Need advice UMD ECON or Frostburg ACC

College Majors Business Major
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<p>Hi guys, I have completed my Associate degree with 3.95 GPA from local community college, and then applied to University of Maryland for Accounting but did not get accepted! But they accepted me for my second choice economics, and I also applied to the Frostburg State University(FSU) and got accepted for accounting.
Now my families are pushing me to go UMD because of its reputation and hoping I will find a better job. I wanted to major in accounting, but also afraid if FSU will be too unknown to the recruiters. FSU is a small university in rural area, but it is AACSB accredited. SO I need advice where should I go? Will accounting in FSU affect my job security for no reputation of FSU? I do not mind studying economics but just not sure if that is the best major for me.</p>

<p>here are my pros and cons.</p>

<p>UMD
Major Economics
Pros: Reputation
Cons:Not sure if economics will be a good major for me.</p>

<p>FSU
Major Accounting
Pros: Accounting, and AACSB accredited.
Cons: No reputation. Less job security.</p>

<p>Give me your advice, help me out please. I need to make my decision within 3/4 days.</p>

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<p>[AACSB</a> International](<a href=“http://www.aacsb.edu/General/InstLists.asp?lid=5]AACSB”>http://www.aacsb.edu/General/InstLists.asp?lid=5)</p>

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<p>Why did you give the link?</p>

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<p>Notice how Frostburg State is not on that list.
Go to Maryland</p>

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<p>But I beleive this list is just for accounting. And even maryland is not in this list! Frostburg and UMD both are accredited for whole business school and have their name on the list. Does a school has to be separately accredited for accounting? I doubt it because UMD is not on the accounting list.</p>

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<p>This is taken from TaxGuys thread on Accounting</p>

<ol>
<li><p>What do I need to get a job with the Big 4 or top consulting firm? For the Big Four, you usually need an accounting degree PLUS grades of at least a 3.3+ overall and in accounting. Moreover, the higher your grades, the better the chance of an interview. Consulting firms also like accountants;however, they will also take folks from other majors as long as you have at least a 3.5+ and/or attend a top named school such as UVA, IVY etc. </p></li>
<li><p>Should I go to the highest ranked schools for accounting? This question seems to be asked in one way or another many times and is probably the most frequently asked question about accounting. </p></li>
</ol>

<p>Answer: As long as a school is accredited ( AACSB accreditation and regional accreditation), it DOESN’T MATTER which school you attend. The reason is that the State Boards of Accountancy mandate the curriculum. Thus, from school to school, probably 80% or more of the courses taken will be the same. Even the books used are usually the same. Thus, going to Wharton, vs. University of Texas, vs. UVA, vs. Baruch College vs. Maryland will probably not increase your job opportunities that much from school to school for accounting jobs. Moreover, the pay is fairly set among starting accounting jobs. Attending a top, name school might get you a few thousand dollars more to start ( and I mean only a few) ,but it usually evens out among school. </p>

<p>You should understand the process: Accounting firm partners usually interview at their local schools. Thus, if you want to live and work in Memphis, Tennessee ( as an example), you probably have an edge going to college in Tennessee than at University of Texas. The same can be said about NY schools. Again, for accounting, it won’t make a difference whether you attended Stern ( NYU) or Baruch College.</p>

<p>If you are set on going to a Big 4 Firm, or heading to an accounting job, from the thread it does not matter what school you go to as long as it is AACSB accredited and you take accounting. </p>

<p>For anything else other than an accounting job, I would pick a Maryland degree over Frostburg any day.</p>

<p>good luck with you decision</p>

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<p>Thanks ifailecalculus for your reply, I agree with you 100%, I would take maryland over frostburg anyday too but if it’s same major.My main goal was and still is to become a cpa, but i did not get accepted at UMD accounting. I have read the tax guy’s thread before and that’s what diverting me more toward frostburg. Still no idea what should I do.</p>