Chances of a MS in Accounting

<p>I posted this to the wrong thread. </p>

<p>I’m new to this discussion and anew member. I served three tours, practically back to back, two in Iraq, the final in Afghan. My commission was reactivated and this unfortunately interrupted my civilian career-life, to the point that I discovered when I returned a earlier last year from my third deployment, I was unemployable. In a vain attempt to re-spark my accounting career, I took the GMAT and applied to four schools for a Masters Degree in Accounting. My undergrad GPA in Accounting was 4.01/4.0 from an accredited College and I was above the 95th percentile in the quantitative and verbal sections for the GMAT.
I had a very good progressive experience as a CPA, esp, in tax, before being called back in.
As the letters for acceptance have begun to mailed, I have been rejected by three of the schools (out of four) that I applied to. I am waiting for the last letter, which I assume will, too be a rejection. The final school is UNLV. </p>

<p>I thought I had a decent graduate package, test scores, GPA, civilian work experience, and letters of reco, two from current and former bosses, and a letter of recommendation from my CO. </p>

<p>I am perplexed and assumed that I had a fighting chance with my package. What did I do wrong and what can I improve for next years’ rounds of applications?</p>

<p>Second, should I re-apply to the schools I had previously applied to? </p>

<p>Third, should I forget about applying? Am I no longer in the target demographic when it comes to applicants? </p>

<p>More information
Army MOS 11A96B6Z – Grade O-4, Army Intel
Languages
1) German – Fluent
2) French – Fluent
3) Polish – Fluent
4) Spanish – Speak
5) Levantine (Arabic) – Fluent
Undergrad GPA 4.01/ 4.0
Accounting GPA 4.0/4.0</p>

<p>Army ROTC in undergrad and awarded Scabbard & Blade scholarship</p>

<p>I also hold a degree in Economics at the University of Heidelberg in Germany.</p>

<p>I hold a CPA license in Nevada (expired due to service), and passed the Enrolled Agent exam to respark the career., which didn't occur. Currently unemployed, on welfare and food assistance lloking for teh grad degree to sresaprk the civilian career.</p>

<p>Can you list the schools you applied to? Your application sounds very competitive, although I’m a tad confused by the 4.01/4.00 CGPA. Was this due to an honors program or something?</p>

<p>No, the 4.01 was due to two A+’s USC gives A+s</p>

<p>I applied to UN Reno (UNR), University of Utah, Colorado State University in Ft Collins and UNLV. I was rejected from UNR, U of U and CSU.</p>

<p>What is USC? University of Southern California?</p>

<p>A few things:</p>

<p>1) Did you see the letters of recommendation that were sent? (ensure they are good)
2) Did you visit these schools in person and show a genuine interest? If not, they may have rejected you because they didn’t think you would actually attend
3) If your demographics played a role, you may want to check the legality of that.
4) Is there something else that you haven’t mentioned on this thread (felony conviction, etc)?
5) Hopefully you didn’t let the schools know that you are unemployable
6) Have you considered an MBA? Classmates are older; Starting pay is significantly higher. </p>

<p>Also, what did u get on the GMAT? (i have no clue what above 95 percentile on both sections equates to…is that above a 700?)</p>

<p>What is USC? University of Southern California?</p>

<p>A few things:</p>

<p>1) Did you see the letters of recommendation that were sent? (ensure they are good) _ Yes I did view all Letters of Reco.
2) Did you visit these schools in person and show a genuine interest? If not, they may have rejected you because they didn’t think you would actually attend. I have been on the campuses of every school I applied to.
3) If your demographics played a role, you may want to check the legality of that. – There’s no legality. Schools are free to decline enrollment for any reason seen fit.
4) Is there something else that you haven’t mentioned on this thread (felony conviction, etc)? Nop, not even a traffic ticket. I am a commissioned Army officer and if I had committed a felony I would have been dismissed. This is grounds for dismissal.
5) Hopefully you didn’t let the schools know that you are unemployable – No that was never a factor in the graduate essay
6) Have you considered an MBA? Classmates are older; Starting pay is significantly higher. No I haven’t due to the massive unemployability of MBA grads. I am or was a tax accountant. </p>

<p>Also, what did u get on the GMAT? (i have no clue what above 95 percentile on both sections equates to…is that above a 700?) </p>

