[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."

[Anonymous]

1. Degree title and your reason for your choice – MAcc – I chose to go to the closest school to where I did my undergrad.

2. $$$ spent – Around $12,000 in Tuition plus another $500 for Books. Luckily, my wife has her Masters and works full-time. I work as an Accountant part-time at the University I attended for my undergrad. We don't have children yet either. We made it through debt free! (Dave Ramsey would be proud, right Jeff?)

3. How long it took – Started in June of 2012 and finish in May 2013

4. Are you happy with your ROI? – Yes – it opened up doors for me that were nonexistent before. I was hired by one of the Big 4, and it was due to the connections I was able to establish with the firm through my involvement in the MAcc program. The school where I completed my undergrad didn't have any such connections.

5. If you can do it over, what would you do different now? – Nothing really – it's worked out great.

[ImaCPA168]

@ vkuthiala

Time commitment and intesity depends on the school and program you choose. My MAcc program had a lot of non-accounting undergrads in it. For those of us who were not accounting undergrads, the program was very intense. Classes during the day, recruiting in the evenings, studying at night.

So it really depends on type of program–whether it is a full-time, part-time, executive program and the school. The higher ranked the school, the more intense the classes. I'm sure if you compared getting a MBA at Harvard versus Devry (no offense to anyone) the intensity and level of commitment would be vastly different.

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

Ethics - Done
Attest Hours - Done

Licensed-May 2013!

[ImaCPA168]

@ vkuthiala

Time commitment and intesity depends on the school and program you choose. My MAcc program had a lot of non-accounting undergrads in it. For those of us who were not accounting undergrads, the program was very intense. Classes during the day, recruiting in the evenings, studying at night.

So it really depends on type of program–whether it is a full-time, part-time, executive program and the school. The higher ranked the school, the more intense the classes. I'm sure if you compared getting a MBA at Harvard versus Devry (no offense to anyone) the intensity and level of commitment would be vastly different.

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

Ethics - Done
Attest Hours - Done

Licensed-May 2013!

[wizards8507]

I want to echo what ImaCPA168 said. A lot depends on what school you're considering and the relative caliber of your undergrad and graduate programs.

My bachelor's degree is from the #1 ranked undergrad business school per Bloomberg Businessweek and my MAcc is from a significantly lower-caliber school. The MAcc was largely a waste of time that provided very little actual education and served mainly as a means to obtain 150 hours. Thankfully it was online, only took one year, and cost me about $1,500 total after employer reimbursement.

NY CPA

[wizards8507]

I want to echo what ImaCPA168 said. A lot depends on what school you're considering and the relative caliber of your undergrad and graduate programs.

My bachelor's degree is from the #1 ranked undergrad business school per Bloomberg Businessweek and my MAcc is from a significantly lower-caliber school. The MAcc was largely a waste of time that provided very little actual education and served mainly as a means to obtain 150 hours. Thankfully it was online, only took one year, and cost me about $1,500 total after employer reimbursement.

NY CPA

[ImaCPA168]

@ wizards8507 — Right. My MAcc program was highly ranked and rigorous.

@ vkuthiala — I would not consider a MAcc if I were you. Since you have plenty of work experience and many certifications already, I doubt a MAcc will be useful for you. At my school, the non-accounting undergrads were there to get a MAcc to change their careers. The accounting undergrads who were getting their MAccs were there to 1) get a graduate degree because it's a personal goal for them to get one, 2) extend their time in school for another year without wasting time on a double major (which would just be another undergrad degree) because they were not ready to join the work force yet, 3) obtain enough units to qualify to sit for the CPA because they didn't achieve that with their undergrad degrees or minors, 4) get another shot at recruiting with the Big 4s. Do any of these apply to you? Do you have another reason to get a MAcc?

For your case, you really should take the time and do and do a thorough ROI analysis before committing to a grad program. It really doesn't sound like a MAcc or MST/MBT suits your needs or goals. I'd get something more general like an MBA if I were in your situation…my two cents.

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

Ethics - Done
Attest Hours - Done

Licensed-May 2013!

[ImaCPA168]

@ wizards8507 — Right. My MAcc program was highly ranked and rigorous.

@ vkuthiala — I would not consider a MAcc if I were you. Since you have plenty of work experience and many certifications already, I doubt a MAcc will be useful for you. At my school, the non-accounting undergrads were there to get a MAcc to change their careers. The accounting undergrads who were getting their MAccs were there to 1) get a graduate degree because it's a personal goal for them to get one, 2) extend their time in school for another year without wasting time on a double major (which would just be another undergrad degree) because they were not ready to join the work force yet, 3) obtain enough units to qualify to sit for the CPA because they didn't achieve that with their undergrad degrees or minors, 4) get another shot at recruiting with the Big 4s. Do any of these apply to you? Do you have another reason to get a MAcc?

For your case, you really should take the time and do and do a thorough ROI analysis before committing to a grad program. It really doesn't sound like a MAcc or MST/MBT suits your needs or goals. I'd get something more general like an MBA if I were in your situation…my two cents.

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

Ethics - Done
Attest Hours - Done

Licensed-May 2013!

[vkuthiala]

@ImaCPA168 – Thank you for all of your input, it was valuable and well reasoned.

The more and more I think about it, the more and more I agree with you. I would make my MBA either general or within something that could help me in Internal Audit directly such as Fraud Detection and Deterrence or Internal Audit itself.

I still have time before I shall take something like this on as I have only just passed my CPA exams, however, I will be sure to keep in mind all that you have said.

Thank you again!

Vishal

BEC - 77 (exp), (2.28.13) 85!!!!!!!
AUD - 90
REG - 78
FAR - 51 (No Study),71 (ARGH!), (2.23.13) 77!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

"Obstacles are those frightful things you see when you take your eyes off your goal" - Henry Ford

[vkuthiala]

@ImaCPA168 – Thank you for all of your input, it was valuable and well reasoned.

