Hello guys:

I am looking for good accounting school for masters program.  I am looking for an average school where a candidate with GPA around 3.2-3.3 with GMAT score of 550-600 can get in.  The most important part is assistantship.  I have been using usnews.com, but there are too many schools and its really hard to narrow down the search, it takes so much time.  I would appreciate if any of you can suggest me some schools for one withe the background mentioned above.  Location preferred, east coast.  Thanks. 

 

bump...

Triple X bro, Accounting ma Masters?  Why not go for the CPA instead?  That would make a lot more sense than waste 2 years for nothing.  A CPA defn holds more credibility than a Masters for sure! 

However, knew a few students at Pace University's Accounting program and IMO, its easy to get in and also the dept. is viewed with respect by most Fortune 500 companies in and around NYC.  FYI, Pace's students top the CPA exams every other year so you know you'd be in good hands. 

Best!

 

Why dont you check these of Oklahoma(not east coast though):

http://price.ou.edu/oumba/full/index.html

http://www.busn.ucok.edu/mba/

The first one is Oklahoma University. That university is one of the country's best university in Business Administration.

The Second one is not so much ranked university but its Business College is very good and they offer Assistantships also and the college fee is also not so much high.

samsara and chintamani, thanks for the suggestion.  well, this is not for me.  i am trying to help some of my relatives.  samsara, i thought while doing masters in accounting one can take CPA exam, if i am not wrong.  do they have seperate program for CPA? 

 

 

AAAA,

I guess it doesn't matter if you are doing masters or not. You need to fulfil certain credit core requirements for Accounting and business classes after you have 4 yrs bachelors from anywhere equivalent to US. Credit requirement for accounting and business classes and some other rules varies according to the state. Some of the colleges have courses that supporst CPA's course of study, though taking those class may increase chances of finishing CPA on time, however it doesn't mean passing on those classes will lead to a CPA degree.

I disagree with Samsara in the sense that, if you dont have total credit requirement required to sit for CPA exam, the having MBA you are in better hands. Second, CPA is not that easy, so at least you will have MBA degree in hand until you pass CPA.

I am in the same field. So what I have seen is that the people get the MBA degree here in the US, pass out taking few more extra credits in accounting. Companies  in entry level for accounting prefers employees, who are qualified to sit for CPA exam, at least this is the case in my school.

Anyways good luck to your relative as well

Sampada

From what I understand, all the states in US (I know it's true in TX for sure) from early 2000 onwards require you to complete an undergraduate degree in Accounting (or related field) and also have obtained 150 academic credit hours(with specific accounting classes that are a must) in order to be eligible to sit for CPA exam. There are certain pre-recquisite classes that are mandatory these days (like ethics, fraud, etc.). It was a paper-based exam before, but now its computer based. There are 4 parts, and you can take'em one at a time if you want.

Sampada, so you're suggesting that one spend 2 years getting an MBA in Accounting and AFTER THAT get a CPA...In case noone told you, its a CPA and not an MBA which counts for the career progression of an accountant.  Can't believe that you're suggesting that for someone without stellar grades and applying too late for Fall '08 (who would obviously be paying outta pocket), it would be wise to go for an MBA which would cost them atleast 20-40Gs from a decent "no-name" university and moreover spend 2 years of their lives on it?  Moreover, after that pain and hassle, get the CPA?  I for one, defn do not have the time, money or any extra resources for such and would hate to see anyone being advised to do that.  As far as how the industry goes, I'd rather you just kept that suggestion to yourself as you obviously don't know what you're talking about.

Triple X, get your relative to go back to college and take some more accounting classes to fulfil the accoutning credits requirements for the CPA...Why waste 2 more years if you're gonna be doing the CPA anyway?  As I was once told by someone I knew, An MBA in accounting is just an escape route for those who flunk outta the CPA. 

Samsara,

I suggest the one you mentioned if you have not already met credit requirement to sit for CPA exam. It may take a bit more time than what you suggested but doesn't sound that stupid, cause I was in the same situation and the path I am taking right now was more conviencing to me than the one you are suggesting.

But, if he/she has already met the credit requirement to sit for the exam your plan is better.I agree with you in the sense that, MBA cannot be an alternative to CPA, just having CPA too is not going to be enough. While, I don't want to exaggerate the benifit of MBA, but its not useless as you have said as well, especially if you have to take few more credits to qualify to sit for exam.

I don't wanna say you are totally wrong or I am totally right, as at last there are many other lurking factors that comes on play for each individual who want to pursue CPA. The situation  and priorities that I am facing may be different from what he/she may face so either you or mine or even plan C or even D may seem to suit better to him/her.

Sampada

MBA cannot be an alternative to CPA, just having CPA too is not going to be enough

That itself proved to me your conceptual level.  Comparing an Accounting MBA to a CPA is outright mockery of the CPA.  Lemme tell you that a CPA without an MBA can take accuntants far...Not the other way around!  Just because you were advised wrong like you mentioned, its totallt unwise on your part to suggest others follow your similar pitfalls. 

Note, I've only mentioned MBA in Accounting as being bogus as getting an MBA in Finance, Manangement and other "pure" business subjects are the real deal since these subjects do not have an industry-wide standard "certified" degree like the CPA.

Save time and money and what have yous...Do your cost-benefit analysis mentally and lets be efficient here. 

Samsara bro, Sampada and all........... I am taking notes!

samsara, do you suggest MBA with finance or CPA.  actually the person has background in finance and economics.  I thought it would be easier to find a job in accounting as it is more like a technical field than finance.  .