<p>jonahrubin, you seem to talk as if you are a high authority on the topic. Can you state your credentials?</p>
<p>You clearly don’t understand the factor of promotion in the accounting world. The two basic upward tracks usually follow as such: impress a client to the point where they want to pull you into the private sector or show promise as a manager intra-Big 4 and become promoted to partner (any current Big 4 employee can check me on this statement). How do you get promoted in basically any circumstance? By showing exceptional knowledge and an ability to create/communicate quality products/services. Where do you develop an exceptional knowledge set and a refined presentation ability? Quality business programs. This is not to say that attaining either of these items is impossible at less prestigious institutions but rather that the likelihood is smaller. In other words, it’s a lot more “hit and miss.”</p>
<p>Thus, going to a more rigorous program might not get you a superior entry level job, but your opportunity for an expedited upward track would be higher.</p>
<p>I have gone through the recruiting process with the Big Four, done a national case study with a Big Four firm, have numerous friends who work at the Big Four. I work in business valuation at a company whose other line of business is IB, so no, I’m not a big four employee but how many of those are there here.</p>
<p>First, making partner is a crapshoot, that’s why something like 2% of people that show up at the Big Four end up as partners. </p>
<p>Second, you aren’t going to get “exceptional knowledge and ability” by just being at a top program. The former is up to you(start by reading the WSJ) and the latter is mostly innate. </p>
<p>Third, I agree with everyone that says for the person to go to the best program he can if his goal is to get in the Big Four. Personally I think a better goal would be to go to the best program he can, shoot for something that’s less of a commodity than Big Four auditing, and settle for Big Four if necessary.</p>
<p>"Third, I agree with everyone that says for the person to go to the best program he can if his goal is to get in the Big Four. Personally I think a better goal would be to go to the best program he can, shoot for something that’s less of a commodity than Big Four auditing, and settle for Big Four if necessary. "</p>
<p>Agreed. Going to a top program has many advantages. Just being surrounded with higher caliber students will help raise your standards and force you to work harder. Go to the best program and just focus on GPA.</p>