<p>Hey Everyone,</p>
<p>I am about to enter my third year as an Accounting Major in the traditional BBA Accounting Program at the University of Texas at Austin. I unfortunately didn't get admitted into their 4 year Accelerated Masters Program.</p>
<p>My ultimate goal is to intern for a Big 4 firm and then hopefully receive a full time offer with one of the Big 4 and work there for a few years and transition to corporate finance. The problem is that everyone here says that there is not point going traditional BBA Accounting route because the 5 year Masters of Professional Accounting program kids always gets the Big 4 jobs. </p>
<p>With this I was wondering if a bachelors of accounting is enough to land a Big 4 Internship or full time offer without having the proper credits to sit for the CPA now (by the time I will graduate I will have about 140 credits - 10 credits shy of sitting for the CPA exam) or is the Big 4 out of my reach now?</p>
<p>I assume you’re looking at opportunities in Texas? I know in most regions, a Bachelors will suffice to get a Big 4 opportunity but from my Texas (Dallas, Houston) and Oklahoma networks, I do hear that it’s a tough region to crack into the Big 4 without that Masters. That said, I’ve met a couple of people from UT and A&M coming out of undergrad at Big 4’s so the Big 4 isn’t out of reach for you. A bigger hurdle for sure, but not unattainable. Someone based in TX would be able to speak better to the situation. </p>
<p>Nationally, Big 4 recruiters and partners highly respect people who go to UT so the opportunities out of state would definitely be available if you’re amenable to move.</p>
<p>If you are going into tax or audit, the Big 4 will expect you to be CPA eligible by graduation. Otherwise, they will not extend you a full time offer. If you only need 10 more credits, why not just enroll for another semester and finish up? Or take a few more classes before you graduate, since you still have 2 years left?</p>
<p>You can get an internship well before meeting the hour requirements, and they typically extend offers to nearly all interns. However, you would still need to get your 150 hours before starting full-time. You also will need to have a high enough GPA to get the internship, including a reasonably high GPA of at least 3.2, and hopefully closer to 3.5+, have some sort of leadership experience on your resume, and interview well. I would expect that tons of UT-Austin undergrads get internship and full-time offers without getting a masters. You should have plenty of fellow students in your accoutning classes that can provide you with guidance.</p>
<p>It is true that the vast majority of M.Acc. students get Big 4 offers, but it is not because they are masters students. It’s because they are graduating with the required hours, which you can also get as an undergrad, and because they typically have been screened by their programs to ensure they will interview decently and have a somewhat compelling resume.</p>
<p>Some smaller firms may be willing to work with your without requiring that your graduate with 150 hours.</p>
<p>You mention that you did not get into the accelerated program. Was this due to grades, a poor interview, lack of involvement on campus, etc? If so, you will need to work on those things as well. The Big 4, even at a school as heavily recruited as UT, still want good talent.</p>
<p>Figure out exactly how many credits you will need to reach 150 and graduation and make up the ten or so that you are short by taking two or three easy community college classes, preferably online. As an in-district Texas resident, you can do ten credit hours at Austin Community College for far less than a thousand bucks, or do it in the cc in your district if you don’t live around Austin. Get on pace now for the 150, and worry about the rest later. It isn’t that big of an obstacle that you have to rethink your career options.</p>
<p>I agree with bthomp1. Pursuing a Masters in Accounting is such a waste of money. Much better off taking cheapass classes. The only time I would recommend an MSA is if you missed the boat on recruiting during undergrad and you wanted to go to a top MSA program to get a job.</p>