Quick & Easy MSA - Good Idea?
November 9, 2010 9:28 PM Subscribe
[Accounting Degree Filter] Will it be beneficial to me to get my Master of Science in Accounting from what looks like a second-rate program? Obviously there is a little more to it than this.
Background on me: I got my Bachelor of Arts in a Political Science field from the same school as the second-rate program in question. Graduating in this economy was SOMUCHFUN, and I kind of drifted into any position that would pay. And so I drifted into kind of a low-level accounting position that does not require any degree, let alone a degree in accounting. But staying in this field and going to another company, in a position that would bring me any kind of financial comfort, would require an accounting degree. I have found that I like the day-to-day aspects of my work, which have brought me some unexpected sanity, and I really like the idea of staying in this field - a first.
Background on why I chose this program: It's online. That's a big one. My residence status could very likely change within the next year and I can't see committing to a traditional classroom school for some time. It will cost under $20,000 (for between 18 months and 2 years of study). It's an accredited school in all senses (regionally, AACSB). And the kicker that disqualified at least 3 other schools: it doesn't require that I take a ton of business classes to catch up/use as prerequisites for their classes. Which scares me a little. But the other schools often can't even guarantee that all those prereqs are offered online, so they're basically out. I started looking at MAcc programs instead of Bachelor's because not many state schools are accepting second bachelor students.
More background on me: I can be extremely self-motivated. I am killer at standardized tests. I'm planning on studying for the GMAT, and I expect to do well. I'm not worried about a lack of preparation for the classes - I have the internet. I'm also not worried about this preparing me for the CPA Exam. While I think I may take it someday, I do believe I can study for that as well.
So my questions are as follows (feel free to answer as many or as few as you please):
1. Am I being too short-sighted? Is a program like this going to hurt me in the long run?
2. Related: is the degree important beyond the first job out of the gate?
3. If this is a good idea, what can I do to prepare? ...in online classes? I'm planning on taking Accounting I and Legal Environment of Business, both usually prereqs for bachelor programs. I was thinking about calculus, but the only online programs I can find are $700+. I'm not insanely worried about my competitiveness for the program, I'm thinking more long-term. I'd be applying for a start date of Fall 2011, so what can I do until then? (Books, websites, etc?)
4. I know a big part of business school is networking. Right now, I live close enough to this school that attending events would be nothing more than a hassle. This might not be the case in a year. Will I lose out on networking because of the online nature? Similar question about job placement. If the program is in one state and I'm in another, can I rely on the college's career services center for help?
I will also gladly accept any miscellaneous anecdotes about your accounting school experiences. Thank you in advance for the help!
Background on me: I got my Bachelor of Arts in a Political Science field from the same school as the second-rate program in question. Graduating in this economy was SOMUCHFUN, and I kind of drifted into any position that would pay. And so I drifted into kind of a low-level accounting position that does not require any degree, let alone a degree in accounting. But staying in this field and going to another company, in a position that would bring me any kind of financial comfort, would require an accounting degree. I have found that I like the day-to-day aspects of my work, which have brought me some unexpected sanity, and I really like the idea of staying in this field - a first.
Background on why I chose this program: It's online. That's a big one. My residence status could very likely change within the next year and I can't see committing to a traditional classroom school for some time. It will cost under $20,000 (for between 18 months and 2 years of study). It's an accredited school in all senses (regionally, AACSB). And the kicker that disqualified at least 3 other schools: it doesn't require that I take a ton of business classes to catch up/use as prerequisites for their classes. Which scares me a little. But the other schools often can't even guarantee that all those prereqs are offered online, so they're basically out. I started looking at MAcc programs instead of Bachelor's because not many state schools are accepting second bachelor students.
More background on me: I can be extremely self-motivated. I am killer at standardized tests. I'm planning on studying for the GMAT, and I expect to do well. I'm not worried about a lack of preparation for the classes - I have the internet. I'm also not worried about this preparing me for the CPA Exam. While I think I may take it someday, I do believe I can study for that as well.
