[Iggy1985]

So I go to a small private business school, where local firms recruit but no big4. However, I know 5 students who went to my school, as well as someone I worked with during my internship who are now working at a big4. I also slightly know a partner at a big4 firm who went to my school, and he sometimes comes up to visit my advisor and have lunch with possible interns. By slightly know, I mean I raised my hand and asked him a question when he came to our campus a couple years ago. The reason I ask is that when I was looking for an internship last fall I was dead set on staying local, and I did a tax internship with a top 100 firm that was 1.5 miles from my house >_> I mostly didn’t want to move away because I have a nice big apartment with a big yard for my dog and cheap rent lol. I actually got a B.A. in something totally different at a public university, a specific healthcare related field, that wasn’t going to get me anywhere unless I went for a masters degree.. that’s when I discovered accounting and knew for sure, finally, what I wanted to do with my life. But anyway, now I am thinking of relocating to Boston, but am worried about my chances at a Big4 since I did not do an internship there.. do they often hire people full time, just out of college without having done an internship with them? I have a 4.0 GPA, limited extra curriculars besides accounting related stuff. Just took FAR this week, so I am tempted to wait until I get my score and fit that on my resume somehow. Would love any input. Thanks 🙂

FAR - 89 (8/19/14) Wiley TB, Wiley Book, Books from School, Ninja Audio/Notes
AUD - 92 (10/14/14) Wiley TB, Wiley Book, Ninja Audio
BEC - 82 (5/8/15) Mostly Ninja MCQ, sprinkles of Becker lectures and Ninja Audio
REG - (8/14/15)

[Iggy1985]

aaaand I dunno how this ended up in this sub forum :/ lol

also my internship was tax but pretty sure I want to go into audit.

FAR - 89 (8/19/14) Wiley TB, Wiley Book, Books from School, Ninja Audio/Notes
AUD - 92 (10/14/14) Wiley TB, Wiley Book, Ninja Audio
BEC - 82 (5/8/15) Mostly Ninja MCQ, sprinkles of Becker lectures and Ninja Audio
REG - (8/14/15)

[h0wdyus]

Be confident. You will get in.

FAR - 81 29th Aug 2013
AUD - 84
REG - 82
BEC - 89 29th Aug 2014
Using Yager

FROM NJ

[Anonymous]

I was a communications undergrad with a 2.4 undergrad GPA and a 3.3 graduate GPA and no Big4 Internship (I did work throughout my grad school full time while taking night courses at a very small firm tho).

I didn't know anybody there, and I didn't do any extracurriculars.

At the time I had no parts of the CPA exam taken.

I went to a private school that isn't the best, but the Big4 do recruit there heavily, thats the only difference between our situations I think, oh and I don't have a dog.

I was hired into a big4 firm.

[pray475]

^^^what Howdyus said^^^

What region are you? northeast, east coast west cost mid west etc etc?

Don't let anyone tell you you won't get in to a big 4. I didn't have good enough grades to get an internship at an accounting firm (big 4, regional, or local). When it came to applying for jobs at the start of my Sr year, I couldn't apply online to any of the big 4 because my cpa automatically prevented me from submitting an application and resume. I went to 2 career fairs and decided to just set my sites on one firm, try and get a job there, and if I didn't get hired I would go right back to grad school after graduation for a masters. I had a 2.97 overall GPA, 3.1 accounting GPA and still talked my way into an interview…once you get the interview you're good to go you just need confidence, you just have to make them want you

REG- 1) Aug 10' 73, 2) Aug 11' 67, 3) Nov 11' 76 (expired), 4) Aug 14' 83 PASSED!
AUD- 5) Nov 10' 83 (expired) , 6) Nov 13' 63, 7) July 14' 74, 8) Oct 14' 98 PASSED!
BEC-9) Oct 10' 79 (expired), 10) Nov 14' 75 PASSED!
FAR-11) Feb 12' 61, 12) May 12' 62, 13) Aug 12' 65, 14) Aug 13' 75 PASSED!

IM DONE!!!

[Iggy1985]

Thanks guys, I am northeast so looking towards Boston 🙂

FAR - 89 (8/19/14) Wiley TB, Wiley Book, Books from School, Ninja Audio/Notes
AUD - 92 (10/14/14) Wiley TB, Wiley Book, Ninja Audio
BEC - 82 (5/8/15) Mostly Ninja MCQ, sprinkles of Becker lectures and Ninja Audio
REG - (8/14/15)

[pray475]

Iggy what school?

REG- 1) Aug 10' 73, 2) Aug 11' 67, 3) Nov 11' 76 (expired), 4) Aug 14' 83 PASSED!
AUD- 5) Nov 10' 83 (expired) , 6) Nov 13' 63, 7) July 14' 74, 8) Oct 14' 98 PASSED!
BEC-9) Oct 10' 79 (expired), 10) Nov 14' 75 PASSED!
FAR-11) Feb 12' 61, 12) May 12' 62, 13) Aug 12' 65, 14) Aug 13' 75 PASSED!

IM DONE!!!

[Anonymous]

Uh, 4.0 GPA? I think you'll do OK.

That will turn many heads, fur sure. BIG4 love the high GPA graduates.

There are plenty of mid size firms in Boston which may suit you better, by the way. Career wise though, BIG4 is a killer to have on the resume (but they will nearly kill you when you are employed for them).

Good luck!

[fuzyfro89]

Great goal. Don't worry about “chances”, because that's just not motivating.

Frankly, your chances are lower since Big 4 don't actively recruit at your school (this has nothing to do with you individually). But, that shouldn't stop you from trying. If Big 4 don't come to campus and actively recruit, well, there's a reason for that. We can debate all day and night long about “right vs wrong” in their methodology, but again, that's a waste of time.

Start by emailing/calling/”accidentally” running into anyone you know, their friends, acquaintances, their gardener's other customer's cousin who works at Big 4, the ex-wife of the guy working at MCDonalds who used to have a Big 4 suga mama, etc.

Also, expand your search beyond Big 4. Boston is a HUGE market.

[Author]

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