[Antonb1985]

I was originally a liberal arts major, graduated with a good gpa and now thinking to getting an MSA to get my accounting credits and sit in for the CPA. My questions is, how much do the ranks really matter in the Masters prgoram if you’re aiming for a public accounting position? I got accepted into lower tier national university (Tamu- Commerce) and thinking of attending due to low cost and not having to redo the whole undergrad as a pre-req like alot of program out there require.

[Anonymous]

Understand that a MSA program is not the same as a CPA Exam Prep, unless the program has a CPA Exam Prep class or two as electives. Then you could say it is an exam prep.

People are properly prepared for the CPA exam and they pass, and many don't have MSA's to pass. I don't have a MSA and I”m doing fine.

[tmw0918]

@bobkorz our MSA programs whole last semester is CPA exam prep. You take a 3hr/day seminar 4 days a week for a month then go take AUD…… then do the same for REG, get a long 2 week break because of the dead period and come back and do the same for FAR. This type of program has done wonders and is the reason the pass rate is so high at my school. I think more schools should do this, if they aren't already.

Sometimes I forget most schools don't do this, but they pound it into our head the first day we walk in. “75 is your goal.” and, “i've never had an employer ask what my passing scores were for the CPA. They only cared that I had it” haha

[MrPresident_X]

I graduated from a top 50 ranked school for my undergraduate and decided to attend TAMU Commerce for my MSA. I am very pleased with the program, professors, and students. In fact, one of my professors used to work for a big 4 accounting firm so he has tons of connections in the Dallas area. Also, students who attend TAMU-C for this program are often working adults who are great for networking. I am graduating from the MSA program in December and I have a job waiting for me when I do. The whole goal of the MSA program is to get your CPA and build connections with classmates. TAMU-C will do this for you. If I ever decide to get an MBA, I will take school rankings more seriously.

[Mayo]

-_- The entire point of doing an MACC/MSA over community college is the recruiting and networking. That's it.

Ranks matter because it is generally positively correlated with how much students will be recruited. Period. Who cares about the CPA when looking for entry level work??

Mayo, BBA, Macc

[TexasGrad]

How did you all sit for the CPA exam without getting your MAcc? Did you all already have 150 hours or do you live in states where 150 hours is not required? Just curious…I'm currently deciding between entering grad school or forgoing it and just attend a community college to receive my additional 26 hours. I'm worried spending over $10,000 on grad school for my hours won't be worth it in the long run.

[jenuno01]

@TexasGrad, I don't think you need a MAcc to be a CPA, as long as you have 150 credits… I graduated with a Bachelor's in Public Accounting and Finance…ended up with around 160 credits.. my school didn't give you a Bachelor's @ 120 hrs, they just had us take 30 more hours and called it a “Public Acctg” major…some schools stop you @ 120, give you a Bachelors, and for the other 30 hours they call it a “MAcc”.

Class of 2012

[jelly]

@TexasGrad: What are TX's exact academic unit requirements for 150 hours to sit?

For instance in NY's:

150 hrs = 69 accounting/econ/business + 81 liberal arts

120 hrs = 66 accounting/econ/business + 54 liberal arts

NY became 150 in August 2009.

I myself was actually grandfathered under NY's 120, and joined the 150 once I understood the unit breakdown. I had nearly 200 overall units from going to school a lot; in addition to the accounting classes I already took under a 120-curriculum, I just needed 3 credits from an upper-level class in accounting/economics/business to qualify under 150.

Couldn't pass again!

[MrPresident_X]

Mayo, connections are far less important in accounting than other majors because of the CPA designation. Having a CPA is all a person needs to show competence in the field of accounting. Plus if connections are important for accountants, which group of people are most likely able to get you a job, young 20 somethings or mid 30s people? Most highly ranked schools do not have working adults attend them. I obtained an interview with a CPA firm simply through a friend I met at TAMU-C who worked for it. TAMU-C is a very inexpensive way to achieve the CPA designation so it is an attractive alternative to those of us who are having to pay for school on our own. I could have gone to SMU and paid 40K a year but I knew it would take me forever to pay it back with an accountant's salary.

[Mayo]

Mr. President, I'm glad you were to get an interview through a school referral. I also agree with a lot of what you said.

However, I took exception when you said “the whole goal of an MSA program is to get your CPA”‘ because, although people get their Masters degree to fulfill the credit requirements (if in a 150 degree state), there are cheaper ways to get these requirements.

One could theoretically go to a community college and have zero access to recruiting or valuable networking and be totally fine if they just need the credits.

My point was that when choosing to get a MSA/Macc at a university versus just taking courses at a community college, one should expect a return on their investment beyond just the CPA.

This return usually comes in the form of on-campus recruiting, which is how 90% of big 4 firms hire entry level staff. Other firms might have a lower percentage, but the trend is definitely towards on campus recruiting for entry level positions.

And while anyone can argue that school rank only determines so much, it still increases the chances of being recruited.

Look, I agree with you that one can go to a TAMU-C or other similar university and still do well and get recruited for a lot less paid in tuition. However, the chances of being recruited from a top ranked program are still statistically greater at a top program due to the sheer number of people being recruited.

In terms of the op, that's a determination he or she needs to make, but pretending or insinuating that rank does not matter is incorrect in my opinion.

Mayo, BBA, Macc

[bighitter56]

It comes down to if roughly $30,000 and countless hours invested is worth a statistically greater chance of being recruited. In my opinion, dedicating your time and money towards earning a MAccy for the sole purpose of having greater access to on campus recruitment is not worth it (unless you went to a no name school for undergrad and have the opportunity to get a master's degree from a respected program). However it is a personal decision. I wish you the best of luck.

BEC- 86
AUD- 96
REG- 83
FAR- soon hopefully

Using Wiley CPA Review Books and 2012 Wiley Online Test Bank
MBA in Finance & Strategy

[Author]

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