[Anonymous]

I know this is a CPA forum, but just out of curiosity – How have you found your experinces going through an MBA program vs CPA?

Has one been more difficult material wise than the other?

Has one been more time demanding?

Did you work while doing either?

I don’t see going for an MBA in the near future, but I’d just like to know the experince others have had.

Thanks!

[Anonymous]

I went through the MBA program right after college. I worked part time as a graduate assistant and it took me 18 months to complete the program. It was stressful and time consuming and required a lot of group, but there was no “Final” test like there is with the CPA. Each class was difficult, but once you completed a class you didn't have to retain all of that knowledge from class to class. An example of one MBA class was Strategic Planning, which required that I work in a group of 3 for an entire semester. We had to write two 60+ page papers and give an hour long presentation to the class regarding a Strategic Plan for a company the we were assigned. Additionally we had the regular classwork and 3 tests throughout the semester. That was just one class and I took 4 each semester. In contrast, some of the accounting classes needed to qualify to sit for the CPA exam tend to build on each other (Intermediate I, II, and III), but there isn't much group work and really not a lot of projects in the main classes. The CPA exam is the kicker. The amount of studying that goes into one CPA exam rivals 2 or 3 MBA classes combined and there are FOUR exams. I still have 4 upper level accounting classes to take to meet the credits required in Florida to be licensed, but I have been able to sit for 2 parts in the last 4 months while working full time and having a family. I think that anyone with no job/kids could study for 4-6 weeks and pass any section of the CPA exam IF they treat studying like it's a full time job. Just my two cents.

[Anonymous]

I went through the MBA program right after college. I worked part time as a graduate assistant and it took me 18 months to complete the program. It was stressful and time consuming and required a lot of group, but there was no “Final” test like there is with the CPA. Each class was difficult, but once you completed a class you didn't have to retain all of that knowledge from class to class. An example of one MBA class was Strategic Planning, which required that I work in a group of 3 for an entire semester. We had to write two 60+ page papers and give an hour long presentation to the class regarding a Strategic Plan for a company the we were assigned. Additionally we had the regular classwork and 3 tests throughout the semester. That was just one class and I took 4 each semester. In contrast, some of the accounting classes needed to qualify to sit for the CPA exam tend to build on each other (Intermediate I, II, and III), but there isn't much group work and really not a lot of projects in the main classes. The CPA exam is the kicker. The amount of studying that goes into one CPA exam rivals 2 or 3 MBA classes combined and there are FOUR exams. I still have 4 upper level accounting classes to take to meet the credits required in Florida to be licensed, but I have been able to sit for 2 parts in the last 4 months while working full time and having a family. I think that anyone with no job/kids could study for 4-6 weeks and pass any section of the CPA exam IF they treat studying like it's a full time job. Just my two cents.

[Anonymous]

I should also add that the difficulty of the MBA program depends on the school you go to, whereas the CPA is uniformed (sort of) and everyone has to pass basically the same test regardless of where they studied or which review course they chose.

[Anonymous]

I should also add that the difficulty of the MBA program depends on the school you go to, whereas the CPA is uniformed (sort of) and everyone has to pass basically the same test regardless of where they studied or which review course they chose.

[Anonymous]

@cpamommy – that's some fantastic insight, very much appreciated for you to share your experiences. Looks like there are a lot more factors that can impact an MBA experience.

Congrats on being “Halfway to a CPA”!! Keep it up!

[Anonymous]

@cpamommy – that's some fantastic insight, very much appreciated for you to share your experiences. Looks like there are a lot more factors that can impact an MBA experience.

Congrats on being “Halfway to a CPA”!! Keep it up!

[I'm, Ron Burgundy?]

I found my MBA to be exactly the same as my overall experience in education: you get out what you put in. My MBA took me about 20 months or so to complete. Originally, I went back to get my MBA with a desire to be in Project Management. Meanwhile, in the midst working on my MBA I had to take a 500 level accounting class which I knew I would hate as I had no interest in accounting. My professor was a CPA who also had another full time job as the controller for a big name car dealership. Every week this guy was driving a new Charger, Challenger, Camaro, Corvette to class. I just couldn't figure it out so I asked him: “what gives?” He said he gets a new car almost every week as a perk of his job. I switched majors the next day and the rest is history.

