First, I am so sorry if this is sort of a re-post! I just need help deciding on where to go to college. I’ve been accepted to a handful, but I am not sure where I want to attend. I’ve gotten very good financial aid from all the colleges I’ve been accepted, so it is mainly choosing which is best for academics.
Here is my list:
Moravian College: Accepted
Cedar Crest College: Accepted
University of Pitt ( satellite campus- greensburg ): Accepted
University of Scranton: Accepted
Kutztown University: Accepted
I am planning to go for accounting and eventually get CPA licensed. I am thankful that I’ve gotten accepted to some really good schools, but I am nervous because I have heard that attending a Liberal Arts school for something such as accounting is a no-no. I was also planning on commuting from home, as it would save a lot for me. The only schools that are far for me are Drexel, UPitt, and Scranton.
Honestly I would be happy and lucky to attend any of them, but I am extremely fortunate to have quite a few choices!! What do you think would be the best option, considering academics, post grad employment, etc…
Thank you all in advance for the help, especially those who helped me a little while back on my previous threads. It is greatly appreciated!!!
@mp149285 , for what it’s worth because it’s anecdotal, a very good friend of mine graduated from Cedar Crest, a Liberal Arts college, with an accounting degree. She passed the CPA exam on the first try. She went to work for a top accounting firm in Boston after graduation. Years later she got her MBA from Lehigh. Attending a liberal arts school didn’t have a negative impact on her or her career.
I think the liberal arts aspect of your decision should be based on your interests. If you’d like to take an array of courses in some of the humanities and fine arts, natural sciences and social sciences, then you’d benefit from choosing a college with appealing offerings in these (liberal arts) areas. Accounting programs, I think, should be considered separately – and would likely be fine at most of your choices, including those with the stronger liberal arts components.
Congratulations on your acceptances. I would think about the following things:
–First look at finances. Toss out any unaffordable options. If you plan to commute then toss out any options that would be too far of a drive (unless it is affordable to dorm at those schools and you are willing to do so).
–Consider attending the accepted student day at your final choices.
–Contact the career placement office (or perhaps the accounting dept.) at your top choices and try to get a sense of what firms recruit there (ex. do the Big 4 recruit there, where do students get jobs out of that program etc.)
–Also be aware that to become a CPA one now needs 150 college credits (a typical bachelors degree is about 120 credits). Some students can get to the 150 credit mark using AP classes/summer classes etc. but many go on for a 1 year Masters in Accounting. I would see if there is a Masters in Accounting program at the schools you are considering and what the entry requirements would be for students at the school. Note that you could attend a Masters in Accounting program at a different schools but it is nice if it is offered at the school you do your undergrad at. (ex. my S went to Fordham and did his MS in Accounting at Notre Dame).
Check whether each college in question has the needed courses. You may “have heard that attending a Liberal Arts school for something such as accounting is a no-no”, but the real criterion would be whether the school has the needed courses, including business and accounting courses, not whether the college is a liberal arts college (although liberal arts colleges are less likely to have business and accounting courses).
Obviously, you also need to consider how you will meet the 150 credit minimum (since a typical four academic years would be 120-128 credits) – AP credit, summer courses, additional courses after graduation, a master’s degree program, etc…
Academically the best college would be Muhlenberg, then Drexel, then UScranton, then Moravian, Cedar Crest, and Kutztown. Pitt Greensburg last.
Are they really a similar cost if you count
(tuition, fees, room, board) - (grants, scholarships) =?
for each?
Could you afford to live on campus for UScranton?
Which colleges are easily commutable (ie., under 30Mn drive from home)?
We were really impressed with Scranton’s business and accounting programs. There is a special feel that permeates that campus. If they are all similar in price I would go with fit as your list is quite diverse in size and local.