[MrCPA2B]

Hello All,

Of course I’m back with another question 🙂 . I was in one of my Gemini moods today and began to think about a lot of things. For the past 5 months, I have been working on my MS in Accounting online while working full time as an accounting clerk for a private company. As stated in a previous post, I am interested in public accounting but unfortunately hadn’t had any luck yet. I am also studying concurrently to take the CPA exam (AUD first up in January 14). I have been back and forward on career blogs reading about the value of a MSA and reading the different opinions. A few blogs made a valid point that the MSA is redundant if you already have a bachelors in accounting. In which case, I do. So I have been toying with the idea of completely stopping my MSA mid-way. I have completed 15 credit hours of the 30 required credit hours needed for the degree. However, I already have my 150 needed for the CPA. Should I stop and focus on the CPA? I am scared that even after my MSA, I still will not find work in public accounting and I’ll be swamped with debt. Feedback please!

AUD- FEB 2014
BEC- APR 2014
FAR- MAY 2014
REG- AUG 2014

Using Wiley CPA Exam Review and Ninja Notes
May the "Force" be with me!

[mla1169]

You actually did say that a recruiter told you a masters is more difficult. He or she is grossly misinformed.

No, sadly you can not use the same argument as I do, because I HAVE completed my Masters degree AND am a Licensed CPA.

I would take 6,000 graduate courses before I would study for one section of the CPA again.

Ask anybody who has actually DONE both. Not a recruiter who has done neither.

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

Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

[mla1169]

You actually did say that a recruiter told you a masters is more difficult. He or she is grossly misinformed.

No, sadly you can not use the same argument as I do, because I HAVE completed my Masters degree AND am a Licensed CPA.

I would take 6,000 graduate courses before I would study for one section of the CPA again.

Ask anybody who has actually DONE both. Not a recruiter who has done neither.

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

Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

[tough_kitty]

Not to interrupt your heated discussion 😉 but just an FYI, some MSA programs don't have any writing assignments or oral presentations and some MBA programs have students who may not be the best at English but still pass all courses thanks to team projects, if you know what I mean…. so, to sum it up, having a master's degree or a CPA license doesn't necessarily equal to being fluent (or not) in English….

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

[tough_kitty]

Not to interrupt your heated discussion 😉 but just an FYI, some MSA programs don't have any writing assignments or oral presentations and some MBA programs have students who may not be the best at English but still pass all courses thanks to team projects, if you know what I mean…. so, to sum it up, having a master's degree or a CPA license doesn't necessarily equal to being fluent (or not) in English….

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

[MintsRGood]

1. I'm a moderator

2. I do not have an anti-grad school bias.

3. In fact, I am of the opinion that if your state has a 150 credit hour requirement you should get your MAC. It looks great on your resume and is a nice feather in your cap while you are chasing your CPA.

4. I would rather sit through my entire grad program all over again then have to repeat ANY section of the CPA exam that I've already passed.

5. In particular, I'd rather stick my hand down my kitchen sink and turn on the garbage disposal than lose my audit credit.

6. How is translating the CPA exam from English, to Chinese, and then back into English helping the OP?

7. Did I mention that I'd rather blow dry my hair in the bathtub than retake audit?

8. How on earth did ESL make it's way into this conversation?

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

[MintsRGood]

1. I'm a moderator

2. I do not have an anti-grad school bias.

3. In fact, I am of the opinion that if your state has a 150 credit hour requirement you should get your MAC. It looks great on your resume and is a nice feather in your cap while you are chasing your CPA.

4. I would rather sit through my entire grad program all over again then have to repeat ANY section of the CPA exam that I've already passed.

5. In particular, I'd rather stick my hand down my kitchen sink and turn on the garbage disposal than lose my audit credit.

6. How is translating the CPA exam from English, to Chinese, and then back into English helping the OP?

7. Did I mention that I'd rather blow dry my hair in the bathtub than retake audit?

8. How on earth did ESL make it's way into this conversation?

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

[mla1169]

Now this thread needs to derail into how there are other exams tougher than the CPA (and I agree there ARE).

