[JustWant 75]

So here is my dilemma, I only have REG left and I’ll be done with the CPA exam but I don’t have the experience or the additional 150 units requirement for CA that’s effective as of 01/2014. I’m looking into getting an MBA to fill for the additional 150 units but my undergrad GPA is 2.4 🙁 I’m not even sure if I’ll be accepted to an MBA program with my GPA even with a good GMAT score. Does it even matter what grad school i go to at this point if i plan to be licensed? I’m also thinking of going to Golden Gate University in SF. Has anyone attended and what was your experience like?

Becker, Ninja Audio + Notes

FAR: 80 (Aug 2013)
AUD: 91 (Nov 2013)
BEC: 79 (Feb 2014)
REG: 80 (May 2014)

[LongShot]

I'm not sure what experiences other people might have had, but I wouldn't get an MBA unless it's from one of the top MBA schools in the area. To date, my MBA (not from a top school in my area) has done precisely jack for me other than qualify for the 150 hours in Missouri. I imagine, all else being equal, if another applicant had identical qualifications as me, but without the MBA, that might put me over the top. Unfortunately, that's never the case and their experience just winds up trumping my degree every time. From other posts I've seen here though, it almost seems like an MSA would be far more beneficial to a CPA than an MBA – again, unless it's an MBA from a top school.

FAR - 75
AUD - 72; 87
REG - 64; 74; 84
BEC - 88

Done!!

[LongShot]

I'm not sure what experiences other people might have had, but I wouldn't get an MBA unless it's from one of the top MBA schools in the area. To date, my MBA (not from a top school in my area) has done precisely jack for me other than qualify for the 150 hours in Missouri. I imagine, all else being equal, if another applicant had identical qualifications as me, but without the MBA, that might put me over the top. Unfortunately, that's never the case and their experience just winds up trumping my degree every time. From other posts I've seen here though, it almost seems like an MSA would be far more beneficial to a CPA than an MBA – again, unless it's an MBA from a top school.

FAR - 75
AUD - 72; 87
REG - 64; 74; 84
BEC - 88

Done!!

[JustWant 75]

@LongShot thanks for the response. I have accounting experience but it's not under a CPA so i have to start from scratch to fill the experience requirement. You are definitely right, MSA would probably be more beneficial but I'm wondering if the school even matters and the options i have with applying with my GPA.

Becker, Ninja Audio + Notes

FAR: 80 (Aug 2013)
AUD: 91 (Nov 2013)
BEC: 79 (Feb 2014)
REG: 80 (May 2014)

[JustWant 75]

@LongShot thanks for the response. I have accounting experience but it's not under a CPA so i have to start from scratch to fill the experience requirement. You are definitely right, MSA would probably be more beneficial but I'm wondering if the school even matters and the options i have with applying with my GPA.

Becker, Ninja Audio + Notes

FAR: 80 (Aug 2013)
AUD: 91 (Nov 2013)
BEC: 79 (Feb 2014)
REG: 80 (May 2014)

[ipasscpa]

I have exactly the same issue. I am planning to go for MS in accounting. I guess as long as we have the license, we should be fine.

CPA- VA

[ipasscpa]

I have exactly the same issue. I am planning to go for MS in accounting. I guess as long as we have the license, we should be fine.

CPA- VA

[Study Monk]

@ JustWant 75

Do you want the degree or just the units? Sacramento state has a cheaper MSA than GGU that is AACSB accredited. How many units do you need? You can get 9 units from Cpaexcel for REG alone and the business law class will count towards the ethics requirement. In California you can also repeat the same accounting classes for units(no joke). You can take basic accounting classes twice for units. There are a lot of cheaper and easier options for units if you think a MSA/MST is a waste of money.

I spoke to an ancient wise man who sent me on a mushroom induced journey through an ancient forest to find the key to passing the CPA exam. A talking spider monkey told me to throw the last of my drinking water in the dirt to find what I was looking for. So I followed his instructions and the following message appeared in the soil:

"Do 5000 multiple choice questions for each section"

[Study Monk]

@ JustWant 75

Do you want the degree or just the units? Sacramento state has a cheaper MSA than GGU that is AACSB accredited. How many units do you need? You can get 9 units from Cpaexcel for REG alone and the business law class will count towards the ethics requirement. In California you can also repeat the same accounting classes for units(no joke). You can take basic accounting classes twice for units. There are a lot of cheaper and easier options for units if you think a MSA/MST is a waste of money.

