[Lost1]

Please answer the following

1. Degree title and your reason for your choice

2. $$$ spent

3. How long it took

4. Are you happy with your ROI?

5. If you can do it over, what would you do different now?

Your input would help me out tremendously.

I know I asked alot, your response would be much appreciated.

"If you can do it, I can do it better."

[ImaCPA168]

@ Jeff. Yes you are right, Jeff. I do have to add the year salary that was forgone because I was in school full time. I am not going to disclose my pre MAcc salary because I think some of my colleagues also frequent this site and my current salary would be easy to figure out from the info I provided.

Whoops…I just saw that I didn't add correctly in my original reply! $20K cash and $65K in student loans is $85K not $80K. Sorry!

Anyway, I just want to say grad school was one of the best decisions I made. But it is a big investment in time and money so one should figure out approximately what kind of returns they can expect before going forward. (NOTE: Use conservative estimates–Say, if you are considering a law degree and you know lawyers makes anywhere from $100K to $3M a year, using $100K and adjust for 3-8% yearly increases would be more accurate than using $3M in your ROI calcuation.)

B - 83 Done
A - 88 Done
R - 81 Done
F - 77 Done

Ethics - Done
Attest Hours - Done

Licensed-May 2013!

[jeff]

That's cool.

Yeah – you have to say “ok, the program costs X and my time is worth Y…this program will improve my personal bottom line by Z (ignoring “marketability” or other intangibles)”

(X+Y)/Z just to break even.

Chances are – that's a big #.

AUD - 79
BEC - 80
FAR - 76
REG - 92

Jeff Elliott, CPA (KS)
NINJA CPA | NINJA CMA | NINJA CPE | Another71

[jeff]

That's cool.

Yeah – you have to say “ok, the program costs X and my time is worth Y…this program will improve my personal bottom line by Z (ignoring “marketability” or other intangibles)”

(X+Y)/Z just to break even.

Chances are – that's a big #.

AUD - 79
BEC - 80
FAR - 76
REG - 92

Jeff Elliott, CPA (KS)
NINJA CPA | NINJA CMA | NINJA CPE | Another71

[ImaCPA168]

This is how I originally did it.

(X+Y)/Z=A

X=current salary

Y = total cost (tuition/books/supplies, living expenses, salary forgone)

Z=years I would like to have my investment break even

A=how much additional money my new after grad school salary has to be over my current salary of X to make it worthwile

I plugged in different numbers for Z (from 2-6 years) and A came out doable in most situations. So I went back to school.

B - 83 Done
A - 88 Done
R - 81 Done
F - 77 Done

Ethics - Done
Attest Hours - Done

Licensed-May 2013!

[ImaCPA168]

This is how I originally did it.

(X+Y)/Z=A

X=current salary

Y = total cost (tuition/books/supplies, living expenses, salary forgone)

Z=years I would like to have my investment break even

A=how much additional money my new after grad school salary has to be over my current salary of X to make it worthwile

I plugged in different numbers for Z (from 2-6 years) and A came out doable in most situations. So I went back to school.

B - 83 Done
A - 88 Done
R - 81 Done
F - 77 Done

Ethics - Done
Attest Hours - Done

Licensed-May 2013!

[Anonymous]

1. Degree title and your reason for your choice

a. MBA- Got this one first for its general corporate recognition.

b. MSA- Got this one to get the extra credits needed to sit for the CPA exam and to qualify for the license.

2. $$$ spent

a. MBA- About $3K of my own funds. I could have spent $0 but it would have taken another year and I was ready to be done.

b. MSA- $0 of my own funds.

3. How long it took

a. MBA- About 2 years accelerated from a no-name school.

b. MSA- About 2 years accelerated from a no-name school.

4. Are you happy with your ROI?

Absolutely, my salary increased by a fair amount after the MBA even though it came from a no-name school. I can't attribute it all to the MBA or MSA as I worked hard to move up at my company but I'm certain it helped me when competing for promotions.

5. If you can do it over, what would you do different now?

The only thing I would have done different would have been to use my company's tuition assistance program sooner. I took 4 years off after college so I'm further behind than I could have been. But, all in all, I went back when I was ready and was very lucky to be in a company that paid for a very large portion of my graduate education so it worked out.

[Anonymous]

1. Degree title and your reason for your choice

a. MBA- Got this one first for its general corporate recognition.

b. MSA- Got this one to get the extra credits needed to sit for the CPA exam and to qualify for the license.

