Where to go for an accounting major!

College Search & Selection
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<p>I'm interested in getting a master's in accounting. I wonder what kind of grad school I can hypothetically get into with a 3.3 undergrad gpa and if I do some volunteer work (ie resume building)?</p>

<p>Does the college I goto now (my selection) as an undergrad make a difference to those grad schools? I'm accepted and (need to sign up for classes asap) considering Drake University, Coe College, and St. Ambrose University as of now. I wonder if the admissions of the grad colleges care to which one I go for my BA in accounting? Do you have any impressions of the colleges I selected!?</p>

<p>Also, I have a brother who goes to a really good college, does this give me any extra points :)... He is very close to completing his PhD at Vanderbilt but I still think my cumulative might be a WEE bitsy of a turnoff for the vandy hehe...</p>

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<p>Rutgers has an excellent reputation. I am a CPA and a lot of recruiting seems to be regional. You may want to check the Universities 5-year programs (which are necessary to sit for the CPA exam). Most states require 150 hours to sit for the exam. If they don't have this, maybe you should question the program.</p>

<p>Passing the CPA exam seems to be as important as the college you went to.
You get instant credibilty for passing the CPA exam.
US news rankings has the accounting ranks.</p>

<p>Be sure to get proficient with computer technology, including (Excel, Word, etc.). Accounting skills with some programming and good computer skills is a nice combination. A lot of small to medium sized businesses don't have a full fledge IT department and sometimes the controller needs basic networking and other related skills.</p>

<p>Other comments:</p>

<p>Public accounting is great experience, but can lead to a rough life (tax season, working 60-65 hours a week, including Sat. for a third of the year,. I recommend you research the accounting field and determine what areas interest you before starting college.</p>

<p>A lot of recruiters look at GPA's of candidates. Ones that go to schools with a lot of flunk out classes and if you don't do well will hurt.</p>

<p>Accounting, unknown to many, is a lot of theory and research (Public Accounting). </p>

<p>Let me know if you have any questions...kinda rambling..</p>

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<p>Scanned Drakes accounting program, looks fairly typical and covers needed areas, and they have a masters accounting program.. I only spent a minute looking at this.</p>

<p>FYI- Truman State- in Missouri, has the second highest passing rate of the CPA exam-I think (I think WUSTL is #1), so that isn't too bad. Truman is well known in Missouri</p>

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<p>Nyu Stern!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!</p>

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<p>bummer163146, I don't think Rutgers would take me :). I'm competent with computers and no problems there. Drake has no foreign language which scares me. Any other things you can tell me about those fields, much appreciate what you told me already!</p>

<p>Nyu Stern wouldn't take me either, I said 3.3 GPA :) as an undergrad, lets get serious, what prospects do I have.</p>

<p>I can't get into Truman as an undergrad, but can get in their MBA program, thankyou much for that suggestion! I've heard they are a good college.</p>

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<p>I think Drake is probably a good school. I think there a lot of advantages of going to a smaller school. I hated the flunk-out classes within the large university system (which I went to) which kills GPA.<br>
Recruiters care about GPA, because for most, thats all you have to go on.</p>

<p>Perhaps a smaller college (like Drake) would be a good fit.</p>

<p>Also, if you can get a part-time accounting related job it would look good on a resume. SOme students don't work at all during college, incl. the summer. These kids, in my opinion, could be "perceived by some" as either lazy or always coddled by parents-some perceive this like this...I am more open though.</p>

<p>I think I would call admissions and see who recruits from Drake. Ask for an honest assessment whether the current grads found jobs in their field or not. Ask about internships and if the job center really helps kids find jobs or not. Talk to current students. I think at the big university, unless you are a top student, I think you are just a number- this is my perception based upon discussions with other graduates. </p>

<p>Much of accounting recruiting may be regional. A good way in solving problems is starting at the back and work forward, so perhaps you - see who is recruiting. </p>

<p>Again, I think a goal of passing the CPA exam is fairly important someday. A year ago, I recruited grads from monster from the midwest and received over 150 resumes. I poured thru them at 2 am.
Everyone had 3.3-4.0 GPA's and came from all schools. CPA candidates (had the 150 hrs. were prioritized, because we could hire them for the same pay as the 120 hr. grads. Also, ones that even passed a part or two of the exam stood out from the rest. College work experiences on applicants seem similar- grocery stores, restaurants and university work.</p>

<p>A univ. of MO grad told me all/most his accounting "buddies" that had decent GPA's and had the 150 hr's from 2003/2004 class found jobs.</p>

<p>I woulnd't worry about the foreign language so much, unless you like it/interested in it.</p>

<p>I rambled a lot, but some of the general concepts should be apparent.</p>

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<p>i am sorry, i never heard of any of these schools u are referring to, sorry for my ignorance, but i just thought you were looking for very reputable schools.</p>