Anyhow, I always took 2 classes at a time (while working a full time job with very inconsistent hours) and due to my maintenance of a 4.0 I was able to petition the Dean to allow me to take 3 classes, which she did. It was a nightmare but my goal was to get studying for my CPA Exam and I just wanted to get it done. I also strategically aligned all of my electives to cover the necessary requirements for my CPA. Basically, I used it to my advantage.

Overall, I got a lot out of my MBA and learned a lot. Just be prepared to do a hell of a lot of paper writing and painful group projects. HAVING an MBA is good and will take you far, but BEING a CPA will take you anywhere you want to go. Which is why studying for the CPA is harder than getting an MBA. Just my thoughts.

"If you're going through hell, keep going"
- Winston Churchill

"I've missed over 9,000 shots in my career. I've lost over 300 games. 26 times I've been trusted to take the game winning shot, and missed. I've failed, over and over and over again in my life. And that is why, I succeed."
- Michael Jordan

BEC: (54), (72), 80 (losing credit on 02/02/15 - nervous)
AUD: 78
REG: (74), 91
FAR: (71)

[I'm, Ron Burgundy?]

I found my MBA to be exactly the same as my overall experience in education: you get out what you put in. My MBA took me about 20 months or so to complete. Originally, I went back to get my MBA with a desire to be in Project Management. Meanwhile, in the midst working on my MBA I had to take a 500 level accounting class which I knew I would hate as I had no interest in accounting. My professor was a CPA who also had another full time job as the controller for a big name car dealership. Every week this guy was driving a new Charger, Challenger, Camaro, Corvette to class. I just couldn't figure it out so I asked him: “what gives?” He said he gets a new car almost every week as a perk of his job. I switched majors the next day and the rest is history.

Anyhow, I always took 2 classes at a time (while working a full time job with very inconsistent hours) and due to my maintenance of a 4.0 I was able to petition the Dean to allow me to take 3 classes, which she did. It was a nightmare but my goal was to get studying for my CPA Exam and I just wanted to get it done. I also strategically aligned all of my electives to cover the necessary requirements for my CPA. Basically, I used it to my advantage.

Overall, I got a lot out of my MBA and learned a lot. Just be prepared to do a hell of a lot of paper writing and painful group projects. HAVING an MBA is good and will take you far, but BEING a CPA will take you anywhere you want to go. Which is why studying for the CPA is harder than getting an MBA. Just my thoughts.

"If you're going through hell, keep going"
- Winston Churchill

"I've missed over 9,000 shots in my career. I've lost over 300 games. 26 times I've been trusted to take the game winning shot, and missed. I've failed, over and over and over again in my life. And that is why, I succeed."
- Michael Jordan

BEC: (54), (72), 80 (losing credit on 02/02/15 - nervous)
AUD: 78
REG: (74), 91
FAR: (71)

[san4596]

I had the same experience with the above postings. I worked full-time while working on my MBA. It was a lot of group work and writing. The final exam for the capstone course was a huge research project that was a presentation to a board of piers alson with a research paper, which was also group effort. Our report ended up being around 75 single spaced pages, and was a reflection of the entire MBA program.

My cousin is a well known head hunter, and informed me that the combination of an MBA with a CPA is like gold. She said that my marketability would increase ten fold.

CPA EXAM: DONE!!!!
Ethics Course: Passed
Application Mailed: 3/16/15
Professional Conduct Exam: 97
Certification Date: 4/2/15!!!

[san4596]

I had the same experience with the above postings. I worked full-time while working on my MBA. It was a lot of group work and writing. The final exam for the capstone course was a huge research project that was a presentation to a board of piers alson with a research paper, which was also group effort. Our report ended up being around 75 single spaced pages, and was a reflection of the entire MBA program.

My cousin is a well known head hunter, and informed me that the combination of an MBA with a CPA is like gold. She said that my marketability would increase ten fold.

CPA EXAM: DONE!!!!
Ethics Course: Passed
Application Mailed: 3/16/15
Professional Conduct Exam: 97
Certification Date: 4/2/15!!!

[gt5717b]

MBA programs vary greatly. IMO, there are 3 tiers of MBA schools: (others may disagree, but this is my perspective of them) 😉

1) Tier 1 would be the prestigious programs – Harvard, Stanford, Kellogg, Wharton, Sloan, Booth, etc. If you go here, your MBA will likely get your foot in the door of some very awesome job opportunities.

