<p>? Hi, I am considering several schools for accounting, but my father says that it doesn't matter because all the same courses are taught at each school as long as the program have AACSB accreditation. My mother disagrees, she favors her school University of Illinois, and she likes University of Michigan. We reside in Illinois. These are the schools I applied to ...</p>
<p>Illinois State University
University of Iowa
Mizzou
Purdue
Ball State University
Bradley University
DePaul
University of Michigan</p>
<p>Here's my stats, 3.92 GPA UW, ACT comp 31, 8 AP's, plenty EC's. I received some type of merit aid from all except ISU,BU and UM so far. UM doesn't give aid to OOS, unless you are top tier.</p>
<p>I think both are partially right. It depends.</p>
<p>Accounting dept/major isn’t viewed as sexy as, say, finance in most schools. But there are three exceptions - UTexas, U of I, and BYU. Accounting is the bread & butter program in those business schools and there’s quite a gap between these and the rest (the faculty, course offerings, size of the program, and research). There are also schools like Wake Forest or Wisconsin that seem to prep the grads for CPA exam very well, as indicated by their high passing rate. I am not sure how but perhaps they integrate some prep courses into their curriculum; I am not sure. Outside these, it’s a lot more even. If you get into UI, there’s pretty much no reason to go OOS with Michigan</p>
<p>Just to throw it in here - Accounting is taught almost the exact same no matter where you go. If the school is AACSB accredited then they follow the same rules and teach the same rules as any other samely accredited school (called GAP or General Accounting Principles - you can google that to get more specific).</p>
<p>So SL is absolutley right. Outside of a very few select schools, accounting will be generally universal if it is AACSB accredited.</p>
<p>I have been told by a CPA before that there is only so many different ways you can even teach accounting. It’s generally based on following a lot of rules, like certain forms of math or even law. The rules do not change depending on which school you go to. The rules will ALWAYS remain the same just like a law will always remain the same no matter what law school one would go to. They don’t tell law school students money laundering is illegal at one school, but then tell them it’s legal at another (I’m being VERY random and general in that example).</p>
<p>I also second to stay away from OOS unless you can afford it.</p>
<p>Yes, courses are often going to be taught from the same exact textbooks and in the same timeline…, so coursework is essentially the same, if your smart and driven you will learn the material no matter where you go. This is why big firms tend to recruit all over the place and hire from most schools. </p>
<p>However, certain schools are more selective and have more ancilliatory programs/services, and therefore have a more competitive/driven studen population that, on average, tend to have worked harder in school and are further along in their professional development by the time they graduate. This is also why big firms tend to interview more and hire more students out of certain schools than others. </p>
<p>Obviously, do a cost benefit analysis and make your decision. There is usually no reason for students to pay a ridiculous amount in tuition for an accounting degree (since the courses will essentially be the same). Try to go to the top program in the state in which you wish to gain employment.</p>
<p>PLEASE read the first post of the highlighted thread, “Everything you wanted to know or should know about accounting.” It will answer your question.</p>
<p>2bnoir, did you apply to Indiana University. In terms of costs, your stats would give you nine thousand per year automatic scholarship. Also, as a URM, you would likely be accepted to the Hudson Holland Program, which would be worth at least seven thousand per year as a business major if you keep your gpa over 3.0, nine thousand per year for the last three years if your gpa goes to 3.7+. That would give you $16,000-18,000 per year in a very good accounting program, and possibly make your COA there less than your instate options, especially UIUC with no or little financial aid and its COA of well over 30k.
[The</a> Hudson and Holland Scholars Program](<a href=“Indiana University Bloomington”>Indiana University Bloomington)</p>
<p>Yes it matters what school you attend, because it will matter when you want to leave accounting. Do not underestimate how many people leave this profession after they find out what it is really like.</p>
<p>Hi Taxguy, I read your post and it pretty much support my father’s argument regarding it doesn’t make a difference in what school a person attend along as it has the right accreditation. My mother said she will take out as many loans she feel is necessary for me to attend University of Illinois or University of Michigan. That is well over $35k per year or $140k or more over four years for me to attend. I am glad she feels that way for me to get the best, but I do agree with my father that it’s insane. I am not interest in a lot of loans to attend some flag ship big ten school. My mother is the dominate one, but sometimes she doesn’t make a lot of sense in this argument. She rejected to my father’s suggestion toward the regional schools like ISU or Ball State University. These schools are safeties for me based on my stats listed in my first post.</p>
<p>Hi Sam, the COA for University of Illinois is 33,028, instate tuition and fees is $19,238 plus R/B for $10,080, estimated expense is $3710. Now I am referring to the Urbana campus.Where are you getting $14k/yr?</p>
<p>^Nevermind, I got that from collegeboard which actually lists the low end of outdated cost. Wow, I don’t know even state U can be that expensive these days. I can’t imagine how expensive UMich is, which IMO is definitely not worth the money if in-state UIUC is already that expensive.</p>
<p>In retrospect, many of the people I know who graduated from the accounting school went on to do other things. There are 2 types of people…</p>
<p>1) The people who quit within the first year of Big 4 and pursue other entry-level opportunities while they are still young in their career path.</p>
<p>2) The people who stick it out waiting for bigger and better opportunities. However, this path is very costly from an opportunity cost perspective. You are looking at spending 4-6 years at a firm to find “better” opportunities in private doing back office accounting and not being able to lateral or broaden your skill set because you are too specialized.</p>
<p>There is a pretty high price to pay if you want to leave the accounting field after a few years as a Big 4 senior/manager. Keep that in mind as you pursue your accounting degree. It doesn’t translate well if you want to lateral or broaden your skill set in private.</p>
<p>Honestly, the entry-level opportunities are just that: entry-level. These types of opportunities are usually less prestigious, less paying, and less certain and longer in duration in terms of career path. However, they are usually at companies that these people want to be at. Think entry-level Facebook, Google, Hautelook. They are doing marketing, advertising analytics, promotion, etc. Not typically the stuff you need an accounting degree for.</p>
This post is from 2012. In the future it is better to start a new post then revive one that is years old.
To a certain extent it does matter what school you go to. You don’t have to attend a very top ranked b-school but it is helpful to be at a solid place. The Big Four and other good firms take more students from the higher ranked schools. And for future jobs it is a positive to be from a respected school.
First off if your goal is to work for a Big 4 firm in a particular city, network with people who have blazed that trail before you in recent years.
Find out what schools those firms are hiring from in quantity. You will be surprised that those schools are not the ones that cost the most or have the most prestige.
Target those schools and build a list around them.