<p>Hi,</p>
<p>I was wondering if it's possible to get the prestigious accounting positions if you go to a average state school (not UCB or something).</p>
<p>Yes, its very possible. Although it might be a little hard recruiting wise (the big 4 might not recruit on your campus), it is still very much possible as long as you have good grades and a solid resume.</p>
<p>How about getting an investment banking job at a big firm?</p>
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How about getting an investment banking job at a big firm?
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<p>Even I can answer that: no (unless you have incredible connections, but in that case, you would get the job no matter where you go).</p>
<p>Thanks for the response, but I was also wondering, would accounting and MIS be a good combination? Is MIS in general a good degree to have? Although I'm interested in E-commerce type of stuff (in addition to accounting), I'm worried that MIS is just seen as a degree for people who couldn't cut it for CS work, so is there a good market for MIS majors? Also, would you recommend taking additional programming classes to supplement the degree?</p>
<p>thanks</p>
<p>MIS is a good degree. Taking additional programming classes would be great. If you take them from the CS department, you may want to take their early classes first (ie whatever the CS weedout class is).</p>
<p>An Accounting/MIS double major could lead to a career as an IT Auditor (I don't believe the extra programming classes would help for that though).</p>
<p>Yes it is possible. My dad went to a state school after moving to the US after high school and he got a job at one of the Big 4. It won't be easy but it's possible</p>
<p>You can definitely get a job with the Big 4 but you will need good grades and it depends where (geographically) you are looking to work at. I would say the bigger the city the harder it is.</p>
<p>Most Big 4 people are hired from state schools--generally more from the better ones--say Top 25 state schools but accting is a pretty equal opportunity area and they hire from many many schools.</p>
<p>I'm thinking of chasing the merit money to a school like Alabama, South Carolina, ASU, College of Charleston, etc... Good schools, but not going to land me on Wall Street or with a great paying job right out of school, I'm guessing, could very well be wrong. If I go this route, would I most likely have to get very good grades, then go on to a pretty good MBA school?</p>
<p>I actually know several people who graduated from some of the colleges you just mentioned who worked hard in college and took advantage of opportunities and got job offers to work on Wall St.</p>
<p>What do you mean opportunities by working hard? By excelling in your classes and get high remarks from profs? Connections with alums or through MBA? Reading this forum makes it sound like if you don't go to Wharton, Stern, Chicago, Michigan, Harvard, etc...you have a slim to none shot at landing a job on Wall Street.</p>
<p>Academics is not the only thing, you should get internships, join clubs, network, etc. all of which I am sure you have heard before. Study abroad or volunteer if you can. Try to get your resume to stand out. </p>
<p>If you don't make it to Wall St. right after graduating you can definitely work your way up and get their sooner or later. One proof for this is linkedin.com</p>
<p>One thing you have probably never heard before is that companies like Goldman Sachs have two types of candidates: those who went to core schools (ivy league, etc) and those who went to non-core schools. Companies don't want all their candidates to have went to the same schools, had the same professors, joined the same clubs, etc.
Don't be discouraged and just do what you have to do. I know these boards sound like that and it worries me sometimes as well but I have looked past all of it.</p>
<p>That makes sense.</p>
<p>Thanks.</p>
<p>It seems like I keep repeating myself lol
Financially, it doesn't seem like I could live in NYC right after graduating anyway.</p>