2) Tier 2 would be any larger state schools, mostly the ones that have big-time football. “Oh you got your MBA at Ohio State? Go Buckeyes!! Here's a job offer.”

3) Tier 3 would be anything else. Essentially, these are schools where you're just getting your MBA so you can check it off your list and add it to your resume. The school's name doesn't really help you out that much.

I went to a Tier 3 school because it was close to home and I could still work full-time. The course work was not as challenging as Tier 1 and 2 (I assume), in fact it was rather easy, so I didn't feel like I got a whole lot out of it. Most of what you learn really comes from the experiences of your classmates. The higher caliber programs are going to have (on average) higher caliber students with more relevant and interesting work experiences.

Whatever route you decide, I would suggest finding a group of classmates that you enjoy and get along with early on. You do a lot of group projects, so coordinating classes with groups of friends helps ensure that you can get with groups of people you like. I was in a few groups that were dysfunctional because one person was too overbearing or stubborn or someone else was unwilling to pull their weight.

REG - 89
FAR - 84
AUD - 73, 86
BEC - 89

GA Licensed CPA

[gt5717b]

MBA programs vary greatly. IMO, there are 3 tiers of MBA schools: (others may disagree, but this is my perspective of them) 😉

1) Tier 1 would be the prestigious programs – Harvard, Stanford, Kellogg, Wharton, Sloan, Booth, etc. If you go here, your MBA will likely get your foot in the door of some very awesome job opportunities.

2) Tier 2 would be any larger state schools, mostly the ones that have big-time football. “Oh you got your MBA at Ohio State? Go Buckeyes!! Here's a job offer.”

3) Tier 3 would be anything else. Essentially, these are schools where you're just getting your MBA so you can check it off your list and add it to your resume. The school's name doesn't really help you out that much.

I went to a Tier 3 school because it was close to home and I could still work full-time. The course work was not as challenging as Tier 1 and 2 (I assume), in fact it was rather easy, so I didn't feel like I got a whole lot out of it. Most of what you learn really comes from the experiences of your classmates. The higher caliber programs are going to have (on average) higher caliber students with more relevant and interesting work experiences.

Whatever route you decide, I would suggest finding a group of classmates that you enjoy and get along with early on. You do a lot of group projects, so coordinating classes with groups of friends helps ensure that you can get with groups of people you like. I was in a few groups that were dysfunctional because one person was too overbearing or stubborn or someone else was unwilling to pull their weight.

REG - 89
FAR - 84
AUD - 73, 86
BEC - 89

GA Licensed CPA

[Anonymous]

@I'm Ron Burgundy?, @san4596, @gt5717b – Thanks for all of your insight. I feel like an MBA would be great exposures to other areas of a business that I might not get on the job or via CPA.

Ex. Marketing, management, etc.

I believe when you're building a career – it's all about maximizing exposure to not only build your resume, but to see what you like doing. Just because I have an Accounting undergrad and am going for a CPA does not mean I want to do month end close or income taxes forever.

These insights are very helpful, much appreciated.

[Anonymous]

@I'm Ron Burgundy?, @san4596, @gt5717b – Thanks for all of your insight. I feel like an MBA would be great exposures to other areas of a business that I might not get on the job or via CPA.

Ex. Marketing, management, etc.

I believe when you're building a career – it's all about maximizing exposure to not only build your resume, but to see what you like doing. Just because I have an Accounting undergrad and am going for a CPA does not mean I want to do month end close or income taxes forever.

These insights are very helpful, much appreciated.

[Anonymous]

At my college the CPA and MBA were almost the same thing only MBA took 2 years. My friend was going for his MBA and I was going for my MS in Acc and he kept rubbing it in my face that he would make more money then me and accounting was stupid because he's a jerk. Then he ended up getting some job at EY that other accounting people who didn't even have a masters also got. He then proceeded to try it rub it in my face he worked at EY even though I had turned down 3 big 4 jobs already to work for the IRS so I don't know why he thought that would make me jealous.

Moral of the story if your between 150 credit hours for CPA or 6 years for MBA go with the 150 credit hours 90% of the time unless the MBA degree is amazing.

[Author]

Replies