<p>"So, it's not really going to set you back to put-off work for a year while you complete your Masters in Accounting, because it shows that you are dedicated to the field, and dedicated to passing your CPA? Meaning, coming out of your Masters program with limited work experience isn't going to matter as much to recruiters vs. a grad from marketing/finance where experience is really necessary. Since accounting is a more information driven field, the more you can get out of your education, the better? Being eligible to sit for the CPA exam before applying to one of the big 4's is going to help your chances?"</p>
<p>A few things to comment on here: Having a Master's does not really put you ahead of someone with just a Bachelor's (assuming he or she also qualifies for the exam). Whether you have a Master's or not makes no difference--being able to sit for the exam is what makes or breaks your chances. There are plenty of people (partners, nonetheless) who have nothing other than a bachelor's and a CPA license.</p>
<p>To clarify, being able to sit for the exam doesn't really "help" your chances--it's essentially a prerequisite more than anything. Everyone that you're competing with is also ready to sit and just about ready to sit (some take the summer off during their first year to complete their Master's).</p>
<p>Finally, having a Master's is not a trade off for having experience. Experience is, by no means, required--lots of people get jobs without it--but having an internship is essentially a guarantee that you will have a job. Very few people intern at a firm without getting an full-time offer. If you can do it, definitely do it. If you can't, it's certainly ok (I didn't have a Big 4 internship), but don't think that a Master's necessarily makes you more competitive than someone with experience. Getting a Master's is only one means to an end--there are multiple ways to go about qualifying for the exam.</p>
<p>"I'm not saying work experience isn't necessary, that will help the "seasoned" worker get into the big 4, but someone can go straight into a Masters program out of undergrad in Accounting because they want to be eligible to sit for the CPA exam and still get hired by a big four firm, correct?"</p>
<p>Yes.</p>