<p>My d has been accepted to both Boston College and UT, McCombs School of Business. She wants to major in accounting and go on to law school. Which is the better choice?</p>
<p>Law schools only care about two things: gpa + lsat. So it won’t matter to them which school she chooses.</p>
<p>Pick whichever she likes best and you can afford. (UT instate?)</p>
<p>Thanks! Neither are instate for us, both will cost about the same in the long run. Which has the better national reputation?</p>
<p>Nearly every undergrad biz school is regional. (Wharton stands alone, with a national rep, and perhaps MIT-Sloan.)</p>
<p>UT is a great school in a great town. But for the same money, I’d go to a private college. But it does appear that UT is still cheaper.</p>
<p>I have read on blogs that BC is a little clique-y, with a lot of wealthy kids. Is this true? </p>
<p>Does anyone know if either UT Austin or BC favors their undergraduates when deciding law school admission?</p>
<p>surprised that the fact that UT has the best accounting program in the country has not been mentioned.</p>
<p>Re: BC cliques. You’re talking two totally different cultures. Texas vs. Boston?! UT has a ton of Texans. BC is filled with kids from New England. As a woman from New England who married a Texan (we met in college, in New England), I can tell you the campus vibes (and people there) are really, really different.</p>
<p>That said, UT is it’s own place. Austin is awesome. BC is a gorgeous campus, and a lot smaller than UT. It’s also a stone’s throw (subway ride) into Boston. The previous poster is right about b-school (my husband just finished)–they care about your GPA, your GMATs, and your work experience. Maybe focus on where your daughter wants to work between ugrad and b-school. If it’s Boston or NYC, think about BC. If it’s the south, definitely go with UT.</p>
<p>sorry, you said she wants to go to law school, not b-school. In that case, I suggest she go wherever she feels she can get the highest GPA and best LSATs. Because it’s all a numbers game for law school. (I went to BC law, so I’ll throw in a shameless plug for it!).</p>
<p>Thanks so much for your input! I really appreciate all opinions to help her decide. My d is attending a medium-sized Catholic school in New Orleans. She is outgoing and political, but very conservative. She is not married to the idea of a Catholic school, however. She attended Georgetown for a summer, but the students were too liberal and she didn’t like it. I just want her to fit in and be happy. Her grades were good but her ACT was okay, not great- a 31. I am thinking she might fit in better at UT and in the long run, she may have a better shot of getting into law school at UT. Any thoughts?</p>
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<p>That’s not relevant for someone who wants to go to LS. Plus, it’s not too relevant to the Big Four accounting firms either. Top Unis with top-ranked Accounting programs tend towards theory (which is what they do at a top Uni), while the Big Four want brains and practical. That is why 'SC-Marshall grads are more favored then UCLA Biz-econ grads, for example.</p>
<p>Mom: BC tends to be more conservative than GU, but a summer program is probably not a fair comparison.</p>
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<p>let me see if I can understand this. The OP’s daughter wants to major in accounting, but the fact that UT is one of the top schools for accounting shouldn’t be mentioned or be relevant here?</p>
<p>on theory v. practical accounting, YOU do realize, don’t you, that UT is on the practical accounting side and is one of the favorites schools for th Big 4 accounting firms, don’t you?</p>
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<p>gee, this is the first time that I have EVER heard that a program, in any field, geared towards theoretical studies has students with less BRAINS than one that is geared towards the “practical” studies.</p>
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<p>BB, mark this date. While I rarely disagree with you --no matter how hard I’d try-- in this case, I could not disagree more. What is excruciatingly irrelevant is the DESIRE to go to law school, and this for a number of reasons such as change of heart and that there is no specific UG path to law school. </p>
<p>What is of immediate concern is the choice between two schools. One happens to be the absolute leader in the field (from UG to terminal degrees) for as long as one can remember. In addition, the McCombs school is one of those “school within a school” programs that are so sought after by people who seek a quasi-private education within a public school arena. People in the South and the Southwest would give a part of their pinkie to attend McCombs. The other school … well, your guess is as good as mine. </p>