I spoke to an ancient wise man who sent me on a mushroom induced journey through an ancient forest to find the key to passing the CPA exam. A talking spider monkey told me to throw the last of my drinking water in the dirt to find what I was looking for. So I followed his instructions and the following message appeared in the soil:

"Do 5000 multiple choice questions for each section"

[JustWant 75]

@study monk the more i think about it, MSA/MST would probably be the best route. If i have to fill the education requirements i might as well get an MSA/MST to help build my resume. I believe i have 120 units with bachelors in accounting so i would just need the extra units to fill. Are you serious about repeating the same classes for units..wow!

Becker, Ninja Audio + Notes

FAR: 80 (Aug 2013)
AUD: 91 (Nov 2013)
BEC: 79 (Feb 2014)
REG: 80 (May 2014)

[JustWant 75]

@study monk the more i think about it, MSA/MST would probably be the best route. If i have to fill the education requirements i might as well get an MSA/MST to help build my resume. I believe i have 120 units with bachelors in accounting so i would just need the extra units to fill. Are you serious about repeating the same classes for units..wow!

Becker, Ninja Audio + Notes

FAR: 80 (Aug 2013)
AUD: 91 (Nov 2013)
BEC: 79 (Feb 2014)
REG: 80 (May 2014)

[g.rosen]

JustWant-

I was a finance major so I had to cover another 18 credit hours of accounting courses. I took classes through three educational institutions in California and although it may have been the classes that I took or the instructors I had, I would rate the experience at GGU as a very, very, distant third.

✓ AUD: (02/12/13) 71 | (05/31/13) 80
✓ REG: (05/13/13) 75
✓ BEC: (08/06/13) 80 - Unwilling participant in the "Server Upgrade" debacle
✓ FAR: (08/31/13) 65 | (12/06/13) 75 - Beat the Cali Education Requirement
✓ PETH: (12/25/13) 86 | (12/26/13) 92
✓ CA CPA: (02/13/14)

[g.rosen]

JustWant-

I was a finance major so I had to cover another 18 credit hours of accounting courses. I took classes through three educational institutions in California and although it may have been the classes that I took or the instructors I had, I would rate the experience at GGU as a very, very, distant third.

✓ AUD: (02/12/13) 71 | (05/31/13) 80
✓ REG: (05/13/13) 75
✓ BEC: (08/06/13) 80 - Unwilling participant in the "Server Upgrade" debacle
✓ FAR: (08/31/13) 65 | (12/06/13) 75 - Beat the Cali Education Requirement
✓ PETH: (12/25/13) 86 | (12/26/13) 92
✓ CA CPA: (02/13/14)

[Study Monk]

@ JustWant 75,

Now you just have to decide if you want to be a tax accountant your whole life or if you want the flexibility of the MSA. Most people on these forums say the MST is valuable for tax accountants, while many people say that the MSA is not as valuable to people who have a CPA. Good luck!

I spoke to an ancient wise man who sent me on a mushroom induced journey through an ancient forest to find the key to passing the CPA exam. A talking spider monkey told me to throw the last of my drinking water in the dirt to find what I was looking for. So I followed his instructions and the following message appeared in the soil:

"Do 5000 multiple choice questions for each section"

[Study Monk]

@ JustWant 75,

Now you just have to decide if you want to be a tax accountant your whole life or if you want the flexibility of the MSA. Most people on these forums say the MST is valuable for tax accountants, while many people say that the MSA is not as valuable to people who have a CPA. Good luck!

I spoke to an ancient wise man who sent me on a mushroom induced journey through an ancient forest to find the key to passing the CPA exam. A talking spider monkey told me to throw the last of my drinking water in the dirt to find what I was looking for. So I followed his instructions and the following message appeared in the soil:

"Do 5000 multiple choice questions for each section"

[ipasscpa]

I know there are number of forums about this issue but I will realy appreciate if someone can help me on this.

Passed the CPA exam but only have 128 credits. I am going insane contacting universities aroud me which will meet my requirements (tution and accreditation). I wanted to do MS in accounting rater than taking random courses for 22 credits. If i take the Master route, I will end up with approimatley 25-30k loan on my head. One option Jeff gave me was cpa excel prep course which is the only option i beleive i have left since I don't think taking loan would be a wise choice. Anybody else used another way to meet this requirment. You think I should take loan and do the masters which requires 30 credits and I will be wasting my time and engery just on random 22 credit courses? Thanks in advance.

CPA- VA

[Author]

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