<p>I am currently a junior and have a 3.7 at Florida State.</p>
<p>big4 likes to see that you have completed accounting courses... 3rd year should have intro + intermediate + tax and/or audit under their belt before even applying.</p>
<p>The GPA really varies depending on your experience and leadership and location.</p>
<p>I’ve gotten three D’s in my major which is accounting. My cumulative GPA is a 2.6</p>
<p>Fortunately, I am qualified to sit for the CPA exam at the start of next year. Do you all think that employers for accountants would overlook my GPA as an entry level job if they saw I had the CPA designation.</p>
<p>To be safe, 3.5+.</p>
<p>If you had the CPA License, they may overlook it. Otherwise, the 2.6 is killer without massive networking.</p>
<p>Why wouldn’t they completely overlook the GPA if you had the CPA designation. If you pass the exam that proves more than enough that you understand accounting. I don’t believe the GPA is an accurate measure of one’s intellect. People have tragedies happen in their life that may be the cause for low grades. Also, if you have several teachers who you just don’t understand or can’t figure out that will lower you GPA. Lastly, I know a number of students who pass college with flying colors and they still don’t know anything. I actually learn a lot in the classroom, however, I may not be a good test taker when it comes to the university.</p>
<p>GPA matters, so does CPA. But the CPA is a joke. I’ve passed 2 parts with no sweat stress or time.</p>
<p>Okay, I’m only talking about the big companies and what I perceived from their recruiting.</p>
<p>Your CPA designation can outshadow your GPA in your accounting courses, but the firm also looks for a well rounded individual. So your GPA still matters since they don’t just care about your accounting courses. This probably will change as you get into a smaller company. The smaller company that sees the CPA designation will probably forgive the lower GPA. </p>
<p>It’s fine that you dont believe GPA is an accurate measure of one’s intellect. What method do you suggest that is cost effective for companies? For the most part, a high GPA will be more indicative of a person who is smarter and can learn easily. There are exceptions as you have met, but in more cases than not, using GPA will work. You can claim that you learned a lot, but how will the company know that? You need to have something that indicates that and that is usually the GPA. </p>
<p>Dawgie - man I wish thats how I feel after I take the test lol. Too bad only 10% of people pass it the first time around, so you must be pretty brilliant to pass two parts with no stress or time.</p>
<p>Going with what Altema said, GPA is a good indication how some intelligence and more importantly your work ethic. Work ethic is sometimes even more important than intelligence.</p>
<p>About the CPA test, I used the Becker and studied roughly 2 weeks for REG, and 2 weeks for AUD and passed. I haven’t failed a part yet and don’t plan too. I think your statistic about 10% might be a little higher now since you can take them in separate parts, atleast I’m pretty sure.</p>
<p>Ah, I got that stat from Becker’s book. Not quite sure what they are basing it off of, but its in your review books, haha. Dang, AUD is what some consider the longest/hardest. Grats Dawgie!</p>
<p>Well, isn’t the CPA evidence of one’s work ethic. The number of hours you need to spend each week can be equivalent to a full-time job-that is if you aren’t a genius. Furthermore, entry level jobs are based on your GPA, after that what is more valuable is not so much the GPA, but the experience. For example, I know for a fact that the FBI wants to know what you can bring to the table (experience) before they will consider hiring you as a Special Agent. With that said, if I can acquire the CPA without having the company pay for it that becomes cost effective and it puts me one step further than any other recent graduate. And isn’t the CPA the most sought after employee. Especially with their intent on trying to be more ethical after the recent scandals of Enron and other corrupt Corporations.</p>
<p>Yes CPA is more of a testament to you taking the effort to grasp a bunch of boring accounting topics and retain it. It has nothing to do with intelligence, that will just help soak it up faster.</p>
<p>Isn’t that the whole point of school, to go and learn something and retain so that you can regurgitate it later. And by the, way how do you define intelligence? I always thought it was one’s ability to comprehend a topic and use that knowledge accordingly. However, someone may be book smart but not have common sense (they don’t know how to use what they know wisely) According to your previous post, it sounds to me that the CPA does enable an individual to be intelligent with the field of study. But the one who prevails the furthest is the one who has the know how (human capital) and the wisdom to apply that knowledge in the most suitable situation.</p>
<p>Yup that’s how I would define intelligence. Also the amount of time in which you comprehend the topic is definitely factored in. People with the most raw intelligence typically prevail and have higher potential.</p>
<p>So then do you think that raw intelligence is more valuable than wisdom.</p>
<p>So then do you think that raw intelligence is more valuable than wisdom.</p>
<p>IMO, I think wisdom is more valuable. It is the foundation of all things. It is a preconceived notion before one takes action. Wisdom is more reliable in preventing error as opposed to intelligence which is just knowing something.</p>
<p>Which would you rather have, a wise ruler who takes into consideration the ramification of each of his/her’s decisions, or someone who is smart and has the potential of putting one’s empire in ruin?</p>
<p>As another example, you could be someone with millions of dollars. If you are prudent in your decision making as to how you should allocate your resources, you will inevitably lose more than one who did apply their prudence. Wisdom has long-term consequences whereas intelligence is more of a short term gratification.</p>
<p>one way or the other, your GPA is way too low to show that you are wise or intellect. if you are getting 2.6 gpa, that means you are the bottom of your class.</p>
<p>cookinbooks - why are you arguing the point of intelligence and wisdom? You can argue it all you want but how the firms perceive GPA and intelligence is how they do it. You can make good arguments and we can agree with you, but who are we? We can’t change how firms look at GPA and recruit. I agree with your arguments but what good does that do? I’m not going to be able to revamp the recruiting system.</p>
<p>Xjis,</p>
<p>I could argue with you but I am too mature to do so. You have no idea the reasons for my low GPA and I am not going to explain myself to you. Enough said on you my friend.</p>
<p>Altema,</p>
<p>I agree with you. Even if my points of view are convincing they will not do any good here. I apologize. I was just curious to get peoples’ opinion on the subject. I have no worries about getting a job. To be honest I’m not even interested in working for Big 4 accounting firms. I’ve heard way too many stories about how awful it is. I know a Special Agent with the FBI that did public accounting and he hated every ounce of it. </p>
<p>My posts were intended to get opinions and if I transcended the scope of this thread I once again apologize.</p>