Attending a MAcc program at 25?

Graduate School Business School - MBA
1

<p>I'm going to take the GMAT after Summer, and most likely start applying to MAcc programs. Is it a bad idea to take this path at 25 years old? I'm also $30k in debt, so I could continue working (a dead end job) and pay that off, try to save up, and attend an MBA program down the road. I don't think my work experience thus far would get me into a decent program though.</p>

<p>I've actually read that some MAcc programs will offer money, so if I scored well enough on the GMAT I might not need to go much further in debt.</p>

2

<p>This is true. Pokey, I’ll be 25 too when I start. Why is this an issue?</p>

3

<p>I don’t really know… lol. Just seems like I may be a little late to the game.</p>

<p>How do Big 4 firms view non-traditional hires? Would I be at a real disadvantage being a 26 year old entry level hire?</p>

<p>And Dawgie, you’re getting your MAcc? I thought you were already a CPA? I could be completely mistaken.</p>

4

<p>I received my offer to start at a big 4 when I was 26 and started when I was 27. You are definitely not too late to start. Plus I think people who are a little older thrive more at “big four” firms anyway. More mature and proactive about their careers. Some people I know who are younger struggle a bit.</p>

5

<p>Thanks for the input taccount. It really helps knowing that I’ll still be able to get on the path that I want to be on, even at this point in the game.</p>

<p>On another note, are these programs really that expensive? UNC’s MAcc program is $60,046. UT-Austin is $54,226. USC = $52,209. </p>

<p>Being in NJ I don’t really have many options besides Seton Hall and Fairleigh Dickinson, and I’m not sure how they are in terms of Big 4 recruiting. </p>

<p>Kill me</p>

6

<p>Pokey,</p>

<p>Don’t forget about Rutgers, which has a great accounting reputation… and yes, Big 4 recruits from there as well</p>

7

<p>I actually went to Rutgers for undergrad. Their only program for people without an accounting background is a Professional MBA program. I don’t really want my MBA at this point in time, and it’s pretty expensive since it’s not just a MAcc but also an MBA program.</p>

<p>Thanks for the input</p>