<p>Folks, I will say this the “Umteenth time,” Yes, going to a highly ranked school vs Purdunk U, will get some more recruiters coming to the school. However, if you get a great GPA ( which is above a 3.5+ overall and especially in accounting), you can call most major accounting firms and get an interview even from Purdunk U. In fact, the Big 4, unless they have changed a lot in the last 20 years, will take a 3.6+ from Purdunk U than a 3.3 from a top 10 ranked school. GPA is KING for the big firms. Let me note that this applies only to the top 4-6 accounting firms in the US.There are, however, many lesser tiered accounting firms.</p>
<p>Lesser tiered firms, such as mid sized accounting firms, usually interview at the best known school in their local area. They will rarely travel to go to a top ranked school.Moreover, less tiered firms usually look to the applicants personality more than the Big 4. Thus, someone who has a lot of personality, might have a better chance with a mid tier firm even if their GPA isn’t that stellar, although even these firms usually want at least a 3.0+.</p>
<p>Like the others guys have said, going to a better school will help CETERUS PARIBUS. If everything else is the same, then yes, getting a 3.7 from USC will look better than San Diego State, and the USC guy should get the job. However, USC/UCLA (btw, I’ve heard UCLA doesn’t have that great of an accounting program and only the top few biz econ people get i-banking/accounting jobs…this is coming from people who go there too) are also much more competitive, so not only is getting a 3.7 from there going to be much more difficult, but if you end up getting a 3.3 (which is very respectable) vs a 3.7 at SDSU or something, the other guy will win, especially if they are also one of the best at their school in terms of extra curriculars and all that.</p>
<p>“There are several state universities (CSU system) in Southern California that have accounting programs with boatloads of students, yet Big 4 still would rather have someone from USC or UCLA. They even go as far as Utah, BYU to find new people and it’s due to the high ranking of BYU. They do care about your school’s ranking”</p>
<p>Maybe it’s changed since I went through this cattle call many years ago, but I doubt it.</p>
<p>It takes an awful lot of bodies to staff the Big 4 firms. The firms know what their attrition rate is and they must keep up with it in their hiring. They are also very pragmatic about what it takes to succeed at the job. A student who is personable and has a 3.5 or better GPA in accounting, which is a highly standardized course of study, is a pretty good bet regardless of which fully accredited school he or she attended. </p>
<p>These firms have their own prestigious brand names that reflect status on their recruits and even on their clients, so they don’t necessarily favor prestigious schools in the same way that top law firms and consulting firms do.</p>
<p>When the cost of attending a private school or going out of town to a UC school is factored in it makes an accounting degree at the local Cal State school a screaming bargain. The fly in the ointment is that it is no easy feat to maintain a 3.5 GPA through an accounting program, whether at USC or at Cal State Northridge.</p>
<p>The reality is that I have a 4.0 overall and I tried every trick to demonstrate a great personality and other requisite skills and qualities but still the people from private universities, the expensive ones, and UCs were given preference. And I am positive not all of them had a 4.0 and were charming as Jay Leno. And I tried both Silicon Valley and Southern California.</p>
<p>I’m considering going into accounting, and I wanna make sure I have some facts straight.</p>
<ol>
<li><p>I go to Ohio State University, which is a tier 2 business school (Fisher college of business). I read that your school doesn’t matter so much as your GPA, but do you know of and large mid-size regional firms in Ohio that like to recruit accountants from OSU?</p></li>
<li><p>What things will make me stand out? Some things I have now are - Trilingual (English, Spanish, French). Work experience as a tutor to other students. Member of the OSU Business club. But what other things do they like? </p></li>
<li><p>What types of summer internships are available for accountant majors?</p></li>
</ol>
<p>I can’t answer questions regarding specific schools since I haven’t studied accounting for 30 years… I would bet, however, that plenty of firms recruit at OSU. Moreover, OSU is well thought of in the accounting world. Don’t downplay it.</p>
<p>2.Things that make you stand out: GPA, strong language skills, strong concentration in something interesting such as forensics, tax, and good personality.</p>
<ol>
<li>Talk to your career center about internships. Most large and mid size firms will take interns.</li>
</ol>
<p>OSUstudent, I can’t think if any club memberships that will directly help you more than others except those that help make connections with firms. Thus, if there is a big CPA conference in Columbus, it might help to be a volunteer in order to meet people.</p>
<p>YES>>>>> that could be answered in three letters.HOWEVER< you need a strong GPA of at least 3.4 overall and even better in accounting and related ( such as law) subjects. Moreover, even if you get an interview, you need to do well on the interview.</p>
<p>Personality is the number 1 thing for public accounting firms. If you get the interview, it is more important than anything else. You have to show them you will not embarrass them in the eyes of the client</p>
<p>I currently work at one of the “big 4” in Canada and I am on my way to becomming a CA. When I am done getting my CA I would love to move to the states. I would be interested in working for any accounting firm, national or regional. Is this easy to do? Do you guys have anyone in your offices that have moved from Canada?</p>
<p>Lots of people in my office has gone to Europe and Australia, but none have gone to the USA.</p>
<p>Well once I get my CA I could write an exam that would allow me to practice in the USA as there is a reciprocity agreement between the CICA and the AICPA. I wouldn’t know if a CA or CPA is better. It really doesn’t matter to me. </p>
<p>I also think now would be a time as we are probably doing a lot more IFRS work here in Canada as we are adopting before the states. I will probably have more experience with IFRS when I am ready than one of my counterparts in the USA.</p>
<p>1 One part deals with business law and general economic concepts
2.Regulations deal with Taxes and cost accounting
3. Auditing is self explanatory
4. The financial part deals with accounting theory. I don’t think they are incorporating IFRS into the exam yet.</p>
<p>My point in mentioning IFRS is that it would help me possibly get a job, not with the CPA exam. </p>
<p>I wouldn’t have to take the whole exam to become a CPA, only the reciprocity exam. I don’t think it would be too difficult. I would probably have to study up on US tax though.</p>
<p>“big 4 in canada” = our “Big 4”? if so, why can’t you just transfer to one of your firm’s US offices? i’d think you know more about your firm’s transfer policy than anyone here. maybe you should talk to your HR?</p>
<p>by the way, if i were you, i’d do what your former coworkers have done - move to europe or australia. more different experience with better work/life balance.</p>
<p>From the people that I have talked to who have worked at different offices they say that they never transferred internally, they contacted the offices directly themselves.</p>