<p>Are you planning on getting your MAcc? Could always do that at a place like Illinois or Notre Dame, where Chicago offices recruit heavily. </p>
<p>Other than that, it is possible to transfer. There has to be a need in the office you are looking at, which tends to happen after 2-3 years when people start leaving for industry jobs. </p>
<p>I’ve also seen people intern at the office they were recruited from due to school affiliations, get an offer, and then talk to HR to see if another city had availability. I had 4 friends try this method of getting to Chicago–they all failed. Probably because Chicago has plenty of top schools to recruit out of, and is a very sought-after city. </p>
<p>Lastly, you could always say you are interested in Chicago from the get-go, and see where that gets you. I tried and got the “good luck…” vibe from recruiters/associates I talked to, so I decided against trying to apply for that office. </p>
<p>As background, I went to a university that was a recruiting target, but was often overshadowed by a higher ranked accounting program. If you go to a top school (national target school for firms), the chances are much greater that you will get an interview at whatever office you want.</p>