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United States1899 Posts
So this is a less a blog to get feelings out and more a blog to draw on the group of young professionals that use Teamliquid.
I am graduating from college with a BBA in Accounting in a week here. I am graduating with 131 credit hours, of which 28 are accounting credits. Looking back I should have double majored or taken a minor to make sure I graduated with 150. My dilemma is what is the best approach to get those last pesky 19 credits(2 accounting credits).
Until about a week ago I had no idea what my next step was, but somehow I managed to get an interview with a big4 firm, and the interview went well. I'm not really qualified for a full-time position, but was offered an internship in audit for the upcoming busy-season(Jan-March).
So that's pretty awesome, and on top of that my neighbor who is a VP at a pretty large company out in Chicago offered to "sponsor me" for an internship from June-August, if I were I to want to go that route. This would let me get some experience on the corporate side of accounting, and probably some face time working with the CFO. This isn't guaranteed, but if I were to pursue it I am pretty confident that I would be able to get it.
I am obviously going to take the Big4 internship, but would love some advice on how to get my last 19 credits. I have a few options that I can think of, but I am really just not sure how to do it.
1. Take one year Sept-August of the next year and get MSA while studying for and passing the CPA(~$20,000 in tuition)
2. Take 2 semesters towards an MSA Sept-April and not finish but get my 150
3. Take a variety of online classes and classes at a local college from May-Dec of 2014 and get 150 credits but with no real progress towards anything else. However, I could take classes that interest me and are valuable skills(Programming and Info Sys probably)(Cost A lot less than $20,000)
4. Something else
Ideally once I have the 150 credit hours requirement satisfied I will be able to join the firm I am interning at full-time if I am offered.
So if anyone in public accounting has some words of advice they would be appreciated! Right now talking to most people it sounds that once you are a CPA no one really cares if you have an MSA, so getting one is pretty pointless. However I am hesitant to just essentially take a bunch of classes with no direction for a semester, it feels wrong. Also is it worth it to delay taking classes to get some experience in corporate?
If all else fails typing this out really help me see all my options a little better.
Feanor
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150 credits WHOOOOOOOO
How long did it take you to finish all that 5+ years?
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That's great news. Getting an internship with a Big 4 accounting firm is pretty difficult. I don't think it really matters if you start working and then study for the CPA or pass the exam and then start working. But I definitely suggest either choice 1 or 2. Taking a bunch of class that you don't see helping you doesn't seem like the best path to take
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United States1899 Posts
On December 04 2013 13:45 Darkren wrote:
150 credits WHOOOOOOOO
How long did it take you to finish all that 5+ years?
I am graduating with 131 after 4.5 years No summer classes, and I wasted some time in engineering before I realized I hated CAD.
On December 04 2013 13:46 NeuroticPsychosis wrote:
That's great news. Getting an internship with a Big 4 accounting firm is pretty difficult. I don't think it really matters if you start working and then study for the CPA or pass the exam and then start working. But I definitely suggest either choice 1 or 2. Taking a bunch of class that you don't see helping you doesn't seem like the best path to take
I mean they won't hire me full-time until I have the 150, CPA can be done during your first 2 years if needed. It really kills me spending $20,000 to get a degree that no one cares about. I imagine I could get the 19 credits for around 7-8k. Having the MSA doesn't really impact starting salary a whole lot from my understanding, so that is just 12,000 burned. Perhaps outside of public accounting having the additional certification would serve me well.
I suppose i could take an online class or two while during the summer internship and take one semester full-time towards the MSA in the Fall as well.
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First and most importantly, talk to your Big 4 recruiter. They're giving you an internship because they want you to work for them full-time. They know your CPA situation and they want you to pass the exam. Big 4 internships aren't about experience, they're about recruiting. The flip side to them wanting to help is that you need to show them you have a plan by the time you are wrapping up the internship. At some point a partner is going to say "wait, is feanor CPA eligible?" You need people to be able to jump up and say "he's already enrolled in classes and studying for the exam, he'll be fine when he starts."
Do whatever you need to do to get the courses and, preferably, the exam done before you start work. Working and studying for the CPA does not tend to go well, or at least quickly. I think your summer option sounds the best. Between online classes and summer school you should be able to knock it out before a fall start date. Depending on the situation the firm might also work with you to have you start in January 2015 if you could show them you'd have all your classes and, hopefully, the exam done as well.
Feel free to shoot me a PM or ask here if you have more questions, I was an accounting intern several years ago and have been with the Big 4 firm since.
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United States1899 Posts
Sent you a PM and thanks!
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Hey, I interned and was hired full time at big 4 in audit out of college. Slightly different route that you, but similar enough to have plenty helpful things to say. Happy to answer any questions or discuss options with you, assuming you have not already come to a decision / gotten all the advice you need. PMing you with some contact info plz feel free to reach out
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EPT