2. $$$ spent

a. MBA- About $3K of my own funds. I could have spent $0 but it would have taken another year and I was ready to be done.

b. MSA- $0 of my own funds.

3. How long it took

a. MBA- About 2 years accelerated from a no-name school.

b. MSA- About 2 years accelerated from a no-name school.

4. Are you happy with your ROI?

Absolutely, my salary increased by a fair amount after the MBA even though it came from a no-name school. I can't attribute it all to the MBA or MSA as I worked hard to move up at my company but I'm certain it helped me when competing for promotions.

5. If you can do it over, what would you do different now?

The only thing I would have done different would have been to use my company's tuition assistance program sooner. I took 4 years off after college so I'm further behind than I could have been. But, all in all, I went back when I was ready and was very lucky to be in a company that paid for a very large portion of my graduate education so it worked out.

[NWATSB]

1. Degree title and your reason for your choice – MST because there are only 2 things certain in life (death and taxes)

2. $$$ spent – $45k total, $12 from employer the rest I paid cash.

3. How long it took – 2 years part time at night after a hard day of work

4. Are you happy with your ROI? – Very happy. I get job offers on linked in for international tax work ALL THE TIME

5. If you can do it over, what would you do different now? – I would have went for a law degree in taxation, but I actually may still go part time at night because many of my MST classes will transfer as electives at the law school so instead of 4 years part time may only be 3 or 3 and a half depending on what I choose.

Oh and my salary was $37k in 2007 now its $77k in 2013 and I didn't have to do a stint in public accounting! Looking forward to a raise once I get CPA & more international tax experience/JD.

8/6/12 BEC - 76
8/31/12 REG - 75
10/15/12 AUD - 76
7/15/13 FAR - 75

Finally Done with this exam after being eligible since May 15th, 2009

[NWATSB]

1. Degree title and your reason for your choice – MST because there are only 2 things certain in life (death and taxes)

2. $$$ spent – $45k total, $12 from employer the rest I paid cash.

3. How long it took – 2 years part time at night after a hard day of work

4. Are you happy with your ROI? – Very happy. I get job offers on linked in for international tax work ALL THE TIME

5. If you can do it over, what would you do different now? – I would have went for a law degree in taxation, but I actually may still go part time at night because many of my MST classes will transfer as electives at the law school so instead of 4 years part time may only be 3 or 3 and a half depending on what I choose.

Oh and my salary was $37k in 2007 now its $77k in 2013 and I didn't have to do a stint in public accounting! Looking forward to a raise once I get CPA & more international tax experience/JD.

8/6/12 BEC - 76
8/31/12 REG - 75
10/15/12 AUD - 76
7/15/13 FAR - 75

Finally Done with this exam after being eligible since May 15th, 2009

[jaclynnh]

1. Degree title and your reason for your choice:

MSA – Needed to hit 150 credit hours

2. $$$ spent:

Approx. $30K in student loans

3. How long it took:

1 1/2 years (3 semesters)

4. Are you happy with your ROI?:

Pre MSA, no job. Post MSA, working at a Big 4 accounting firm in tax. So I'd say I'm happy with my ROI. Although I will say this, my starting salary was the same as those without a masters.

5. If you can do it over, what would you do different now?

I probably would have went for my MST instead. It would of been more applicable and beneficial for my career path. Also, at my firm, the only degree that they provide tuition assistance is the MST. (No assistance for MBA or MSA)

REG - 77*, 74, 70, 71, 82
AUD - 71, 68, 71, 83
BEC - 75
FAR - 65, 70, 72, 75

* = Lost credit due to the 18 month rule

[jaclynnh]

1. Degree title and your reason for your choice:

MSA – Needed to hit 150 credit hours

2. $$$ spent:

Approx. $30K in student loans

3. How long it took:

1 1/2 years (3 semesters)

4. Are you happy with your ROI?:

Pre MSA, no job. Post MSA, working at a Big 4 accounting firm in tax. So I'd say I'm happy with my ROI. Although I will say this, my starting salary was the same as those without a masters.

5. If you can do it over, what would you do different now?

I probably would have went for my MST instead. It would of been more applicable and beneficial for my career path. Also, at my firm, the only degree that they provide tuition assistance is the MST. (No assistance for MBA or MSA)

REG - 77*, 74, 70, 71, 82
AUD - 71, 68, 71, 83
BEC - 75
FAR - 65, 70, 72, 75

* = Lost credit due to the 18 month rule

[neika822]

1. Degree title and your reason for your choice – MSA. I needed 150 credits and didn't want to stay a 5th year in undergrad, I wanted a degree to show for my efforts!

