I got admission to both WUSTL MACC and Cornell MPS-Accounting Specialization programs. Here are some of my thoughts when comparing the programs:
WUSTL: Good ranking in university, graduate business school and accounting program. Located in St. louis which is relatively a larger city. 3.5 hours drive from my current address.
Cornell: Excellent IVY brand and top ranking graduate business school. Highly flexible courses that I can even take a lot data analytics classes (I have been thinking about applying BA but gave up). However, their accounting program is very new and ranked 35th witin US. Also located in a small county and far away from where I live.
Tuitions and scholarships are not crucial for me to make a decission. My future career is more focused on M&A consulting and investments and I do plan to complete my CPA exams.
I would highly appreciate anyone gives an opinion!
Cornell by a mile.
Why ?
Because you used the word “consulting” and because you used the word “investments” all in the context of M&A which could mean that you want IB, and IB firms are very prestige conscious, and because one of your options is an Ivy League school while the other is not.
Plus, data analytics is highly marketable in the current job market. Should get choice of location across the US.
For M&A, you want to be in a sophisticated market.
Seattle, San Francisco, Silicon Valley have lots of sophisticated activity.
New York City is the world’s financial center so it is fine as well.
Atlanta & Denver & Portland are much less significant. Chicago is in between the two groups.
Dallas & Houston if you take an interest in, and relevant coursework in, oil & gas.
Salt Lake City is also an option.
My advice, however, would be different if you were approaching M&A from an IB or law firm perspective.
Also, sophisticated work can be found in Washington DC, but probably not as cutting edge as in Seattle or in the San Francisco area.
Nevertheless with just a year or two of experience, opportunities open up everywhere. So, even though first year pay may just be in the $90,000 to $110,000 range, it is well worth it as folks will engage in bidding wars if you are any good and have over a year of experience. You will be able to live & work almost anywhere in the lower 48. Lots of work from home as M&A tends to be a worldwide practice so the business day often begins at 2 or 3 in the morning via conference calls.
For IB, you should know the players & the locations.
For law, NYC, Seattle or San Francisco area offer cutting edge practices.
P.S. Lots of M&A accounting work in Los Angeles as well.
Also, do you want mid-market or just the mega market ?
Mid-market offers a wider scope of practice, while mega market is all buy side work.
P.S. Be careful what you wish for as the work weeks are 7 days, 10 hours per day, almost everyday.
In accounting, Big 4s pay the worst, but no other firms will train you–at least not in a highly sophisticated practice. If IB or law practice, then the major firms are the best starting place & pay well, but same 70-80 hour work weeks are the norm.
If hired for your data analytics training, then Big 4 accounting / consulting pays better than without data analytics knowledge. The difference, however, is that one can go to school for data analytics, but not for all of the complexities of other M&A accounting. In short, accounting data analytics persons can be replaced, while other accounting M&A cannot–they must be trained.
Based on your original post which started this thread, I assume that you have little to no post-undergraduate work experience. If correct, I caution you that it is unlikely that you will be invited into an M&A accounting practice. Typically Big 4s want 3 years of dedicated, superior work product & a CPA license & a masters degree before allowing one to move into M&A accounting–as you call it.
Not sure how you ended up with WashUStL & Cornell for a masters in accounting as you could have done much better.
Of course, if you need visa sponsorship, new concerns arise.
Do you have an undergraduate degree in accounting ?
If not, then what is your degree in & how many hours of accounting courses have you completed ?
Any accounting, IB, consulting or other internship experience ?
Why Cornell & WashUStL ? Did you apply to other MACC type programs ?
P.S. However, if you want to live & work in St.Louis or in the Midwest, then WashUStL is fine, although expensive.