[mmcgrad1]

I have a very unique situation. I’ve been out of school for 3 years. I spent a year and a half working in Financial Reporting at a large international company until I left for seminary last year. I recently left seminary and decided to sit for the CPA exam.

I graduated from an elite university with an accounting degree but I had some anxiety issues and actually failed out of school once before graduating. My accounting GPA is low as a result and my overall GPA is only a 3.3. I know this looks bad and I can’t do anything about it. I did get professional help and have learned from my mistakes and, I am a better person as a result. I’m not trying to sound arrogant but I know I would be an excellent auditor. I am smart and I work extremely hard.

I’m on my last part of the CPA exam (BEC). If my current trend continues, knock on wood, I will pass all four parts of the exam first try. I find this pretty remarkable considering I haven’t studying the material in 3 years and I was unable to attend at least 60% of all my upper level accounting class sessions during school outside of audit (aced that class after returning to school).

The problem is, I was never considered for interviews right out of school because of my GPA. Is there any way I can use passing the exam to get a shot at interviews? I’ve wanted to be an auditor since I was a So in high school and I will not give up on that dream. I can understand, based on my grades, that firms would overlook me. I’d probably do the same if I were in their position. However, I will not give up. I’ve been written off in life before and proved people wrong. It’s motivation for me.

NIU CPA Review Correspondence is awesome!

I passed all four sections on the first attempt

[jeff]

As a fellow alum of an Elite institution (Kansas State – back to back Livestock Judging Champs), I hear ya bro.

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

[Minimorty]

https://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges/rankings/national-universities/data

I wouldn't have considered Notre Dame “elite” either. That being said, it is ahead of some pretty solid schools (Berkeley, USC, UCLA) and only a few slots behind a couple of the Ivy League schools.

[Anonymous]

I would use elite. Not too many people can gain admission to a top 20 school these days. I thought my school was top 20, but alas it is top 35 by those rankings. Insert sad face.

Anyone wanna take a guess which one? We consider ND a rival of ours. We are in the ACC.

Boom.

[mmcgrad1]

I'm guessing BC. If so, you guys always give us a tough time in football. I think we split the series my four years there.

NIU CPA Review Correspondence is awesome!

I passed all four sections on the first attempt

[Anonymous]

Correct! Nah, we suck. I'm looking forward to a glorious 4-8 season.

#FireSpaziani

[Anonymous]

Let's be honest, Everyone gives Notre Dame a tough time in football… haha

And, when it comes to making a bold statement such as your school is “elite”, you better damn well know it's elite. If you say that to someone and they think it's elite, that's fine, but if you come across someone who doesn't and you say it, you'll come off in an extremely negative manner.

[Anonymous]

Notre Dame is in the top ten for accounting programs in the U.S. I didn't go to Notre Dame, but I think that counts as an “elite” school when it comes to accounting.

[Anonymous]

Let's be honest, there's no such thing as an elite school when it comes to accounting

[mmcgrad1]

Thank you everyone for your input and advice. It was very helpful and has given me a better idea on attacking this next challenge. I'm sorry for making this a debate of elite schools. That was not my intention. I only wanted to try and give some background into my situation without going into too much details.

I think it says a lot about the character of the people on this forum that you gave great input and advice to a peer seeking help. I hope I can one day be in a position to do the same for others. Thank you again.

NIU CPA Review Correspondence is awesome!

I passed all four sections on the first attempt

[Author]

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