<p>Hi everyone. I'm a freshman at UT-Austin, and am currently a biomedical engineering major. However, I don't really feel like that's the type of thing I want to do. I'm taking an accounting class, and I really like it, so I'm seriously considering switching my major.</p>
<p>How easy is it to get a good paying job after doing accounting at McCombs (obviously getting good grades)? Is it comparable to getting the same degree (with the same grades) from one of the Big 4 schools? What about graduate level degrees?</p>
<p>McCombs is a great school and permitting (grade and personality) you should be able to find a great job. Just go look at their career site, do some research on hiring companies, etc, and see if anything interests you.</p>
<p>I've heard that school prestige matters up to the point that it helps get you a good internship and lands you at a big 4 accounting firm. But after that, you're sort of on your own. My goal is to graduate with a 3.5+, perform well at an internship in a couple years, and land a job as an auditor at a big 4 firm and pass the CPA.</p>
<p>The key to top accouting jobs is NOT the school name. It is a function of two things:</p>
<ol>
<li>Do the top firms recruit there,which was noted above</li>
<li>GRADES.</li>
</ol>
<p>Notice I capitalized grades. If you get a 3.5 or better overall and in accounting, you can get interviews with top firms even if they don't recruit from your school. Again, the key is top grades.</p>
<p>In fact, accounting is so much in demand that even if you get less than a 3.5 ( but over a 3.0) you will probably find a decent job somewhere.</p>
<p>So, let me just double check: Is UT's accounting program recruited by major firms? I looked over the McCombs site, and I didn't really find anything, but if anyone knows from personal experience, that would be great</p>
<p>The point though is that while it may be better than the rest, all the schools below it that still get heavily recruited by big 4 accounting firms can yield you the same results.</p>
<p>The way to get stuck at a middle market firm or lower is to attend a 3rd tier school, make poor grades, or both. </p>
<p>At my school, we have a 5 year program called the "professional program in accounting" where you stay an extra year to get all the hours you need to sit for the CPA. Program participants have 80% placement at big 4 accounting firms, and 100% internship placement. The only real hurdle is being chosen for the program. The average participant has a 3.5 GPA. I have a 3.6 right now, so Im in the driver's seat unless I make a mistake.</p>