The more and more I think about it, the more and more I agree with you. I would make my MBA either general or within something that could help me in Internal Audit directly such as Fraud Detection and Deterrence or Internal Audit itself.

I still have time before I shall take something like this on as I have only just passed my CPA exams, however, I will be sure to keep in mind all that you have said.

Thank you again!

Vishal

BEC - 77 (exp), (2.28.13) 85!!!!!!!
AUD - 90
REG - 78
FAR - 51 (No Study),71 (ARGH!), (2.23.13) 77!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

"Obstacles are those frightful things you see when you take your eyes off your goal" - Henry Ford

[taxman89]

This is an awesome thread (didnt know Jeff was a dave ramsey fan). Does anyone know if there are very many MBA/MST dual programs. I know there are alot of JD/MST programs. The reason i ask is because i am currently in corporate tax and not sure if i want to stay in tax (accounting and finance double major in college) but know that my employer wouldnt pay for something that isnt tax related (why would they pay for me to be more qualified to leave). so just thought i would check to see if anyone knows if a MBA/MST is even a thing lol

Aud-75 3x I knew i never liked you
Bec-77 1x being in the bubble is stressful
Reg-82 4x its not me its you...and no we cant be friends
Far-78 1x easiest section

[taxman89]

This is an awesome thread (didnt know Jeff was a dave ramsey fan). Does anyone know if there are very many MBA/MST dual programs. I know there are alot of JD/MST programs. The reason i ask is because i am currently in corporate tax and not sure if i want to stay in tax (accounting and finance double major in college) but know that my employer wouldnt pay for something that isnt tax related (why would they pay for me to be more qualified to leave). so just thought i would check to see if anyone knows if a MBA/MST is even a thing lol

Aud-75 3x I knew i never liked you
Bec-77 1x being in the bubble is stressful
Reg-82 4x its not me its you...and no we cant be friends
Far-78 1x easiest section

[sewatk01]

1. MSA – I was switching careers. I had worked in tax and have management experience (unrelated to accounting) so I wanted a degree program that would help me make up lost time with the accounting basics (versus going for MBA that would have been broader).

2. $3000 + books. I think the program would have cost around $12,000 with a military spouse discount, but I earned some scholarships. I did an online program, that I was very happy with, but that doesn't lend itself as readily (necessarily) to successful recruiting if you are looking at a Big 4…see my note below.

3. 1.5 years. I needed to take 18 undergraduate accounting hours as a prerequisite.

4. Employers have commented on my degree in a positive light, so I think it helps ensure I get the job(s) I want, but I don't think its led to a higher salary than if I hadn't had it. Granted, since completing school I've only worked for very small non-profits 🙂

5. The only thing I might have changed, would be to have taken the CPA exam during my studies (I didn't work full-time) alongside the corresponding courses. For example, I had the “brilliant” idea to take corporate finance as an elective. I should have taken BEC a month later. Instead, I got to plow through the same (painful) coursework twice because of the two-year gap.

*Also, I should disclose I'm not a careerist. We have lived overseas quite a bit, and I have been fortunate to enjoy more of that experience rather than having to work FT. I think my results are good examples of people who are just trying to do a job they love and are good at, but maybe those who are wanting to climb corporate ladders would engage in a different pursuit or make different choices 🙂

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/sarahharrisberger

BEC - 12/13 88!
FAR - 2/14 82 Thank goodness!!! 🙂
REG - 7/14 81
AUD - 8/14

[sewatk01]

1. MSA – I was switching careers. I had worked in tax and have management experience (unrelated to accounting) so I wanted a degree program that would help me make up lost time with the accounting basics (versus going for MBA that would have been broader).

2. $3000 + books. I think the program would have cost around $12,000 with a military spouse discount, but I earned some scholarships. I did an online program, that I was very happy with, but that doesn't lend itself as readily (necessarily) to successful recruiting if you are looking at a Big 4…see my note below.

3. 1.5 years. I needed to take 18 undergraduate accounting hours as a prerequisite.

4. Employers have commented on my degree in a positive light, so I think it helps ensure I get the job(s) I want, but I don't think its led to a higher salary than if I hadn't had it. Granted, since completing school I've only worked for very small non-profits 🙂

5. The only thing I might have changed, would be to have taken the CPA exam during my studies (I didn't work full-time) alongside the corresponding courses. For example, I had the “brilliant” idea to take corporate finance as an elective. I should have taken BEC a month later. Instead, I got to plow through the same (painful) coursework twice because of the two-year gap.

*Also, I should disclose I'm not a careerist. We have lived overseas quite a bit, and I have been fortunate to enjoy more of that experience rather than having to work FT. I think my results are good examples of people who are just trying to do a job they love and are good at, but maybe those who are wanting to climb corporate ladders would engage in a different pursuit or make different choices 🙂

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/sarahharrisberger

BEC - 12/13 88!
FAR - 2/14 82 Thank goodness!!! 🙂
REG - 7/14 81
AUD - 8/14

[CPA_Runner]

This forum is motivating me to start a masters degree!

AUD - 80 (05/23/2012)
FAR - 75 (08/09/2012)
BEC - 81 (12/05/2012)
REG - 71 (10/16/2012); 70 (02/12/2013); 78 (04/08/2013)
Ethics - 98

[CPA_Runner]

This forum is motivating me to start a masters degree!

AUD - 80 (05/23/2012)
FAR - 75 (08/09/2012)
BEC - 81 (12/05/2012)
REG - 71 (10/16/2012); 70 (02/12/2013); 78 (04/08/2013)
Ethics - 98

[Author]

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