<p>As far as the future and law schools, graduates from one of the UT schools do very well in applications to national and regional superpowers. </p>
<p>This is simply a no-brainer if there was ever one!</p>
<p>japenko:</p>
<p>speak with some Senior Audit (hiring) Partners at the Big Four. (In a former life, I used to work for several.)</p>
<p>xiggi:</p>
<p>I don’t doubt that McCombs is a great program and its even cheaper than BC. But for LS, the ONLY thing that matters is gpa+lsat. Undergrad does not matter one iota for top law schools (see cc’s LS thread). The point is that practically everyone with a 3.8/170+ can get into a Top 14 LS. They do not need to attend UT; they can go to Cal State No Name and do just as well in LS admissions. Or viewed another way, a 3.6 from McCombs will not even make Harvard’s threshold for a cursory review, while a 3.8 from Podunk State would.</p>
<p>Sure there is a chance that the OP’s D will change her mind about LS, but that was not the question that was asked (at least how I read it).</p>
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<p>Bingo! Thank you for reinforcing (and agreeing?) with my earlier post (#4): Undergrad biz is (mostly?) regional.</p>
<p>If the OP’s D wanted to work in the NE, BC would be a fine choice. NYU would be even better for NYC.</p>
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<p>Yes, undergrad (program) prestige it is NOT relevant for admission to LS. (again, check cc’s on LS thread) </p>
<p>I personally don’t think it is that important for obtaining an accounting job either. If is WAS that important, why do the Big Four recruit and hire from Cal State No Names? OTOH, if the OP’s D was interested in pursuing GRAD school in accounting, then a prestigious degree could help in that regard. But this is another speculation which was not asked about.</p>
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Let’s see:
- McCombs has the #1 accounting program 11 years in a row.
- Accounting kids on the BBA+MPA track are the elites in McCombs (they think they are better than their MBA peers).
- McCombs accounting grads all get Big4 offers, even in 2008 and 2009. The top grads routinely get 3-4 Big4 offers; and they get to pick the location (e.g., NYC, SF, LA, Chicago).
- McCombs MPA grads own the highest CPA passing rate (75% the first time).</p>
<p>And business school practice grade inflation (except perhaps for some of the accounting courses). What did we say law school care about?</p>
<p>UT is number 1 in the nation in accounting. I think there is a way you can become in state after 1st year?</p>
<p>UT also has one of the best law programs in the country.</p>
<p>[Best</a> Undergraduate Business Schools | Top Undergraduate Business Programs | US News Best Colleges](<a href=“http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges/rankings/business]Best”>http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges/rankings/business)</p>
<p>GoBlue:</p>
<p>I did not realize that the OP was seeking a Master’s programs – your (irrelevant?) points 2 & 4.</p>
<p>Grads from Cal State No Name are also heavily recruited by the Big Four and they too get offers in LA & SF. Heck, they already live there. :D</p>
<p>Re: grade inflation & LS …that is only in comparison to the other options. BC’s CSOM is well-inflated, but perhaps McCombs is even more so, i.e., "easier’? Dunno.</p>
<p>btw: BC was ranked #1 in Accounting by Business Week in 2009. CPA pass rate is ~70% from the undergrad program (~14th nationally), which one can contrast to the Master’s program at McCombs with ~75%.</p>
<p>tex: yup, UT has a wonderful LS, but it ain’t top 14. And, for the most part, outside of the Top 14, Law Schools are like undergrad biz schools, regional in nature. BC Law, ranked ~28, might be a better choice for someone who wanted to practice in the NE than would UT, ranked ~16.</p>
<p>fwiw: Not only does tiny App State beat UMich in football, but it is a leader in CPA pass rates.</p>
<p>Not sure why it needs to be top 14 but interestingly UT is!</p>
<p>[Best</a> Law School Rankings | Law Program Rankings | US News](<a href=“http://grad-schools.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-law-schools/law-rankings]Best”>http://grad-schools.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-law-schools/law-rankings)</p>
<p>It seems to be in top 10 for tax law if the goal is to follow accounting with tax law.</p>