[Anonymous]

I am starting to apply next to week go for my MBA to get my 150 credits so I can sit for the CPA exam. The college I go to now offers just a general MBA, but I think I want to go for an MBAcc. I am looking around on sites and a lot say it takes two years, or some say a year, and some say you can take just two classes every semester. I think I want to get it done as fast as I can so I can go for a job and be eligible for my CPA exam quicker. Does anyone here with any past experience of taking their masters have any advice for the length of the program and if I should just not even think about the general MBA?

[Jeremy]

What you want to do is get a degree that fits your career goals. If all you want to do is accounting then a MAcc would be great for you. If you want to spend a year or two at a CPA firm and get your license and then move to industry then an MBA might be better. In terms of length, a lot of the MAcc programs are a year, because generally all you need is one more year of education to get to 150 credit hours after your bachelors. Most MBA, programs are two years, generally a year of core classes and a year of electives. That said, there are some two year MAcc programs and some one year MBA programs.

B- 8/13/2012- 92
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R- 5/30/2012-82
F- 7/3/2012- 90

[Anonymous]

What is a MBAcc? I can figure it out, but I've never heard of it before. That being said, they're probably not very well respected and won't get you very far. There's absolutely no point in going to get a MBA if you have no work experience. It won't give you any advantage and you'll waste your shot at getting an MBA. If your only goal is to get 150 credits, then just take some random classes online or at a community college. That's the cheapest route. A MAcc isn't even really worth it either. The only point in MAcc programs is to get 150 credits. They're not like regular Master programs where they advance your career prospects and your pay range. Get a job out of your university as an undergraduate and hopefully with a January start date so you can have an extra semester of whatever classes you need to get 150 credits.

[lndsymtylr]

I finished a MAcc program last year. It was absolutely fantastic. It's a trimester based program with one core class each trimester and two other accounting courses each trimester. There are also forums on Friday to make up the last class. There are usually 13 forums and you are required to go to ten of them. In the third trimester you can add the IT elective and the classes will change from the main program slightly. The courses were advanced accounting, financial analysis, advanced auditing, Forensic accounting, and several others. We had on class that seemed to focus on Sox testing and report writing. ASU has one year MAcc program and a one or two year MTax program. I don't work for a big 4, but I am an accountant for a large publicly held firm. Not everyone knows what a MAcc program is, but I tell them I did a one year program and still managed to work full time, it is pretty impressive.

[Whatdidyou]

Yeah…i don't know what an mbacc is either. lol.

Generally an MBA takes 2 years, although there are some accelerated programs.

The lenght of a MAcc program varies. All the one's that I am familiar with 1 year long programs.

“If your only goal is to get 150 credits, then just take some random classes online or at a community college. That's the cheapest route. A MAcc isn't even really worth it either. The only point in MAcc programs is to get 150 credits. They're not like regular Master programs where they advance your career prospects and your pay range. “

I completely disagree, my MAcc was amazing. If you need to stay ~ 1 year for the credits, why not get a masters on your resume? Classes are probably gonna be much more relevant & challenging than cc courses. Also recruiting (!) will be MUCH better and you'll (hopefully) make connections and freindships with other top accounting students who will be working in your area. Worth it in my view, if you are smart about it.

I would recommend a good program to get all the benefits. I wouldnt pay over 30K for a program, nor would I go to an online one (unless you're currently working at a good job and just need the credits) nor one from a school with a weak reputation if you want to get all the benefits from it.

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Study Materials: Becker basic course

[Anonymous]

A masters on your resume generally improves your resume. A MAcc does not. It is only to get credits for the CPA exam. The only exception would be if you didn't get recruited out of undergrad and then go to a more respected MAcc program, but if you're able to get a good job out of undergrad which is certainly possible, no point in wasting money on a MAcc.

[Whatdidyou]

@cardinalhoya:

“A masters on your resume generally improves your resume. A MAcc does not.”

I'm not sure I fully agree with this statement (obviously depends on the programs). However, I do agree that having a MASTERS of accounting on your resume does improve your prospects when you leave public accounting more so than it does when you're looking for entry level work. With that said it can still positivly differentiate you from other applicants for entry level positions.

“only exception would be if you didn't get recruited out of undergrad and then go to a more respected MAcc program, but if you're able to get a good job out of undergrad which is certainly possible, no point in wasting money on a MAcc. “

Yes, it can help you get entry level positions by attending a MAcc program, but that's not the only exception. Also, at many schools, 1 year's worth of tuition in a MAcc program is very close (or equal) to 1 additional year of random classes to pick up the necessary credits, so I wouldn't call it “wasting money”.

