<p>Hi guys. Just wanted to get some information.</p>
<p>I'm currently a sophomore at SDSU, one of the better undergrad biz schools in California. Obviously it is not on par with Cal or Stanford, but I went here because of their accounting program (they score top 5 in the nation on the CPA exam)</p>
<p>Recently, I've shifted towards Finance/Banking. I know that a degree in Finance or Financial Services is less stable than Accounting but the salary ceiling is also much higher. </p>
<p>I was wondering if coming from a less recognized school such as San Diego State would hurt my chances getting into a top b-school ? I want to be able to have the opportunity to work for a firm in New York SOMEDAY but I know with just an undergrad from SDSU will not help at all.</p>
<p>Also will a degree in Financial Services (SDSU is one of the few to offer it) and being Certified Financial Planner be better for what I am trying to accomplish versus a Finance degree?</p>
<p>IMO, the only way this would hurt you is if you can't land a good job out of college and gain good work experience with progressive increases in responsibility. I'm sure a degree from a school like Stanford would improve a candidates chances but I don't see a degree from SDSU hurting your chances. I did my undergrad at an equally unimpressive school and had no problem getting into top 20 schools despite having an unspectacular undergrad GPA (3.2).</p>
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I'm currently a sophomore at SDSU, one of the better undergrad biz schools in California. Obviously it is not on par with Cal or Stanford, but I went here because of their accounting program (they score top 5 in the nation on the CPA exam)
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<p>I find that a little hard to believe. What's your source ?</p>
<p>Well, the top schools in CA other than Berkeley don't have business undergrad programs! There is no doubt a top undergrad school gives you a better chance at top jobs and top B schools. So get a 4.0 at SDSU and get the best possiblem job you can.</p>
<p>Are you forgetting USC? St. Marys College in Moraga, Santa Clara University, Pepperdine . </p>
<p>I'd like to know where it cites that SDSU scores top 5 in the nation for CPA exams.</p>
<p>It's true SDSU has the fifth best pass rate on the CPA exam in the nation.</p>
<p>"The School of Accountancy is the first and one of only four accredited accounting programs in California. Student test scores on the CPA exam consistently rank among the top five in the nation.</p>
<p>The Graduate Tax Program is considered by the "Big Five" accounting firms to be among the top 20 in the United States."</p>
<p>More about SDSU scoring top 5 in the CPA TWICE in the last 5 years: </p>
<p>"SAN DIEGO, Wednesday, April 5, 2006 San Diego State Universitys (SDSU) School of Accountancy has ranked 5th in the nation for schools with the highest passing rates on the Uniform CPA Examination among first-time candidates with advanced degrees. SDSU, the only California University in the top ten, also received the honor for the November 2003 exam, when the university placed 4th."</p>
<p>I went here because the Big 4 firms as well as numerous others recruit heavily. </p>
<p>VectorWega: Did you go into B-School right after undergrad or did you work first?</p>
<p>I worked. You don't get into good business schools straight from undergrad regardless of where you did your undergrad (except for very rare cases).</p>
<p>Some advice would be to work in a field that would allow you to become a CFA. Use that as a little leverage. As long as you do well and get a good job I do not think where you went is going to have much of an impact in what grad school you went to.</p>