<p>Actually, you are right. I do have a superior position in this topic, because I KNOW MORE ABOUT IT. Based on the knowledge I have regarding the divisions at Big 4, and my direct experiences with recruiting, I would have to agree that you are quite ignorant regarding this topic compared to me. I fully agree with your assessment. If I mentioned something, then it is indeed 100% true. In the realm and world of this topic, yes I am the king of that world.</p>
<p>OMG…I think that we have to rename this thread to:</p>
<p>“Everything you wanted or should know…forget about that because Dawgie (live Wikipedia) is here, and he will answer all of your questions with 100% warranty–money back guaranteed.”</p>
<p>Errr, this exchange is a little confusing but from where I sit it seems that indeed if you want to get into TAS type position you can’t do it from Podunk U university. Same for wannabe lawyers…although the distinctions are much bigger there(NYC M&A Big Four types will be making a helluva lot more than Tier 2 JD’s filing the same tax returns the MSAccy kids do). </p>
<p>Also, in case there is any confusion, there are jobs under the “Advisory” heading that are better regarded than others(i.e. TAS vs IT consulting). An MIS grad out of podunk U can get into Advisory that way, but that’s a whole different bag of chips than what Dawgie is talkign about.</p>
<p>@Dawgie</p>
<p>How many kids do you think get superior positions directly out of college? just wondering…</p>
<p>to Immotion, or something.
To be honest, I never heard of Southwestern before I started looking to transfer. Its a nice campus, but where I grew up is right in the middle of TAMU, Baylor and UT. Two are a hour away and the third is a hour and a half. They dominate the area. I’ll tell you one thing, if you are looking into a small liberal arts school, check Baylor out. I think they are on the way up. Their renovating and building new facilities constantly for the past 3 years or so and they offer the best of both worlds. The career center and funding of a tier 1 with way smaller class sizes. For example, the managerial accounting class here at TAMU has over 250 students, the same at UT, and at baylor it’s never above 75. Plus since you are looking at SW, the Baylor price tag won’t bother you.</p>
<p>Tech has a better business school than Baylor. Rawls was ranked 52 on the 2009 edition of USNWR.</p>
<p>I can’t see Whistleblower’s latest response since I placed him on “ignore status,” but I am sure it was something obnoxious and rude.</p>
<p>First, many folks are mixing apples with oranges here.
There are five types of accounting positions that recruit: Big 4, small to mid size accounting firms, corporations, government, and consulting ( to a lessor degree)</p>
<p>For Big 4, attending a top school might help. HOWEVER, as a former recruiter for the Big 4, I can personally attest that many offices recruit from their local schools. I worked in both New York and Florida. Just about every person in those officers went to school in the state that the offices were located. The partners interviewed in schools that the offices were located. However, it is very possible to get jobs attending an out of state school as long as your GPA was 3.5+. In fact, both my sons attended lower ranked schools for accounting and had big 4 interviews as a result of recruiters coming to their schools.</p>
<p>I attended Baruch College. It was NOT a top 10 or even top 20 ranked school,but I had both investment banking offers ( with a bond trading company) and offers from most of the Big 4. I also didn’t have a 3.9+GPA,but I did do well enough (3.65+)… Working at a big 4 did require at least a 3.5 GPA at the time. I don’t know what is required now.</p>
<p>I can also attest that places like Baruch has all the big firms recruit there, even now. I keep in touch with the alumni association and was recently assured that all the Big 4 firms still recruit at Baruch…</p>
<p>As for mid sized firms, I do know that many recruit from local schools. At least in Maryland I am sure that is the case since many partners that I have met have noted this. I would bet this is also true for other states. Both my sons attended lower ranked schools ( Towson University and Fairleigh Dickenson). Both schools had big 4 recruiters. Both my sons chose to work for midsized firms that recruited at their school for cultural reason.</p>
<p>Corporations are a mixed bag. Some are very ranking conscious but most aren’t. Generally they want good grades.</p>
<p>Government jobs are very grade dependent and are not generally school oriented.</p>
<p>Consulting jobs, however, are very school oriented plus are very grade oriented. However, even with consulting, you can get a job from a lower ranked school if your grades were very good.</p>
<p>Forgot to mention Big 4 Advisory roles again.</p>
<p>Do the Big 4 firms typically hire on non-traditional (older) students for entry level positions? I’m 26 and currently attending an AACSB accredited university. I went back to school 2.5 years ago and will finish my bachelors+masters in 2012. Should I seek a regional firm instead or go straight into private accounting and skip the CPA? My GPA currently stands at 3.8 and my previous work experience consists of non-degreed IT jobs.</p>
<p>Age 26 isn’t too old. 40+, however, might be.</p>
<p>Just want to ask if anybody has any experience working in Portland.</p>
<p>26 or 27 is fine. Many people who go to college at the age of 18 take 5-7 years to graduate, so you’re in right age range for entry-level. Plus, you’ll probably seem more mature than the 21 and 22 years olds which will be a huge plus for you.</p>
<p>haydennimo, no, but I’ve been to Portland and it sucked.</p>
<p>Dawgie,
What do you think of international tax? Is it worth getting into for MAcc kids?</p>
<p>No international tax isn’t for kids. It’s for men.</p>
<p>… and women of course. And I know that international tax hires many men and women with JD’s. I just wanna know if Dawgie considers international tax comparable to TAS type positions in terms of career potentials.</p>
<p>I’ve heard about wage deflation in Portland. It’s really worrying. I’m afraid that employers in Seattle or California would choose to hire someone from schools in their state instead. I’m pretty interested in going to Uni of Oregon for accounting.</p>
<p>Ugh, I’m in the dilemma of choosing whether or not to go with Big 4. So far my conclusion is that the intangible benefits of working there (read: headhunters at your door) aren’t seen until you are an experienced senior/manger (since a trained monkey can do most of the 1st/2nd year auditing work). That would take 5-6 years and I’m sure I’d either get canned/quit before I made it that far. </p>
<p>Government or a smaller firm is looking really good right now…pretty sure this lifestyle isn’t for me. My question is…am I really shooting myself in the foot from a career point of view by not going big four? I’m really only in it to get my designation to begin with…</p>
<p>secretfire, the answer is hell no you’re not shooting yourself in the foot. Let the sheeple go to the Big 4. You should focus on being genuine and carving your own path through the wilderness. Be a man. Don’t follow the herd.</p>
<p>Inmotion12 is correct. Do your own thing. Big 4 people can do whatever they want. </p>
<p>You don’t have to follow them.</p>