What is USC worth? (Transfer student, Accounting Major)

College Search & Selection
1

<p>So before I begin, let me first apologize. I actually just created a thread inside the USC forum but it seems this section gets a bit more traffic. Unfortunately, I need a decision by tomorrow, so I'll go ahead and post this here as well. Again, I apologize, it was not my intention to spam.</p>

<p>Just a little background, currently, I am a second year honor student at the University of California, Riverside. I'm looking to major in Business Admin, with an emphasis in accounting. In terms of GPA, I currently stand at a 3.88, with a myriad of extra-curriculars.</p>

<p>The question for me is originally pretty simple, but it branches out to become rather complicated. At its core, the question is, is USC worth losing what I've established?</p>

<p>I've already been accepted, but here's where the real problem comes in. I'm not sure if it's worth uprooting myself from the network I have. What I have here in Riverside right now (that's weighing against USC) would be:</p>

<ul>
<li>my network (particularly with Ernst and Young, who recruit here at UCR)</li>
<li>a Vice President position (organization works with the Alumni Association here)</li>
<li>an assistant accounting intern, which includes a summer job</li>
<li>a volunteer tax position</li>
<li>and just a sense of familiarity here; that's all I can think of now (though there are probably some tidbits here and there)</li>
</ul>

<p>But with that said...its USC, and I'm sure there's an incredible network to be built there. Nonetheless, I'd essentially start from square one at USC, and with recruiting season for the Big 4 right around the corner in the Fall, I'm not sure if it's particularly smart to leave and start recruiting season so quickly (essentially without a network). Of course, financially, there is tuition to think about and etc, but only considering this from a career pathway sort of view, would you have any input on the situation?</p>

<p>I'm interested in seeing what you guys, particularly USC students and alumni, have to say about this. It seems to be an awful lot to give up, to be honest, but I've heard so many good things about USC, I'd like to know what I'd have in return if I were to drop these things.</p>

<p>Thanks in advance.</p>

2

<p>USC is a better school, but imho very overrated. if you continue to do really well then it might not be worth it. you have to look inside, but i wouldn’t transfer</p>

3

<p>As an anedote, one of my good friends was a senior accountant/accounting manager (under the controller) for a small media firm and after unsuccessful search for just a junior staff, he and the controller got help from Robert Half. The referrals included a USC graduating senior with a ~3.2 GPA. Many USC grads do get into Big 4 but many don’t. This girl with an average GPA apparently didn’t have much luck with on-campus recruiting, for whatever reason. By the way, the market was good in 2006.</p>

<p>Most top schools and Ivies don’t have accounting programs. So the Big 4 audit practice is full of alums from outside the top-50 and they (at least as far as the audit practice goes) care less about school names; I think you’ll have a much better chance for being a big fish in whatever pond you are at. If you become a smaller fish at USC, the move could easily backfire and all that extra tuition may not be worth it.</p>

4

<p>Have you talked to your network to get their input? You appear to be a smart accomplished candidate, I find it hard to believe that the E&Y contact is suddenly going to stop talking to you because you move to another school. As far as the job market goes, it’s been lousy everywhere for the last 3 years and it’s been especially lousy for those students with less than stellar GPAs (<3.5). </p>

<p>Should you transfer? Do you envision making more money at the outset because you went to USC? If so how much more (the career offices at both schools should be able to tell you the average first year salaries for accounting grads)? Is that difference sufficient to justify the increased expenses? USC prides itself on its “Trojan Family” but unless you’re planning on being a personal accountant to USC alums that network will matter most for your first job. After that first position it’s going to be about what you accomplished and increasingly less about where you went to school.</p>

<p>Talk to your E&Y contact if you have time. He/she will probably have the best insights.</p>

5

<p>Depends on costs. The Trojan Family is HUGE and if costs weren’t much more, the alumni contacts make it is the easy choice. I disagree with vince, however, in that the 'SC alums will be on your speed dial for a long time, (assuming you stay in SoCal). Their alums are everywhere, and in all kinds of industries at all levels.</p>

<p>E&Y would appreciate a student from a ‘higher’ caliber school. It makes them look good. Agree with vinceh…call your E&Y recruiter and ask, but I’m guessing that the answer will be a generic, ‘no problem.’</p>

6

<p>Did you apply to the summer externship with E&Y since you have networks with them? If you are in their externship this summer, that might lead to an internship next summer. Then the chance you get hired by them before graduation is very high that you don’t need to transfer.</p>