<p>Score was 720 The AWA 5.5 Quant: 49, Verbal 39</p>

<p>Honestly I’m pretty surprised. I guess my only suggestion would be to apply more widely next time if you don’t get into the last school you applied for. The other thing that I would suggest is to try to get letters of recommendation from former professors, schools generally prefer academic references strongly over professional ones.</p>

<p>I have been having a hard time getting acceptance into schools. It was suggested through an email I receive to ascertain what is referred to as military friendly schools. To paraphrase the email, many universities look down on those who served in the military. There is a prejudice exhibited by many schools, as the email continues against many military applicants. The email concludes to identify what is referred to as military friendly schools, those who consider active duty as valid life experience.
My commission was reactivated late 2002. I have been through the proverbial revolving door for the past 6 and one half years. Up to that point, for the prior seven years, I was a successful CPA. Now my career is dead, fini.
I know this is a loaded email. I served three tours, a 12 mos tour in Iraq, a second 15 mos tour in Iraq and a third in Afghan. When I returned I discovered that I was first unhireable and second, unable to rekindle my civilian career by attending a Graduate business program in Accounting. I was in the 95th percentile in my GMAT.
How do I identify military friendly schools. I want to be a contributing member of society instead of a drain. Without the graduate degree, I can kiss any civilian career adios.
Second, what gives an admission committee the justification to assert their own opinion of the war by spitting on those of us who served when called, again? This is open discrimination, and apparently legal, just as pernicious as racial or gender discrimination. When acceptance committees express their opinions on this war through such actions, this is akin to spitting on mine and my other comrades’ service.</p>

<p>Honestly I’ve never heard that schools look down on people with a military background; I would also disagree with your assessment that your career is ruined because of it. Have you looked into reactivating your CPA license? Even without that you can find work with a long break in your accounting career, it just may mean moving or taking a more entry-level job to reaffirm your skill-set.</p>

<p>I don’t understand why you think you’re career is dead and how you think an MS in accounting is going to fix that. From what I’ve heard a CPA is what matters in accounting and an MS in accounting is simply a way to get the necessary hours to sit for the CPA exam.</p>

<p>Also, lack of opportunities is a poor reason to choose an MSAcc over an MBA. If you just want to be an accountant, then I’d understand that (or aren’t willing to leave CO, UT, NV for graduate school). Otherwise I would seriously re-evaluate that decision.</p>

<p>Most graduate business schools put a great deal of value on military experience.</p>

<p>I was a CPA in Nevada. I was looking for more entry level jobs upon return. Because I was in for over 5 years, my skill set is very rusty. It was suggested that I move onto grad school as a way to repair the career. It was a track to get back on track and get that entry level job, again. </p>

<p>And, if not locally, just where would you suggest I apply? I believe all of academia is just as biased.</p>

<p>You seem very hard headed. Perhaps that had something to do with the rejections?</p>

<p>BTW, I was referring to applying to some good MBA programs (perhaps top 30).</p>

<p>honestly, something is not right.</p>

<p>with a 4.0 undergrad degree and 720 GMAT there’s no reason grad schools should not accept you.</p>

<p>either the poster is BSing or he messed up on his app somehow??</p>

<p>It was a 4.01/4.0 GPA in Accounting. And, to the comment of being a hard head, why is it assumed that everyone in the military is a hard head! This is the prejudice I am referring to.</p>

<p>Now, just exactly what could I do with an MBA. It’s a useless degree.</p>

<p>Fessmonix sure went through a lot of work to make this ■■■■■ thread. LoL</p>

<p>Such a ■■■■■.</p>

<p>Hi fessmoxnix:</p>

<p>At The College at Brockport we have (2) new Masters of Science Accounting degrees starting up in the fall, and we are still accepting applications to them both: A “general” program, and a forensic accounting program. I encourage you to reach out to us so that we can explore your interests more carefully. </p>

<p>Simply respond to this email with contact information and we’d be happy to chat with you.</p>

<p>Best wishes,</p>

<p>Susan
Dean of Graduate Studies</p>

<p>Such a spammer.</p>

<p>I wouldn’t call that a spam post. The OP (probably a ■■■■■) stated that he was rejected by schools despite outstanding stats and now someone from a college is reaching out to him. </p>

<p>The sad fact that few school administrators actually post here makes this unusual but not spam, IMO.</p>

<p>University of Phoenix accepting apps. Try there.</p>

<p>LOL that post from a “college reaching out to him” is another fake post he made that username too it was just created</p>