Help Please - UGA vs IU

I don’t want to hijack the thread, but hopefully answering your question will be valuable to the OP or another viewer in a similar situation.

A masters in accounting has become the norm for someone staring out from schools like IU or UGA. It’s not required, but it’s definitely something that you should get while you’re there.

Why not a MBA? The OP will take a variety of business classes and have a solid base in management when they leave school. Plus there will be ample on the job training in their first 5 years. Adding an MBA after those 5 years might be helpful, but most likely it won’t. Getting an MBA after a MACC will most likely cause employers to think you are chasing credentials, and that is a dangerous tag these days.

So what extra education would I recommend to a an accounting grad? Something in tech like a coding or software engineering bootcamp. More and more the people around me tackle business problems like a software developer instead of like an MBA, and understanding that methodology and terminology would be beneficial.

There are many specialty masters available. Can be in data analytics/data analysis, finance, management, taxation,etc. No need for a MAcc for one with an undergraduate accounting degree.

DS is also deciding between IU and UGA. He is also a OOS w/DA to Kelley and HHonors. We just attended Kelley DA day and he shadowed a HH student for the day. We will be attending UGA Honors Admit Day and will meet with Terry for a second time. DA into Kelley is attractive, but Honors at UGA seems to have more opportunities. DS received scholarships from both IU and UGA, with UGA being slightly less per year. He was also accepted into McCombs and UNC, but no merit scholarship making them more $. DS is looking for something more than just a great bus degree, perhaps something with Environmental Science, Public Policy and whatever else he can get his hands on. He is planning on eventually getting MBA.

@publisher, Zell MIller scholarships are not HOPE scholarships. Zell has a higher high school GPA and SAT/ACT cutoff, as well as a higher college GPA benchmark to maintain funding. Some students can get merit money from UGA beyond the Zell Miller.

My niece went to UGA (BA, BS) and just finished her MA. If you were my son/daughter, you’d need some very compelling, mature and enthusiastic reasons for Kelley when UGA is so affordable.

I think Hutton is the key difference here. While Kelley may be a bit more prestigious and nationally known, UGA’s Terry will definitely take you where you want to go if you put in the work.
Hutton+DA means specific, smaller classes in Kelley. The academic and social experience will be very different from large pre-req lectures among hundreds at a good business school. It won’t be run off the mill. You’ll be able to develop contacts with professors, have a personal adviser. It makes a lot of difference during your first two years and can give you a headstart compared to “regular” students.
On the other hand, you won’t have the football fervor (there’ll be some but not as intense as at UGA.)
There’ll be parties at both. You can join a living learning community at UGA/ honors housing at IU so that’s a wash.
Finally, is it worth the cost difference? No one can judge. But you shouldn’t be spending the money unless you want the IU experience.
Have you done an overnight at IU, shadowing an honors student?
If after spending an overnight you’re still lukewarm, pick UGA.