7

<p>I’d say, if you wanted a pure accounting degree, then xfer to someplace like CSUN. Cheaper, excellent name in that field. You graduate the top of your class there, one of the big firms will hire you. </p>

<p>As Sparkeye said, the higher ranking the U, the less they would feed the accounting field. One probably hardly ever sees a Harvard, Yale, Princeton, MIT, CIT grad enter this field. </p>

<p>The Cal States are probably the largest feeders to the field in CA…because of the shear no. of grads from this system, and because very few UC’s offer the subject (accrediting?) save for Cal, UCLA, UCSB…</p>

8

<p>^ You happened to name the few UCs that do offer accounting program/curriculum
Cal - Businesss Admin with acct concentration
UCLA - Acct minor
UCSB - Econ & Acct major</p>

<p>And all big-4 recruit in the above campus.</p>

<p>Plus now UCI also have Business Admin. with Acct concentation
for the first year, UCSD - acct minor</p>

9

<p>What do you think of CSUN or some of the other CSU’s for accounting?</p>

<p>(And I think that should be “credentialing,” not “accrediting.”</p>

10

<p>I am not familar with CSUN, but within CSU system, I think SDSU has the best accounting program. It’s one of the only 5 campus in Calif that has AACSB accouning accrediation along with USC, SCU, USD (all private) and CSUF. </p>

<p>In term of recruiting, CalPoly also has pretty good placement. and SJSU due to its location</p>

11

<p>Thanks to everyone for their replies, they were all extremely helpful</p>

<p>Vinceh: I found your thoughts about the Trojan network very interesting. I believe all entering accounting associates make a similar market rate salary, which fluctuates a bit between firms, but not by much. I was also able to make contact with an EY contact this morning to talk to situation over, so that was a fair bit of insight.</p>

<p>A_mom: I’ll be working with EY for a couple days over the summer as part of their Emerging Leaders Program, so as you said, hopefully that’ll be a good first step.</p>

12

<p>Within the Big 4 salaries are very close (some might even use the words price-fixing), my point was if you went into industry straight from college there might be some differences in the starting salary profiles of the two schools.</p>

<p>Bluebayou, please know that I mean no insult to the Trojan Family, I just wanted to point out that as a career unfolds we are all judged on the body of our results more and the place where we went to school less. If the OP makes senior manager a year ahead of schedule that’s going to impress other companies regardless of where he went to school. Conversly if 10 years later he’s somehow hung on to his job without making senior associate I suspect that the “Family” won’t be going out of its way to pick up the phone either.</p>

<p>To the OP, please make sure and tell us your decision.</p>

13

<p>I wouldn’t transfer to any other schools except USC. You should either stay put or transfer to USC. If you are top student at any school you have a good shot being recruited by top accounting firms. In addition, you might not get that GPA at USC. However, from my relative who works in LA in accouting field, USC grads are all over the place.</p>

14

<p>vince:</p>

<p>I had absolutely no impression that you were intending anything negative about 'SC. I agree with your point that our body of work is paramount. My point was the icing on the cake so to speak; alumni networks open lotsa business doors that maybe otherwise closed, even to those on the fast track. There is just no doubt in my mind that the Trojan Family beats UCR’s by a mile in that regard. Plus, 'SC is very strong in accounting. But if 'SC costs $50k/yr and UCR is free, that is a different investment question.</p>

<p>P.S. In a former life, HR used to report to me and I can’t tell you how many new hire requests came in that stipulated ‘Top Business School’.</p>

15

<p>For anyone still interested, I apologize for the late response. Fortunately, I’ve been able to push back the deadline for at least a couple days, giving me more time to consider and weigh my options a little better. I will say that one major factor is the level of competitiveness USC will have, particularly in Leventhal. It’s scary to think what type of achievement I’d have to attain (both academics and extra curriculars) in order to ‘stand out’; yes Big 4s will recruit heavily from USC, but will I be able to maintain a competitive GPA, coming in 2 years late and no GEs to possibly bolster my grade? It’s something to think about. Again, for those who are still interested, I’ll be sure to post my final decision when it’s all said and done.</p>

16

<p>This is where the ball coach in me comes out.</p>

<ol>
<li>Cut back on your “myriad of extra-curriculars”.</li>
<li>If you don’t think you can run with the big dogs now, what makes you think you’ll be able to run with them later?</li>
<li>There’s always going to be someone smarter, stronger and faster than you are, but always remember, hustle beats talent when talent doesn’t hustle.</li>
</ol>

<p>Welcome to the show. Time to show us what you’re made of.</p>

17

<p>^^Touche! :D</p>