<p>Guys, recently I have received one good advice from one accountant, Shen, from my other forum at Yahoo answers and I want to share it with you. Maybe someone is also deciding between MS in Taxation and other degrees. Any comments are welcomed because I’m still undecided.</p>
<p>Shen notes:</p>
<p>" I am finishing up my Master’s in taxation at the University of TN and concurrently sitting for the CPA exam. I believe a grad degree in tax accounting is much more prestigious and will help prepare you for the work environment as well as the CPA exam far better then a double major in finance. (Yes there is some finance on the CPA exam, but nothing beyond what I learned in my intro finance class in undergrad). As far as which will help you in regards to a potential career change… I would not let that be a huge factor in your decision. Both degrees will be helpful for any tax or finance related field, and you will learn a lot on the job. A Master’s in tax will make it easier to get a job I think… undergraduate degrees in finance and accounting are a dime a dozen.</p>
<p>If paying for school is an issue, look into getting a graduate assistantship. I have one, and it pays for all my tuition, gives me a stipend, and gives me free health insurance. Look around at different schools and find out how easy it is to get one and what it pays for. (Every school will not offer the exact same benefit package as mine).</p>
<p>I am very happy with my choice. I have a job in public accounting in tax waiting for me when I graduate. The program takes only 10 months to complete, and I have already taken 2 parts of the CPA exam while in school (I will have it all done by the time I graduate). It’s a tough degree to get, and we definitely work harder than the students doing the audit track, but it’s well worth it. I am learning material so far beyond what I did in undergraduate, and not all the classes are tax. I’ve taken a couple financial reporting classes, and a couple general business classes as well, so I feel that I’m getting a well-rounded education.</p>
<p>I really hope my perspective is helpful. Don’t let cost of education be an issue - there are ways around that, and once you get a job, it will pay for itself. Good luck! 
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