<p>I am getting a lot of questions regarding accreditation for accounting programs. Because there seems to be a LOT of confusion, it was suggested by another poster, A_mom, that I reproduce my post 436 from "Everything you wanted to know or should know about accounting.</p>
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<p>There are three types of accreditations,which makes things confusing.</p>
<p>The first, and most important, is the normal accreditation such as "Mid Atlantic accreditation" or "southern accrediation" of colleges. These and other bodies are the main accrediting organ. Most schools are accredited by these since they are crucial.</p>
<p>The second accreditation,which isn't as required but is becomming more essential today is AACSB. They accredit business programs in general. More of the better university and business programs are becomming AACSB accredited as well. Is this accreditation essential? NO,but is very nice to have. </p>
<p>The final type of accreditation,which is the newest accreditation, is by the AACSB as well, however,it is specifically for accounting. This isn't as well known, and you certainly could get a job without a school having this last accreditation. However, it will become the gold standard for accounting firms in the future, in my opinion. Thus, going to a school that has this accreditation in place will be nice but NOT essential at this time.</p>
<p>As for the time frame for accreditation, it could take years. A lot depends on the time frame of the accreditation process by the school. It can be weeks to several years. </p>
<p>As a mom who knows little about accounting, your posts have been so informative for me! Thanks so much!</p>
<p>My daughter got accepted and really wants to attend UC Santa Barbara. I notice that the UCSB program, which is an accounting emphasis within a business economics major, is not listed on the link you gave.</p>
<p>According to the UCSB student accounting club website, however, UCSB appears to be highly recruited by the Big 4 as well as by smaller firms. I do know a graduate of that program (now in his 40’s) who’s a Big 4 partner.</p>
<p>So am I right in thinking that my daughter’s accounting career prospects will be good with a business economics/accounting emphasis degree from UCSB?</p>
<p>Businessmom, frankly, I don’t see the big deal with a major in economics/accounting emphasis. If you want to major in accounting then major in accounting and NOT economics. Moreover, I don’t know if that program has enough accounting courses in order to sit for the CPA in your state. You need to contact your state board of accountancy and find out what education is required for the CPA exam . Also call up the school and see if their program qualifies for the CPA exam.</p>
<p>I am an international student and I am going to study Accounting soon. The school says it is accredited. Does that mean that, when I transfer from my first college to another one, i can study with the second AACSB?</p>
<p>I am not 100% sure of the whole meaning by AACSB. I looked through the website you stated in your post. But, I have a hard time understanding the meaning by it.</p>
<p>Could you explain to me, what accredation is?</p>
<p>No one has “no” personality. It’s better to do the best you can and take advantage of every opportunity. If you have a lower GPA, you still have a shot if you’re willing to work hard and compensate, and if you have a high GPA you still can’t coast because, like every job, you have to put some effort into it or you’ll be overlooked.</p>
<p>Vanderbilt and UNC are not “accredited for accounting” by AACSB but theiri programs are probably stronger than most of those accounting accredited schools.</p>
<p>Just sayin, not everything happens in a vaccuum…</p>
<p>I was addressing a high gpa vs. lower GPA from non-AACSB school, assuming equal personalities of applicants.
As I have noted in other posts,grades will get you in the door and get greater receptivity. However, how you do on the interview , will strongly influence whether or not you get a job offer. It isn’t all about GPA, although having a higher GPA is generally better.</p>
<p>I would say that as long as you have a 3.5+ GPA, you will get an interview. If you do well on the interview, you will get a job offer. However, higher grades do matter to big 4 recruiters more than those of mid tier firms. I don’t really understand why they are so grade oriented,but the the big 4 are that way.</p>
<p>My daughter is a junior in high school and is planning to major in accounting. She is currently taking accounting at a local community college and loves it.</p>
<p>She is strongly looking at Fairleigh Dickinson University (Madison/Florham Park campus) in NJ. I used the link you listed in your first post and found that FDU in on the AACSB list for their business program, but not for their accounting program. From the FDU website, I see that their students do take the CPA exam, but there are no details on how/if the school prepares the students for that exam. </p>
<p>Frankly, I’m still not certain how to evaluate the accounting program at FDU. They make it sound wonderful, but this is an area that I am completely unfamiliar with. Any advice?</p>
<p>Bookreader,my older son majored in accounting at FDU and did fine. All the major firms recruit there as does a number of mid sized firms. If her grades are good and she makes a good impression, she will do fine.</p>
<p>Taxguy,
Thanks so much for responding. My oldest went to FDU as an undergrad (He is in grad school there now. ) and his experience was so good, that we naturally looked there first for my daughter. However, he was a liberal arts major and had no experience with the Business dept. Their own PR materials look good but since this is a field that I know nothing about, I didn’t know how to evaluate it. My daugher is a serious student, so I’m confident that she’ll do well. </p>
<p>We used to live in Gaithersburg and know Rockville well. We enjoyed living there. Now we are in NJ, about 30 minutes south of FDU.</p>
<p>Again, thanks! If you have any additional advice, I’m all ears.</p>