Advice anyone?

<p>"4. Should I go to the highest ranked schools for accounting? This question seems to be asked in one way or another many times and is probably the most frequently asked question about accounting.</p>

<p>Answer: As long as a school is accredited ( AACSB accreditation and regional accreditation), it DOESN'T MATTER which school you attend. The reason is that the State Boards of Accountancy mandate the curriculum. Thus, from school to school, probably 80% or more of the courses taken will be the same. Even the books used are usually the same. Job opportunities will probably not increase that much from school to school for accounting jobs</p>

<p>You should understand the process: Accounting firm partners usually interview at their local schools. Again, for accounting, it won't make a difference whether you attended Stern ( NYU) or Baruch College."
(From the "Everything you wanted to know or should know about accounting" thread)</p>

<p>I'm in a bit of a predicament. I've read through this whole thread and a slew of other online resources, but I'm still left with some case specific questions.</p>

<p>Here's my story: I'm currently a sophomore accounting major at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth with a 3.9 GPA. Although my university is AACSB accredited, I don't feel like I'm receiving a "good" education. Sure, the classes can be the same as the other schools but the teachers and err.. the difficulty of courses doesn't seem to rectify the accreditation (I do understand I haven't hit junior or senior level courses). Specifically, I've learned nothing from my economics courses and worst of all, my accounting class is equivalent to my high school honors course! I wouldn't mind if the electives were garbage but c'mon, my business courses? I thought I could save some money by attending a state school that was accredited but apparently at the cost of my education.</p>

<p>So I ask, what would you do? And if you did decide to transfer (the way I'm leaning) where would you go? (particularly northeast but all schools welcomed, cost not necessarily uncapped but I could afford a relatively pricey education)</p>

<p>I've been looking at some private schools & other schools in general but.... I was thinking Bentley. But for the cost are there better schools out there? (Benefits also include better job placement - closer to Boston & network of alum is fantastic)</p>

<p>I'm just trying to lookout for my career early in the game. I want to sit for the CPA knowing that I received the proper education and preparation for the exam!</p>

<p>Thanks guys
-Sanyo89</p>

<p>"I want to sit for the CPA knowing that I received the proper education and preparation for the exam!"</p>

<p>You need to go have a long talk with the career placement office at your university. You need to get some statistics from them including:
1) where the accounting majors find employment after graduation
2) how soon after graduation they attempt the CPA exam
3) passing rate for the first attempt
4) passing rate for the first attempt by undergraduate accounting major field GPA</p>

<p>Then, do your best to get the same information from the places you think that you might transfer to. You may find that you are better off just staying where you are.</p>

<p>Wishing you all the best.</p>

<p>hey sanyo!!
im also an accounting major and in the same state as you. i am in a small university in Louisiana and want to transfer to univ that has a reputed accounting program ( plus some good amount of scholarships too!!!!). i am thinking to apply for fall 09 transfer but still havent shortlisted the colleges.</p>

<p>happymomof1 - Thanks for the advice. I already made an appointment to speak with one of the career counselors. </p>

<p>I don't think they'll have this information. That is just a pure guess though.</p>

<p>They should have it. The university must maintain these kinds of statistics for its own internal review processes and for the periodic accreditation reviews that it must undergo. Not to mention their use as a marketing tool for potential students. If they don't have this data, and/or refuse to share it with you, it would be a huge red flag.</p>