergrad, but less complete slackers. More group projects which gets annoying.

[jeff]

K – well ask yourself this:

“Would I mail off an investment check for $61,000 if I wasn't sure about the return?”

Of course, take opportunity cost and the investment cost is much much higher.

[jeff]

K – well ask yourself this:

“Would I mail off an investment check for $61,000 if I wasn't sure about the return?”

Of course, take opportunity cost and the investment cost is much much higher.

[Study Monk]

I think I am going to have to enroll in a Masters of Accountancy or Masters of Taxation program to make my educational experience more recent. I have not done accounting in over 5 years. I think a Masters in Taxation will give me more new knowledge, but its quite the risk if I don't end up doing tax. These programs are $25,000-$30,000. No MBA for me.

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]

I think I am going to have to enroll in a Masters of Accountancy or Masters of Taxation program to make my educational experience more recent. I have not done accounting in over 5 years. I think a Masters in Taxation will give me more new knowledge, but its quite the risk if I don't end up doing tax. These programs are $25,000-$30,000. No MBA for me.

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"

[tough_kitty]

A lot of my classmates paid about $24K for the MBA degree and got entry-level positions as financial analysts with Apple, Intel, and some other firms making $70K to start. I don't think paying $60K for an MBA program is worth it unless you have some connections and you know you can get a job which pays $100K+ after you get the MBA degree.

FAR: 81 (May 2013)
BEC: 81 (July 2013)
REG: 83 (August 2013)
AUD: 82 (November 2013)
California CPA since 1/30/14

[tough_kitty]

A lot of my classmates paid about $24K for the MBA degree and got entry-level positions as financial analysts with Apple, Intel, and some other firms making $70K to start. I don't think paying $60K for an MBA program is worth it unless you have some connections and you know you can get a job which pays $100K+ after you get the MBA degree.

FAR: 81 (May 2013)
BEC: 81 (July 2013)
REG: 83 (August 2013)
AUD: 82 (November 2013)
California CPA since 1/30/14

[gt5717b]

My personal opinion is that those who graduate from a Tier 1 MBA School say, “I have a [Harvard, Wharton, Kellogg, etc.] MBA,” while those who graduate elsewhere say, “I have an MBA.” If you can get into the top programs, do it, because their prestige really makes a difference. If not, I don't think it really matters too much.

I have an MBA and thought the classes were kind of a joke. I did go to an engineering school though which was definitely not a diploma mill.

REG - 89
FAR - 84
AUD - 73, 86
BEC - 89

GA Licensed CPA

[gt5717b]

My personal opinion is that those who graduate from a Tier 1 MBA School say, “I have a [Harvard, Wharton, Kellogg, etc.] MBA,” while those who graduate elsewhere say, “I have an MBA.” If you can get into the top programs, do it, because their prestige really makes a difference. If not, I don't think it really matters too much.

I have an MBA and thought the classes were kind of a joke. I did go to an engineering school though which was definitely not a diploma mill.

REG - 89
FAR - 84
AUD - 73, 86
BEC - 89

GA Licensed CPA

[M.O.D.]

Beware of “executive” labeled MBA programs. Those are ploys by the big name schools to capitalize on their fame by charging high prices to all comers in return for the famous name degree.

They are selling the degree for cash so the classes are easy. After all why pay if you can't get the degree.

Go for the “traditional” MBA if you can. They are harder to get into, more rigorous, but cheaper, because they are geared to students, not wealthy “executives.”

BA Mathematics, UC Berkeley
Certificates in CPA and EA preparation, College of San Mateo
CMA I 420, II 470
FAR 91, AUD Feb 2015 (Gleim self-study)

[M.O.D.]

Beware of “executive” labeled MBA programs. Those are ploys by the big name schools to capitalize on their fame by charging high prices to all comers in return for the famous name degree.

They are selling the degree for cash so the classes are easy. After all why pay if you can't get the degree.

Go for the “traditional” MBA if you can. They are harder to get into, more rigorous, but cheaper, because they are geared to students, not wealthy “executives.”

BA Mathematics, UC Berkeley
Certificates in CPA and EA preparation, College of San Mateo
CMA I 420, II 470
FAR 91, AUD Feb 2015 (Gleim self-study)

[Author]

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