2. $$$ spent – I think the program was about $19k. I stayed at the same school I did my undergrad in. They didn't require us (those who graduated from the school) to take our GMATs, so it was a clear winner for me.

3. How long it took – It was late-May through mid-December, so about 7 months. 18 credits in the summer and 12 credits in the fall.

4. Are you happy with your ROI? – Yes! I quit public accounting before getting my CPA, so while I was job hunting, it definitely helped me since I was without much experience or a CPA.

5. If you can do it over, what would you do different now? – I'm not sure I'd do anything different in respects to my MSA. I sure wish I had put the time in as a grad student to pass the CPA, though!

R - *77*(02/'13)-Becker & NINJA
A - 71('11); *87*(04/'13)-Becker & NINJA
F - *76*(08/'13)-Becker & NINJA - "server upgrade" survivor
B - 60('11); *82*(10/'13) -Becker & NINA

DONE, DONE, AND DONE.

CPA in Massachusetts; issued 01/24/14

[neika822]

1. Degree title and your reason for your choice – MSA. I needed 150 credits and didn't want to stay a 5th year in undergrad, I wanted a degree to show for my efforts!

2. $$$ spent – I think the program was about $19k. I stayed at the same school I did my undergrad in. They didn't require us (those who graduated from the school) to take our GMATs, so it was a clear winner for me.

3. How long it took – It was late-May through mid-December, so about 7 months. 18 credits in the summer and 12 credits in the fall.

4. Are you happy with your ROI? – Yes! I quit public accounting before getting my CPA, so while I was job hunting, it definitely helped me since I was without much experience or a CPA.

5. If you can do it over, what would you do different now? – I'm not sure I'd do anything different in respects to my MSA. I sure wish I had put the time in as a grad student to pass the CPA, though!

R - *77*(02/'13)-Becker & NINJA
A - 71('11); *87*(04/'13)-Becker & NINJA
F - *76*(08/'13)-Becker & NINJA - "server upgrade" survivor
B - 60('11); *82*(10/'13) -Becker & NINA

DONE, DONE, AND DONE.

CPA in Massachusetts; issued 01/24/14

[Gerg, CPA]

-MBA, accounting

-my company paid 100%

-4 years while working full-time

-yeah sure. i mean considering my only cost was time. and when pass all parts of the cpa exam, i will only need a year of general experience & attest. several coworkers will need double that because they have no graduate degree.

-if i could do it over, i would've started taking the cpa exam instead of going to grad school – i was under the impression that i needed the extra college credit hours to sit for the exam, but i believe i was mistaken. Either that or i would've gotten an Masters of Accountancy or a Masters of Financial Services

FAR - 1/26/2012 - PASSED (78, but Lost credit), re-do 11/27/2013 - PASSED (87)!
AUD - EPIC FAIL, 71, 69; 68; 5/25/2013 - PASSED (85)!
REG - 10/1/2012 - 72; 7/1/2013 - 73 UGH, 10/1/2013 - PASSED (85)!
BEC - 2/28/2013 - PASSED (82)!
Licensed CPA!

Used Becker self-study materials (just this for FAR original & REG #1), WileyTestBank, NINJA notes/audio, and Roger cram course for AUD #5, REG #3 & FAR reboot. CPA!

[Gerg, CPA]

-MBA, accounting

-my company paid 100%

-4 years while working full-time

-yeah sure. i mean considering my only cost was time. and when pass all parts of the cpa exam, i will only need a year of general experience & attest. several coworkers will need double that because they have no graduate degree.

-if i could do it over, i would've started taking the cpa exam instead of going to grad school – i was under the impression that i needed the extra college credit hours to sit for the exam, but i believe i was mistaken. Either that or i would've gotten an Masters of Accountancy or a Masters of Financial Services

FAR - 1/26/2012 - PASSED (78, but Lost credit), re-do 11/27/2013 - PASSED (87)!
AUD - EPIC FAIL, 71, 69; 68; 5/25/2013 - PASSED (85)!
REG - 10/1/2012 - 72; 7/1/2013 - 73 UGH, 10/1/2013 - PASSED (85)!
BEC - 2/28/2013 - PASSED (82)!
Licensed CPA!

Used Becker self-study materials (just this for FAR original & REG #1), WileyTestBank, NINJA notes/audio, and Roger cram course for AUD #5, REG #3 & FAR reboot. CPA!

[Author]

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