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<p>collegekid1988: I meant to say that I'd get my BA from an institution with probably a 3.3 from one of those institutions (which you have never heard of), and which decent master's colleges can I get into from those colleges respectively. I'm now more concerned you've never heard of those schools, eek!! PS: I think Rutgers would laugh to the bank with my application fee!</p>

<p>bummer163146: Thank you much!</p>

<p>Does the 3.3 hurt being on the lower end of the spectrum? </p>

<p>By gpa do you mean cumulative? Because I'm intending on getting a 3.5 at my new college, but some of my past classes are killing me. Also, Drake states they start you on a clean slate but just transfer the credit, so would their gpa be what the recruiter is interested in?</p>

<p>I'm pulling a 3.0 right now, have with an FW I can repeat and change original to an X. I could also just repeat a semester to totally change my gpa if I must.</p>

<p>What if I were to pass all 4 parts of the CPA exam instead of the 2? </p>

<p>Also, when you say 150 credits, should I just get the MACC because the BA is 120 credits anyway? </p>

<p>Should I bother getting any math classes like Calculus or anything?</p>

<p>Does volunteer history mean anything at this point, or should I just focus my extra time on employment?</p>

<p>I actually now for financial reasons need employment, but the lack of 2 years of being a student with a the 2 years lapse of work experience makes my employability quite low for even menial work! I was thinking of creating a chess club at my college as a resume builder, and it's one of the few things I enjoy doing. </p>

<p>Glad about the foreign language, never cared for it, and scored a C+ my second semester! I'm a bit scared that a college claiming their a liberal arts college doesn't offer foreign language though. </p>

<p>PS: I thought Drake was pretty big? Also, it is on a 160 acres! </p>

<p>Thankyou very much, you answered a lot of questions before I could ask!</p>

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<p>Mrogue, I'd recommend you visit the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants -- the site has loads on information on how to choose a good accounting program, what courses you should take if you want to go on to be a CPA (a good idea if you want to do accounting for a career), scholarships available for accounting majors and a database of all accounting programs at colleges in the U.S. There's also some excellent information about just what accountants do and what the "hot" areas of accounting specialization are going to be in the near future. The main student entry is <a href="http://www.aicpa.org/nolimits/index.htm%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.aicpa.org/nolimits/index.htm&lt;/a> To see the database, click on "classroom" and you'll see the link for colleges and university listing.</p>

<p>By the way, I have heard of St. Ambrose and know that it has a very strong business program and a beautiful campus as well. Another school in the same area with a good accounting program is Augustana College. You might also take a look at DePaul U, Bradley and Dominican, all in Illinois if you are interested in staying in the midwest. But, the database above will give you other ideas. And, I'd call Drake a mid-sized university, not a large school. There are just over 3600 students. Good luck!</p>

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<p>Hrm, I responded twice and they aren't showing up, last try. </p>

<p>When do I pick me specialization, as an undergrad or master's or both? I can get a double major with accounting and finance or a computer science minor both require like 12 credits if thatd mean anything?</p>

<p>St. Ambrose is very purty campus, very old too, however, they want 10,000$ up front, seriously... Drake wants 4000$ up front and have a monthly REPAYMENT plan, meaning I need 500$ a month, and Drake is ranked very highly (by that inaccurate USnews but still...). </p>

<p>I need to be near family and I'm quite limited I realized, and its either going to be Coe (30 minutes away), Mount Mercy (30 minutes away), or Drake (2 hours away). MM wants 6000$ up front, and Coe hasn't responded to a phone call but I sent them my stuff, and Drake I already explained. I'm registrated for classes at Drake but man... this is just so insane seeing where my life is going and having to pick the college and classes asap. It's scary to think 2 or so years from now I'll have a bachelor's degree. </p>

<p>I've heard highly of Augustana and DePaul, but doubt they'd offer me anything. In state tuition is pretty nice here and I don't think I can afford much and get there for that matter. My parents offered to pay up to 5000$ loan up front ni bank or cosign yadda yadda (they trust me...), but that Drake deal, I don't even need any financial assistance.</p>

<p>I was kind of hoping I could get into a good mba program from Drake, but wonder if those good colleges would care for a drake carrying student with a cumul of 3.3, however I could just get my mba from drake as well I guess.</p>

<p>Thanks!</p>

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<p>A good GMAT score (700+) will help counterbalance the lower GPA. My son got into the USC grad accounting program with a 3.3 undergraduate G
PA, and he had taken a year and a half off in the middle of college to pursue another interest. He got two job offers from Big Four companies well before completing the program. Just get a GMAT study guide.</p>

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<p>Hopefully, I will do well on GMAT! What college is USC (I'm not familiar with any college abbrev!).</p>

<p>Thank you</p>

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<p>University of Southern California, in Los Angeles.</p>

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<p>Thankyou, couldn't help though they are rated as Most Selective by Usnews, but hopefully a good GMAt cure will pretty that up</p>