So my questions are as follows (feel free to answer as many or as few as you please):
1. Am I being too short-sighted? Is a program like this going to hurt me in the long run?
2. Related: is the degree important beyond the first job out of the gate?
3. If this is a good idea, what can I do to prepare? ...in online classes? I'm planning on taking Accounting I and Legal Environment of Business, both usually prereqs for bachelor programs. I was thinking about calculus, but the only online programs I can find are $700+. I'm not insanely worried about my competitiveness for the program, I'm thinking more long-term. I'd be applying for a start date of Fall 2011, so what can I do until then? (Books, websites, etc?)
4. I know a big part of business school is networking. Right now, I live close enough to this school that attending events would be nothing more than a hassle. This might not be the case in a year. Will I lose out on networking because of the online nature? Similar question about job placement. If the program is in one state and I'm in another, can I rely on the college's career services center for help?
I will also gladly accept any miscellaneous anecdotes about your accounting school experiences. Thank you in advance for the help!
Wow, that's expensive, and two years seems like a long time. If you can get a good GMAT score, there are physical state schools that would be happy to give you a free education and pay you a wage for the ~ 15 hours a week you'd have to work as a graduate assistant. Of course, you'd have to do it in person, with all that entails.
Whether it'll work out in the end, well, it depends on what you want to do. If you want to get a job at a big 4 firm, you'll have better luck with one of the schools they recruit from. If you just want to open up shop for yourself, work for some small accounting firm, or do internal accounting work for some other company, it doesn't matter so long as whatever state you're in will let you sit for the CPA exam with a degree from that particular school. As long as the school is accredited, that shouldn't be an issue as long as you've got the requisite number of hours of instruction.
(My SO is an accountant..her undergrad GPA was pretty decent, but not great as was her GMAT score and that was enough to get her the assistantship, despite her applying after the application deadline at her grad school ;))
posted by wierdo at 3:24 PM on November 10, 2010
Whether it'll work out in the end, well, it depends on what you want to do. If you want to get a job at a big 4 firm, you'll have better luck with one of the schools they recruit from. If you just want to open up shop for yourself, work for some small accounting firm, or do internal accounting work for some other company, it doesn't matter so long as whatever state you're in will let you sit for the CPA exam with a degree from that particular school. As long as the school is accredited, that shouldn't be an issue as long as you've got the requisite number of hours of instruction.
(My SO is an accountant..her undergrad GPA was pretty decent, but not great as was her GMAT score and that was enough to get her the assistantship, despite her applying after the application deadline at her grad school ;))
posted by wierdo at 3:24 PM on November 10, 2010
A CPA will carry more weight than your degree. Your school should help you a lot with networking, but it doesn't sound like your school will do that.
The dirty little secret of the CPA world is that you can sit for the exam with a second bachelors. Why not get a second bachelors in accounting from a well ranking school and sit for the CPA after you have all the credit hours you need. Might be cheaper, provide you with better networking and provide you with almost a good an academic background as the Masters.
posted by Nickel Pickle at 8:46 PM on November 10, 2010
The dirty little secret of the CPA world is that you can sit for the exam with a second bachelors. Why not get a second bachelors in accounting from a well ranking school and sit for the CPA after you have all the credit hours you need. Might be cheaper, provide you with better networking and provide you with almost a good an academic background as the Masters.
posted by Nickel Pickle at 8:46 PM on November 10, 2010
This thread is closed to new comments.
2. The degree is a flag. It is waved for every job that has Accounting in the title until you get your CPA certification, and even then it's handy in the application process if not the work.
3. I would suggest taking business calculus rather than engineering calculus and do it at your local community college. That is one of those classes that CC's do well and no, it won't be online but the credits will transfer if you don't finish in a year. I really can't address the rest of question 3 since what's available is what you find in your research locally.
4. Who you meet in class can help you find work in your area. Since you're moving in a year the online side of it should have no effect. But you will have to put in some time in your local professional association. Which you should join and begin participating in immediately.
posted by ptm at 4:49 AM on November 10, 2010