<p>I'm a Junior at Oklahoma State University double majoring in MIS & Accounting. I obtained an internship through career services at my school (countless events, a career fair, & interviews from multiple companies). I only got two offers from 14 interviews total. (Both offers were after 2nd day interviews at the company's location) I interviewed for both Accounting & MIS internships. I didn't get any interviews with the accounting/audit firms both regional and Big-4.</p>
<p>I'll be working with a large natural gas company this summer in Internal Audit.
I know this company offers at the end of the internship if they feel you are a good fit.</p>
<p>However, I am wondering why I didn't get interviews from the Big-4 and other audit/acct firms.</p>
<p>Was it because I had not taken Intermediate II at the time of my application for the interview or was it because my GPA was too low? (It was 3.25 at the time of applying and now is at 3.3).
Do Big-4 firms look for Juniors or is a senior more likely to get an internship with the Big-4 and then return for their 5th year to obtain 150 yrs and their M.A.c.c?</p>
<p>I am just trying to gain some advice from others about making a decision on the career path of Public vs Private.</p>
<p>I currently have a 4.0 in all my MIS coursework yet I have only made straight B's in my accounting classes. (12 hours completed so far).</p>
<p>I understand accounting principles & feel as though I am on track to take the CPA exam in the future with a good amount of studying of course. But I never seem to be able get an A.
Will this matter when Big-4 firms look at my transcript? </p>
<p>Also, can anyone fill me in on how a Big-4 firm would perceive a double major of MIS/Acct.
I was told by a couple big-4 recruiters that it was a good double major but then was turned down for interviews.</p>
<p>As far as IT audits go, would they want someone with knowledge of both systems & accounting principles? Or do they simply just care if someone has knowledge of business systems?</p>
<p>“Do Big-4 firms look for Juniors or is a senior more likely to get an internship with the Big-4 and then return for their 5th year to obtain 150 yrs and their M.A.c.c?”</p>
<p>The latter. Big four internships are typically for 4th year in a 5 year program.</p>
<p>I am wondering the same thing…here are my stats:
-UIC student
-First year in college but sophomore level due to 24 AP credit hours
-Bachelor’s degree in 3 years then MSA 4th year
-Accounting major, International Business minor
-GPA: 4.0
Activities- Accounting club, Junior Achievement volunteer, PwC Honors Program, random volunteer work, College of Business Professional Development Program
Awards- Dean’s list
Work experience- not much just Dollar Tree cashier during winter break and also banquet server at random times</p>
<p>I am going to summer school to earn 7 more hours to get to junior standing by the fall. Big 4 recruits for summer internships then. Do you think that I have a chance of getting a summer 2012 audit position with any of them? Is there anything else that I should be doing in order to make it? Thanks!</p>
<p>My GPA is too low?
I meet the minimum requirements for applying.</p>
<p>Telling me my GPA is too low doesn’t really tell me too much.</p>
<p>I want to know what the differences are between Public accounting vs Private accounting and also whether working an internship in Internal Audit at a Fortune 100 company would help in obtaining a position at an external auditing firm specifically one of the big 4?</p>
<p>I know my GPA isn’t stellar but I work 25 hours a week, have a girlfriend, volunteer, and do other extracurricular activities.</p>
<p>I know for a fact that I got my internship over other candidates at my school who were 4.0 students with stellar resumes.</p>
<p>I’m cable of understanding accounting principles and have already began studying for CPA exam.
Anyone with some helpful information?</p>
<p>They look for seniors and rarely look at juniors for internships. Seniors will be going into a MACC next year and can then become full time employees for the firm. They have also been able to take the necessary accounting classes for the job.</p>
<p>To be considered, you need a minimum of Intermiate 1 and 2, as well at least one acct class in the area you will be working. For tax, you need at least individual tax and having corporate/partnership tax can be a differentiator. For audit, at least one audit class is a must in addition to the aforementioned classes.</p>
<p>GPA is the most important thing. Volunteering and that sort of thing don’t mean anything–in general–to getting an internship in the Big 4. GPA, experience, and leadership position, in that order are the most important.</p>
<p>Keep your GPA above a 3.5 if you want a very good chance at being selected for interviews. Then, it all comes down to interviewing skills.</p>
<p>Well I just received notice of an interview with Grant Thornton today for a spring internship 2012. I know it isn’t big 4 but it is comparable I believe.</p>
<p>I’m sorry Dawgie, I didn’t know you were interviewing me…next time I’ll try to come prepared to these forums to make sure I make a good impression for you…</p>
<p>I wasn’t asking others whether they believe I am a qualified candidate. I’m perfectly aware of what my GPA is and that it is lower than what the average candidate is.</p>
<p>Don’t you think I’ll have to deal with that? I don’t think I need you telling me that I’ll never work in one of the big 4 just because I am responsible for a simple numerical representation of my coursework which. </p>
<p>I’m not really afraid I won’t get interviews at the big 4.