“It is only to get credits for the CPA exam.”

I disagree. You pick up a number of other benefits (see my previous post).

REG - Passed!!
BEC - Passed
FAR - Passed
AUD - Passed

Study Materials: Becker basic course

[Anonymous]

Thanks for all of the feedback. I mistakenly put MBAcc instead of MAcc but I am glad you all got the hint. So 50% of you pretty much said its a waste and just to get a general MBA, and the others have said it was great. I am not sure really which one to go too. I will have to switch my schools if I go for the MAcc. But I will be able to complete it in one year. I really just want to be able to take the CPA exam. I don't know if I should get a job out of college, work, and then just take the classes while I am working. I'm in a real bind here.

[mla1169]

Unless you've got a free ride somewhere, get a job that offers tuition reimbursement and work while taking classes. Its for such a short period of time that its well worth doing it that way.

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[jeremyrichman]

I think it depends a lot on your situation. Do you have a job lined up? Can you afford this kind of program? My answers were yes and no, and my HR office said it wouldn't really benefit me to get an advanced degree anyway, because they just want us to have 150. I just finished taking 24 credits online from my local community college (all since graduation in May) for under $4,000 to get to my 150.

Also, what state are you in? I'm in New Jersey and at least here you don't need to have 150 to sit. All you need for now is a degree and 120 credits because there's a waiver. I don't know what the deal is by you.

FAR: 8/29/12 88
AUD: 10/1/12 79
BEC: 10/23/12 90
REG: 11/21/12

[Anonymous]

Jeremy- I will have to look into that. I live in PA, I didn't know there was something like that in NJ. I'm gonna look up what you need to sit but I thought it was 150. Were you working when you were taking your 24 credits? I don't have a job lined up yet because I am just going into my senior year. I have an internship currently for A/R credit, but no job offer. Do you think that is the smart way then to try, and get a job, and take the credits online while I am working, because I really just want the 150 credits to be able to go for the CPA. I am not really concerned with the MBA.

[jeremyrichman]

I graduated this May and I don't start work until November so my summer has just been classes and some CPA studying, no working. Finally starting the tests soon. As for the job part, it depends how they handle it. At my firm you can get tuition reimbursement but only if you already have the 150, because they don't want to pay for something you would absolutely need to have anyway. If you aren't really concerned with an MBA I'd say don't waste your time and money. Community colleges are way cheaper, and the classes I took were all a joke since the subject doesn't actually matter. If you can afford to not work for next summer I think what I did worked out well. I'll start work with all my credits and I'll have taken two sections already as well. You could also try to knock all of the sections out in one summer and then just gradually get the credits while working. Up to you.

FAR: 8/29/12 88
AUD: 10/1/12 79
BEC: 10/23/12 90
REG: 11/21/12

[Anonymous]

Yeah that sounds like the way I want to do it. I am not sure if I will be able to go a whole summer without working though. I have a decent amount of bills. What firm are you working at, and is it in NJ? Also, I didnt know that it didnt matter what classes they were, just credits? What review are you using for the CPA? And when you applied for your jobs, did you say you wanted to start in November, or was that when they said they would need you by? Sorry just real curious.

[jeremyrichman]

EisnerAmper and yeah it's in Jersey. I don't know the specifics of all the states but I know for me at least that the subject doesn't matter for your extra credits. I'm using Kaplan because I'm a badass like that and my company wouldn't reimburse me for something as expensive as Becker. I can't speak to its effectiveness yet but I like it so far. They give you a ton of stuff. I also have the Wiley test bank and the Ninja Notes. And November is just when they wanted me, but I've heard of people starting anywhere from August to January depending on a firm's needs.

FAR: 8/29/12 88
AUD: 10/1/12 79
BEC: 10/23/12 90
REG: 11/21/12

[Anonymous]

Haha are they reimbursing you for that though? Yeah Becker seems really expensive. And how do you find these firms that are hiring, like monster or career builder or from your schools site? I just want to make sure I will be able to get a job when I get out of school.

[jeremyrichman]

Yeah I already got reimbursed for it actually. And I used my school's site. I went to Rutgers and there were a ton of accounting firms that recruited from our business school and they usually came in the fall for both interns and full time hires. I got an internship for the summer after junior year and then got an offer when it was over.

FAR: 8/29/12 88
AUD: 10/1/12 79
BEC: 10/23/12 90
REG: 11/21/12

[Author]

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