So let me just start off by giving some general background of myself.
I go to a state school (Kennesaw State Univ, in GA), and I’m a junior with a 3.4 GPA studying accounting. I currently work at a large payroll company in the basement doing fulfillment/packing. Since about April/May, I’ve been applying to every business internship that my school offers as well as some I’ve just found through internet searching, no luck thus far. Can’t really join or do any extra-curriculars cause I work a lot and all the relevant ones (and non-relevant ones that I’d be interested in) are at times that I usually work. So ultimately, i’m nothing really special to employers.
My original “plan” was to hopefully after graduating was to try and move upstairs at my current job to a payroll specialist position and try to get my M.Acc (1 year program at my school) immediately the following semester after graduating. Then hopefully during that time, take the CPA exam and afterwards, end-up getting a better job.
But after reading through the past threads and noticing a general idea that if you dont go to a top school, get Big 4 experience, and/or get your CPA, you will probably not end up doing “well”.
Dont go to a top school and I doubt i’d be qualified for any top graduate school
Like I said I’m not anything special so Big 4 is also a no
And I’m really clueless as to how I’m suppose to get CPA hours without being a CPA
With that being said, I’m quite alright knowing that I probably won’t ever be a candidate for a top position at a big 4 firm or even a medium sized firm. I’m also quite alright knowing that I probably wont ever make a seven digit salary. I just always thought working hard would at the very least give me a chance at a six digit salary in the late-level of my career. Now I’m doubting if I’ll ever be able to surpass $60k and if I do, it’ll be out of sheer luck.
Now don’t think im whining or trying to make excuses, I’m just curious as to whether I’m misreading the advice given by people on here or if my previous expectations were just way off and as to what I should realistically be expecting now?
Note: I’ve talked to my advisers before and their advice for post-college was rather useless other than visit job fairs which I have and usually all the represents just tell you to visit their website and apply. I know two of the big 4 firms and quite a few medium sized firms recruit at my school but my GPA kinda eliminates me from even being considered.
–If you get your masters you I would think that you could look for jobs through the school.
–You can get the experience requirement for the CPA by passing the exam and either working for a smaller firm or you may be able to meet the experience requirement by working directly for a CPA doing financial statement type of work at a private company (I think the CPA supervisor would have to write a letter or something on your behalf – not sure of the exact rules which likely vary state to state but my H did it for one of his employees).
I feel like you might be harboring some misconceptions.
Not everyone starts at a Big 4 firm. Not everyone ever works at a Big 4 firm. There are hundreds of accounting firms in the country. If you have struck out with the bigger ones, you can set your sights elsewhere. One trick that can help is to Google the name of the city that you want to live/work in and the phrase “CPA firm” to get some more leads on firms that you may not have heard of.
A 3.4 GPA is more than adequate for most firms. If you do a master’s program you can use that program instead if higher. Don’t forget that you can present your accounting/major GPA instead of your cumulative GPA if that is higher as long as you clearly label it.
The CPA hour requirements is something that you will get done once you start working full-time. There is absolutely no reason why you would need to even start worrying about that prior to starting full-time in an accounting role. I’ve seen this mistake repeated often before and I understand where it’s coming from, but it’s really not something that should be an obstacle prior to finding a position.
Why don’t you do a semester or two part time so you can study more and pull your GPA up, as well as be able to become more visible to the career center on campus. Do it in a Spring semester so you can volunteer at the VITA clinic (your school should have one, if not, spring is still a better time to slow down school and build your resume). Look into working with accountemps or for the IRS. You can work for most states with 24 credit hours in accounting, if you want to do that and then only take one or two classes a semester until you graduate. If you’re working full time and building experience, who cares if it takes 10 years or whatever to get a bachelors and masters.