I am in Beta Alpha Psi & my state CPA society so I’m constantly involved recruiters and people within the accounting profession.</p>
<p>Deloitte recruiters have always enjoyed talking with me & I know I will get an interview from them if I want it. Deloitte Consulting is probably the best option for me as of now because I have gotten to know several people from the Consulting side from recruiting events.</p>
<p>The purpose of this thread wasn’t to ask others whether they believe I am a qualified candidate. I’m perfectly aware of what my GPA is and that it is lower than what the average candidate is. The purpose of this thread was to ask others who have worked in public accounting to inform be about why public accounting would be better than private accounting. Both as career paths go & difference in work environments.</p>
<p>Is pay/position better for someone who works in private for 5 years at a fortune 100 company compared to someone who works at a big 4 for 5 years and then gets hired on at a company (client).</p>
<p>I know working at the Big 4 is seen as the ‘boot camp’ for accountants and is like the gold star on the resume but as much as I hear that it is the ‘thing to do’ and it opens up opportunity. I just don’t see the payoff with public vs private. Private just seems better to me. I come from a family where my dad has been an accountant for 25+ years and a CPA for 25 + years but he has never worked in public accounting. I see my self going down the similar path but I just want to hear what others have to say about public accounting.</p>
<p>“Don’t you think I’ll have to deal with that? I don’t think I need you telling me that I’ll never work in one of the big 4 just because I am responsible for a simple numerical representation of my coursework which.”</p>
<p>Not quite, I was actually referring to your weak attitude.</p>
<p>Weak attitude? Seriously you have had no added value to this conversation. You know absolutely nothing about me except the things I have shared with you.</p>
<p>Please take your 1,300 posts and pessimistic advice elsewhere.</p>
<p>Just so you know I just received an on-campus interview from Deloitte for an internship in 2012 from applying at career fair/career services.
Hmmm, with a 3.3 GPA too.</p>
<p>Must have been too low eh’?</p>
<p>I also applied for 2012 internships with Ernst & Young, PwC, and KPMG.
So we will see how it goes.</p>
<p>chodges may I make a suggestion…take that huge chip off your shoulder. You arrived, asked a question then didn’t like the information or the tone received, so you decided to tell someone off because you didn’t like their response. Wouldn’t it have been as easy to ignore the advice in the example of Dawgie? I realize by writing this, I am taking the chance of raising your blood pressure but feel someone needs to share this insight with you. There are people everywhere with personalities or styles that don’t fit with yours. Attack each of those and you won’t have a position long. </p>
<p>I think it is wonderful you have interviews arranged at this point for 2012. Perhaps your double major will be just what they are looking for and hopefully you will land the spot desired. I do know two other students with GPA’s of 3.2 and 3.3 respectively that were told by Career Services at two universities that anything less than 3.5 is not competitive. I wish you good fortune in proving those people wrong.</p>
<p>chodges, you may want to grow up a little before entering Big 4, that is if you make it in. I responded to your initial posts and just because you didn’t like what you heard doesn’t mean you should personally attack me. I think many on this board will agree that your GPA is on the low end for Big 4.</p>
<p>“They look for seniors and rarely look at juniors for internships.”</p>
<p>goose7856, I’m not sure that is always the case. My D, a junior Accounting major at Boston College, received 2 summer intern offers this past December from Big 4 firms. A significant number of other juniors also landed summer intern jobs with Big 4 firms from her school. </p>
<p>I think a 3.5 probably is a realistic GPA to be at. I also think how you conduct yourself in the interview is also an important part of the equation. My D is ending up majoring in multiple disciplines (Accounting, IS, and Philosophy). If anything, this might have raised a red flag during the interview process because the companies wanted to make sure Accounting was her primary interest, which it is.</p>
<p>In my daughter’s college, one that only offer bachelor degree and no master program, only juniors get internships. What seniors get are full-time offer.</p>
<p>They will only hire juniors if they have already taken the appropriate coursework. Intermediate 1 and 2 being a must with audit or tax depending on the field they want to consider.</p>