<p>I know you guys get these threads all the time and I apologize for starting another, but I need some advice. </p>
<p>I am currently a senior at the University of Houston and I am majoring in accounting. I am going to go to graduate school immediately following my BBA, and I had a couple questions for you.</p>
<p>I know that a lot of upper level graduate schools require(or prefer) work experience, but I have none that would actually apply in this situation (mostly retail, etc). Please keep that in mind when giving your responses. </p>
<p>Ok, now on to the facts:</p>
<p>I will be graduating with a 3.8 GPA and I just recently received a 610 on the GMAT. I know that is a fairly low score, but I can always take it again in the spring (I have one semester left on undergrad work). </p>
<p>My question is which programs do you think would suit me best(accounting), and what is the most prestigious program I could get in?</p>
<p>Thanks for any help......</p>
<p>I guess I will add the GMAT break down</p>
<p>Qual - Scaled Score=42
Verb - Scaled Score=31</p>
<p>I scored 620 (only) when I first took the GMAT. I took it again and scored 740 this time. </p>
<p>You can't go to a top business school with a 610 GMAT score. Except perhaps when you have a very impressive work experience.</p>
<p>
[quote]
I have none that would actually apply
[/quote]
Almost nobody does when they're seniors in college, which is why almost nobody goes directly to an MBA program.</p>
<p>So there are none that you guys would recommend at all? I have a good GPA, and if I can get that GMAT up to the high 600's to low 700's (680-710), is there anyway I can goto a decent to good program (w/no work experience)?</p>
<p>Of course, this depends on what "level" of business school you're willing to go to.</p>
<p>You have to remember that basically nobody goes straight through -- 4.0/800 grads from Ivy Leagues with investment bank summer internships and small businesses on the side would still probably not get into a good MBA program.</p>
<p>Almost everybody has to have work experience.</p>
<p>Question: Why are you gettting your MBA right away? No work experience? That is CRUCIAL, especially at a top program.</p>
<p>The schools look at you as more valuable- have more to offer- if you have work experience. Also you'll have a better understanding of what you want, and can put your skills to use, overall just learn more.</p>
<p>MBA isn't even that important for accountants. Very few MBA students concentrate in accounting. Hopefully you are considering Masters in Public Accounting programs. UT has the top accounting program in the country, and considering your are from Houston, this would seem a natural fit. However, I don't know much about MPA programs, nor do I know enough to tell you where you would be accepted.</p>
<p>Actually, "4.0/800 grads from Ivy Leagues with investment bank summer internships and small businesses on the side would still probably not get into a good MBA program." - thats totally false. Business schools are trending back toward allowing in a small percentage of people without full-time work experience. A friend of mine asked Stanford admissions and was told they are now looking at 10% + without work experience. And if Stanford, who traditionally takes basically no one without work experience will take 10% then yes, there are high ranking programs taking people without work experience. This trend may, ironically, only be true right now at the top b-schools and thus the pretty good b-schools might not be doing the equivalent (say not letting in a 3.7gpa/720).</p>
<p>
[quote]
Almost nobody does when they're seniors in college, which is why almost nobody goes directly to an MBA program.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>He didn'ts actually say anything about an MBA. All that he stated was a graduate program that would suit him for accounting. You should look at:</p>
<p>UNC-Chapel Hill(Keenan-Flagler)- MAC Master of Accounting
Wake Forest(Calloway)- MSA Masters in Science of Accounting
Vanderbilt(Owen)-MaCC Masters of Accountancy
Notre Dame(Mendoza)-MS in ACcountancy
University of Michigan (Ross)-MaCC Masters of Accountancy</p>
<p>You should take a look at these.</p>
<p>My assumption was that by "business school" he meant MBA.</p>
<p>Yes, I know. For me he is very unspecific in his post. He doesn't even really say what he wants. All he says is that he wants to go to a graduate school that is prestigious and will suit him best for accounting.</p>
<p>Alternatively, the OP can cross the Atlantic Ocean and head to either LSE or Warwick in the UK to read either MSc in Management or MS Financial Management. All master's programs in the UK run for 1 year only. And both LSE and Warwick grads are notoriously favoured in the employment recruitment in the UK. After 3 years from MSc graduation and a solid work experience, he can then apply to a top business school to read MBA.</p>
<p>I am looking into getting either an MBA or a Masters of Accountancy. I say either because I will have enough accounting credits and total hours to sit for the CPA regardless of which one I get. I would prefer to go to the most prestigious program that I can. </p>
<p>Obviously going with a masters in accountancy would be the best since it would prepare me for the CPA exam better than an MBA would. I have already been accepted at the University of Houston for the masters program and I am currently taking two graduate courses that double count for my BBA and my masters.</p>
<p>I want to go to the most prestigious university possible so that I can have the advantage when it comes to hiring and to salary. I know that it isn’t all about money, but it sure does help... </p>
<p>Thanks for all the help so far, and I look forward to hearing some more opinions....</p>
<p>I still don't see why you would be considering an MBA right now. If you want to do accounting, then a Masters of Accountancy should suffice. Do the big accounting firms recruit at U of H? I'd be surprised if they don't. Once you get a job (and your CPA) your degree won't matter all that much.</p>
<p>In a few years, if you figure out you need an MBA (perhaps to transition into a executive level role in a fortune 500) then go for an MBA at that time. Right now, with no work experience, and seemingly little direction, an MBA is not right for you.</p>
<p>The big accounting firms do recruit at UH, pretty heavily actually, but I was unable to get an internship with them this time around. I have an internship with a smaller local firm that is going to allow me to do both audit and tax work. I guess the right move for me right now is to get my masters of accountancy at UH, and try to get the best job possible with that.</p>
<p>Thanks for the help with this situation......</p>
<p>The University of Texas Masters in Accountancy program has 62% of students who have less then 1 year of experience.....</p>
<p>Just thought I would share that.....</p>
<p>Which is one of the ways you can tell it's not an MBA. The other way is the fact that ... well, it's not an MBA.</p>
<p>Yet it is the number 1 program for accounting? No need to get defensive....</p>
<p>What point are you trying to make?</p>