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| UNO MS Accounting Questions? Posted by bicroundstic2008662 I am currently doing my undergrad at LSU in accounting. I am looking at grad schools to get my MS in Accounting. I am considering the LSU and UNO programs. I know a good amount of information about LSU's program, but I am just wondering if anyone can give me any insight to the UNO MS program? Specifically the MS Taxation. Did you enjoy it? Do the big 4 and f500 recruit well at UNO? Did it prepare you well for the CPA exam? Any input would be appreciated. Also if anyone is looking for an intern, then hire me. Thank you.  on 4/26 at 3:30 am This post was edited on 4/26 at 3:32 am Reply • Back to Top |
| I can't help much, but I researched it pretty intensely when I was considering going there out of undergrad, so I can tell you what I concluded. The network/contacts you get from the school will be at a minimal level. If you need the hours to sit for the CPA program, and you are very confident about your desire to pursue tax, then it could be a good option. If you don't need the hours for the CPA and/or aren't considering sitting for the CPA, but still have a desire to do tax work, then by all means further your education. But in the end, for me, I concluded that the time/finances to obtain the degree wasn't worth the investment and the MBA would be a more lucrative option and open more doors for me. Reply • Back to Top |
| I got my undergrad at LSU in Finance and got a general MS Acct degree from UNO. One thing to consider coming from LSU to UNO is that the class offerings are much smaller, meaning it might be harder to handpick which classes you can reasonably take and stay on track to graduate. This is a big reason I got a general MS (no specialty in say, taxation)bc it offered more flexibilty to graduate on time. Further, they are going to be reluctant to let you take more than 12 hrs in a semester (although it will be possible). Also, there is only one "counselor" at UNO for the MS program, and he is a crazy, forgetful, and painfully slow old man; he will not remember your name or any previous discussion you may have had with him. This can make scheduling and graduating a pain as well. Overall, I did enjoy it, mostly because I was happy to live in the city, as BR had kind of run its course. If you are feeling that way I would recommend it, as lots of your friends will be moving to NOLA soon for jobs, school, move back with their parents, etc. The curriculum is kind of a joke IMO, as most of the teachers don't really give a shit, although there are exceptions ie Dr Manry, dude is a beast, awesome teacher. If you did well at LSU you could easily do well at UNO Acct. Yes Big 4 do recruit; when I went through , EY, KPMG and D&T all recruited, with EY probably recruiting the strongest as one of their audit partners is a UNO grad. Not sure how much industry recruits there but I do know of a few people that got jobs with large companies. One piece of advice, join Beta Alpha Psi or you will have a tough time getting a job with the Big 4. Also, be ready to do recruiting and apply for a job in the fall, as they recruit a year in advance. CPA exam, thats going to be up to you to prepare. It is primarily an undergrad class exam though, so you will be referring to what you learned at LSU either way. You should get Beckerm, and if you sign on with a firm in the fall they will probably pay for it (all big 4 do). Good luck, I hope this is helpful. Reply • Back to Top |
| Pretty much can only agree with what's been said. The CPA trumps the masters, yet getting the masters goes hand-in-hand with getting the CPA so you might as well. Eventually in your career the MBA will trump the CPA but one step at a time grasshopper. I'm guessing you're a sophomore and you'll realize who/where you'll be going, hopefully an internship, by the time you're ready to apply to grad school. IMO, where you get your MS Acc doesn't really matter. Choose based on convenience. Reply • Back to Top |
| Previous poster literally spot on, and couldn't agree with you more (with the exception of the mba part, but that's a different ballgame). Reply • Back to Top |
quote:I kind of disagree here, but then again, it depends on the field Reply • Back to Top |
quote: Agreed. Some career paths will always want the CPA and some could care less at a certain point. Just depends on industry and direction in management you want to go. Reply • Back to Top |
| I'd say where you get the MS doesn't matter unless you are choosing between somewhere like UNO and somewhere like UT. You get handed big 4 jobs like candy at those top tier schools. Reply • Back to Top |
| It doesn't matter where you get your macc as long as you did an internship and have an offer in undergrad. But if you waiting till graduate school to get an internship you need to go to the place with more connections, which I would assume is lsu. Reply • Back to Top |
| Honestly, it really, really doesn't. It's much more important to have good grades, be in BAP, and have had some internship experience. If you went to LSU for undergrad and did an internship at a B4 in Houston then went to UNO, you're odds of getting on in that office aren't materially worse than the kid from UT, I promise. I mean all other things equal, sure, go to UT, its obviously a far better school and it would almost certainly serve you better for various reasons, but for the purpose of getting a B4 gig out of grad school...the only difference is where you want to work. There's so many entry-level B4 jobs in Houston its kind of hilarious. Reply • Back to Top |
| Exactly, I mean if you already did an internship with the big 4 then you are fine. They don't care where you get your masters, as long as you are CPA eligible or get it while in school. Kfizz is right, I want to say they are bringing in 8 kids just from ole miss to one of the big 4 offices in Houston. Lots of jobs there Reply • Back to Top |
| Well I did not get an internship with a big 4 firm but I am working on it. I changed my major to accounting late. I have crammed my final 7 accounting classes into this semester and the next semester. I am graduating in the fall. Reply • Back to Top |
| Nobody in the big 4 cares about the MS in accounting. Everyone knows its only purpose is to get the extra 30 hours for the CPA. So I agree with what everyone said about it not mattering where you get the MS. Reply • Back to Top |
| Just get something going before, it doesn't have to be a B4. Troll career services hard. Even if its some little cpa shop and the people suck (my first PA internship was this) its waaaaaaaaaaaay better than nothing and it'll help you get to the next step. Reply • Back to Top |
quote: go to Tulane. You only need a 550 on your gmat. Reply • Back to Top |
| I'm also having the same debacle as you...we may even know each other since we're both ACCT majors at LSU!! I can relate too...LSU wants their grad students to have over a 3.5 GPA, which I don't have  . I was also born and raised in Metairie, family home is still there, and I could save a lot of money by getting an Acct MS from UNO (and have no rent expenses by living at home with my parents) for a year instead of having to pay more for LSU and the high apartment expenses by campus. But my main question is if you only need 9-12 hours for the CPA once you graduate undergrad, is it best to just take a few extra undergrad/Advanced Acct type of CPA preppers as a non-matriculating student or is it better to go get the Master's to sit? And does having a CPA with Masters vs. CPA with just the Undergrad make a difference with both starting salary and salary 5-10 years down the line/promotions? This post was edited on 4/30 at 8:35 pm Reply • Back to Top |
| MS means nothing, absolutely nothing. Reply • Back to Top |
| So since I'll only be short 9-12 hours, should I just be a non-degree seeking student for a semester to get the 150 hours I need? I think at that point the only classes I'd need to complete for the CPA would be BLAW 4203 (Commercial Transactions for Accountants) and Advanced Accounting. I'm going to have every other class done by May 2013 when I graduate. I should probably set up an appointment with Laura Delaune this summer and see what she thinks. This post was edited on 4/30 at 8:39 pm Reply • Back to Top |
| My advice is to change your major Reply • Back to Top |
| If you have a job lined up and you're happy with it, just go part time. If you don't have a job lined up, enroll in the MS so you can go through recruiting and get a job. Its really that simple, the degree itself means absolutely nothing in terms of what you can/cannot achieve career-wise. Reply • Back to Top • Refresh |
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