Bottom line is I would NEVER make a career decision based on the advice of one recruiter. There are some good recruiters out there, but by and large they are the equivalent of used car salesmen who will tell you if you are in a MS program that its the ONLY way to get a job and if you are flipping burgers will tell you flipping burgers is where its at.

And any recruiter who tries to equate proficiency in English to employability is ridiculous. Bilingual will get you further in any career any day of the week.

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

Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

[mla1169]

Now this thread needs to derail into how there are other exams tougher than the CPA (and I agree there ARE).

Bottom line is I would NEVER make a career decision based on the advice of one recruiter. There are some good recruiters out there, but by and large they are the equivalent of used car salesmen who will tell you if you are in a MS program that its the ONLY way to get a job and if you are flipping burgers will tell you flipping burgers is where its at.

And any recruiter who tries to equate proficiency in English to employability is ridiculous. Bilingual will get you further in any career any day of the week.

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

Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

[M.O.D.]

@ toughkitty, I agree some students slack off in a graduate program, as some do in CPA studying. Who here is actively aiming for a 95 instead of 75? I am. But it is because I want to learn the stuff and I don't need to pass tests anymore. It is just a personal goal to me.

@mla, I live in a Chinatown in San Francisco. My Chinese landlords have lived here 40+ years and do not speak English, and their grown children, educated 100% in the US have broken English grammar. These are the kinds of employees that are being screened. Knowing English in San Francisco is an (unnecessary) luxury, believe me. Yet many have their CPAs.

I agree multilingualism in the US is a good thing, as long as English is one of those languages. I will refrain from passing judgment on the recruiter.

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.]

@ toughkitty, I agree some students slack off in a graduate program, as some do in CPA studying. Who here is actively aiming for a 95 instead of 75? I am. But it is because I want to learn the stuff and I don't need to pass tests anymore. It is just a personal goal to me.

@mla, I live in a Chinatown in San Francisco. My Chinese landlords have lived here 40+ years and do not speak English, and their grown children, educated 100% in the US have broken English grammar. These are the kinds of employees that are being screened. Knowing English in San Francisco is an (unnecessary) luxury, believe me. Yet many have their CPAs.

I agree multilingualism in the US is a good thing, as long as English is one of those languages. I will refrain from passing judgment on the recruiter.

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)

[Anonymous]

Wow, this thread is funny. So the main point M.O.D. is driving at is that if English isn't your first language, you need a Master's degree, otherwise you're fine?

[Anonymous]

Wow, this thread is funny. So the main point M.O.D. is driving at is that if English isn't your first language, you need a Master's degree, otherwise you're fine?

[M.O.D.]

@ehrman9, My point is not really valid outside of this microcosm that is the SF Bay Area. English is not my first language (I am European by birth), but it is now my best language. But many Asians still speak their first language at home. My family gave it up.

For them though, the native language is their best language. So I don't think of it as which is the first language, rather simply how fluent is your English. Many Asians speak (and write) English as they would Chinese, with Chinese syntax, grammar and word order. This might pass in a small business setting, especially when doing business with other Chinese, but not in a large public accounting firm.

I think there is even a word for this: Chinglish.

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.]

@ehrman9, My point is not really valid outside of this microcosm that is the SF Bay Area. English is not my first language (I am European by birth), but it is now my best language. But many Asians still speak their first language at home. My family gave it up.

For them though, the native language is their best language. So I don't think of it as which is the first language, rather simply how fluent is your English. Many Asians speak (and write) English as they would Chinese, with Chinese syntax, grammar and word order. This might pass in a small business setting, especially when doing business with other Chinese, but not in a large public accounting firm.

I think there is even a word for this: Chinglish.

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)

[mla1169]

I'm glad you are reserving judgement on recruiters. Frees you up to use it on your neighbors in San Fran and people who get their additional credits at community college.

And what exactly do you know of what will or will not pass at a large accounting firm? Or is that also based on your landlords hairdressers uncles brother?

You're just coming off as racist now.

.

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

Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

[Author]

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