<p>Its not that everyone else is trying to push their own “failures” and destroy your hopes and dreams but everyone is being more realistic and you should have a more realistic backup plan. Everyone is rejecting your dreams because your “backup plan” is considered a goal for most people. There are plenty of smart people out there and millions of people who read and subscript the the articles/newspaper and books you read. There are plenty of people who have track records and much better qualifications. It is fine to dream big but its also important to be realistic about your outlook. In business, connections and luck is just as important and what you know.</p>
<p>Just take it one step at a time. But don’t lose that “shoot for the stars” mentality;that’s what separates the ordinary from the extraordinary. Not everything is in your control (I think that’s what everyone here is trying to tell you); you have to let those go, and focus on what you can control. Do well in the Macc program, ace the interview, study hard for the CPA. Everything else (like becoming a CFO) will take a “right place, right time” situation; for those, u just gotta let go and let God.</p>
<p>If the MAcc is what you want to do next, focus on just that, and don’t stress about the far future; you’ll age faster than Obama has :)</p>
<p>thanks guys. i will take it one day at a time , i just posted it here just to get some feedback on my lofty goals. yea i know it is tough but i want to do well in life and have the work ethic to back it up. anyways ill focus on getting good grades this semester and networking, going to job fairs, etc.</p>
<p>thanks for the feedback guys</p>
<p>****in make lots of bills accounting and learn how to trade stocks on the side…
then with ur savings u can manage your own portfolio. end of story.</p>
<p>To OP, Yea, that is what you should do.</p>
<p>As a graduate from KPMG after 10 years of service. I can tell you the odds to get into Big 4 and become a CFO are slim, but not impossible. Let me give you some guide lines.</p>
<p>First of all the Big 4’s are going to cream the students from an accredited AACSB accounting school. Top 10% is the norm, they will only INTERVIEW those on campus, so you should aim for that ranking. Of those being interviewed, about 70% will be invited back for office interview with a supervior and/or a manager. Perhaps 50% of the top 10% of the accounting students will get an offer from one or more Big 4 firms. If you have an GPA above 3.5 you will most likely succeed to get a campus interview.</p>
<p>Once you are in the Big 4, 50% of the first year accountants will leave, voluntarily or involuntarily. Another 50% of the same class will leave on the 2nd year. Only about 2% of your class will attain Partner status after 10 years. Many big 4 managers and superviors leave the firm(perhaps 5% of your class) because they were offered controller positions. But that is not CFO by any means.</p>
<p>So your lofty goals are good if you are at the top .5% of your class among ALL AACSB school graduates in the United States, which in your words " A fall back to be a controller in a major corp". BTW, the word “top” does not mean in acadamic terms, but in business terms. In order to be on “top” not only you need technical skills, but also people skills, which is more important and more difficult than technical.</p>
<p>Why do they all leave?</p>
<p>to go to higher positions, or work in the private sector.</p>
<p>my bad, 75% of the class is out of the door after two years. 50% on the first year, 25% on the second year.</p>
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<p>Yes. also, a lot of them went to MBA’s, Law schools and such. Smaller percent went on to open their own practices and to work in different fields. The Big 4 have out sourced FREE placement services to out place yearlings to ourside positions if they found the person is not of “partner quality”. You will fully equiped with free communication devices, office space to work on your resume, consolers helping bush up your interview tech. etc, etc.</p>