[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]

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.

[Gerg, CPA]

MBA is a cake-walk compared to the CPA. I've done both while working (CPA still in process). if my company at the time didnt pay for MBA, i dont think i would've gotten it. dont really see much ROI, other than the fact that my email signature & business cards have “MBA” after my name….

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 is a cake-walk compared to the CPA. I've done both while working (CPA still in process). if my company at the time didnt pay for MBA, i dont think i would've gotten it. dont really see much ROI, other than the fact that my email signature & business cards have “MBA” after my name….

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!

[tough_kitty]

Not sure why would you compare apples to oranges….

MBA programs aren't hard, they are just very time consuming and it's all about papers, team projects, and presentations…..

Studying for the CPA required more discipline but it was a self-study process and worked better for me, since I hate team projects…..but with an MBA degree, you are more motivated to do your best because you get a grade in the end…

FAR: 81 (May 2013)
BEC: 81 (July 2013)
REG: 83 (August 2013)
AUD: 82 (November 2013)
California CPA since 1/30/14

[tough_kitty]

Not sure why would you compare apples to oranges….

MBA programs aren't hard, they are just very time consuming and it's all about papers, team projects, and presentations…..

Studying for the CPA required more discipline but it was a self-study process and worked better for me, since I hate team projects…..but with an MBA degree, you are more motivated to do your best because you get a grade in the end…

FAR: 81 (May 2013)
BEC: 81 (July 2013)
REG: 83 (August 2013)
AUD: 82 (November 2013)
California CPA since 1/30/14

[Author]

Replies