[Anonymous]

Hello

I’m a junior looking for full time audit position at Big 4 next fall recruiting season

I have not gotten any offer for big 4 summer internship, so I was planning to take more accounting courses and raise my GPA to prepare for the upcoming recruiting season.

But today, I got an offer from one of the nationwide investment bank as an internal audit position.

As of now, my GPA is very low (barely 3.0 depending on my current semester) and I lack accounting units due to the fact that our school does not have accounting major. (only 12 units at UC Berkeley). I was planning to take 8 more accounting units this summer and 12 more next fall to meet the 30 unit requirement.

Also as I said, my GPA is not that high, so 8 more accounting units in the summer will help me raise my GPA to about 3.2 level.

That said, what would be my wiser choice during this summer?

1. Accept Internal audit internship offer at nationwide IB and sacrifice GPA and accounting units during summer (probably take accounting courses online)

2. Decline the offer and raise my GPA and take more accounting courses.

I do have two summer internships, but both are not accounting/fiannce related.

I should reply by end of this week and I’m not sure which way will give me a better shot at big 4 audit position next recruiting season.

Any word of advice?

[jopa16]

3.2 is below the cutoff point for my Big 4 firm. I'm not sure about the others. Either way, I think it's not worth it at all to skip out on the pay and possible job offer from this company(or the quality experience) for a possible .2 GPA bump that may or may not happen that may, but probably won't, help your chances at landing a Big 4 spot.

REG 2/26/14 - 90
BEC 4/08/14 - 92
FAR 5/31/14 - 90
AUD 7/09/14 -

[jopa16]

3.2 is below the cutoff point for my Big 4 firm. I'm not sure about the others. Either way, I think it's not worth it at all to skip out on the pay and possible job offer from this company(or the quality experience) for a possible .2 GPA bump that may or may not happen that may, but probably won't, help your chances at landing a Big 4 spot.

REG 2/26/14 - 90
BEC 4/08/14 - 92
FAR 5/31/14 - 90
AUD 7/09/14 -

[Study Monk]

I personally think an internship is way more valuable.

I spoke to an ancient wise man who sent me on a mushroom induced journey through an ancient forest to find the key to passing the CPA exam. A talking spider monkey told me to throw the last of my drinking water in the dirt to find what I was looking for. So I followed his instructions and the following message appeared in the soil:

"Do 5000 multiple choice questions for each section"

[Study Monk]

I personally think an internship is way more valuable.

I spoke to an ancient wise man who sent me on a mushroom induced journey through an ancient forest to find the key to passing the CPA exam. A talking spider monkey told me to throw the last of my drinking water in the dirt to find what I was looking for. So I followed his instructions and the following message appeared in the soil:

"Do 5000 multiple choice questions for each section"

[acamp]

Why no Big4 internship? Did you get an interviewed or screened out beforehand?

I am trying to picture possible trajectories of the options you described.

Self proclaimed: Highest ratio of Replies to Others v. Posts Created on A71

California CPA - Big4 Aud Manager Alum - Private Accounting at Startups

FAR, REG and BEC with Ninja Notes + WTB Only

Ninja + Wiley Test Bank: [FAR - 81] [REG - 76] [BEC - 88] [AUD - 73](doh!)

Becker Videos: [AUD - 82]

California CPA

[acamp]

Why no Big4 internship? Did you get an interviewed or screened out beforehand?

I am trying to picture possible trajectories of the options you described.

Self proclaimed: Highest ratio of Replies to Others v. Posts Created on A71

California CPA - Big4 Aud Manager Alum - Private Accounting at Startups

FAR, REG and BEC with Ninja Notes + WTB Only

Ninja + Wiley Test Bank: [FAR - 81] [REG - 76] [BEC - 88] [AUD - 73](doh!)

Becker Videos: [AUD - 82]

California CPA

[Anonymous]

Internships are always great. GPA is an issue for big 4 but is it possible for you to take a course or 2 while doing the internship?

[Anonymous]

Internships are always great. GPA is an issue for big 4 but is it possible for you to take a course or 2 while doing the internship?

[Anonymous]

a 3.2 is still too low of a GPA for a “likely” shot of landing a Big 4 interview. Definitely take the internship, but make the neccessary plans to ensure you receive the required accounting credit in the near future

[Anonymous]

a 3.2 is still too low of a GPA for a “likely” shot of landing a Big 4 interview. Definitely take the internship, but make the neccessary plans to ensure you receive the required accounting credit in the near future

[Anonymous]

acamp/// I wasn't really interested into accounting until my junior year, so I did not apply for any accounting firm internship. That is why my accounting unit is below par as of now compared to other juniors. I was going to make it up during the summer. I also had some personal difficulties that made me get low GPA. I have heard that 3.2 is a hard cut-off line (at least in our school) and I am not sure whether meeting that line or adding a audit related internship will help me in the future recruiting season.

Based on many people's post, it seems .2 bump and 8 additional units do not seem to make any difference for me as of now. Should I take the offer and network hard during the recruiting season to make up my low GPA?

[Anonymous]

acamp/// I wasn't really interested into accounting until my junior year, so I did not apply for any accounting firm internship. That is why my accounting unit is below par as of now compared to other juniors. I was going to make it up during the summer. I also had some personal difficulties that made me get low GPA. I have heard that 3.2 is a hard cut-off line (at least in our school) and I am not sure whether meeting that line or adding a audit related internship will help me in the future recruiting season.

Based on many people's post, it seems .2 bump and 8 additional units do not seem to make any difference for me as of now. Should I take the offer and network hard during the recruiting season to make up my low GPA?

[acamp]

Gotcha, well I would look at it this way:

Internships often lead to full time positions.

Taking this internship may lead to a full time position with the Company, while it might help with the Big4 path, not taking it will be foregoing the experience and possible job opportunity.

On the other hand, taking additional accounting and bumping up the GPA might help with the Big4 internship route. Combine that with some serious networking over the Summer and it might work out.

What's your risk tolerance?

Self proclaimed: Highest ratio of Replies to Others v. Posts Created on A71

California CPA - Big4 Aud Manager Alum - Private Accounting at Startups

FAR, REG and BEC with Ninja Notes + WTB Only

Ninja + Wiley Test Bank: [FAR - 81] [REG - 76] [BEC - 88] [AUD - 73](doh!)

Becker Videos: [AUD - 82]

California CPA

[acamp]

Gotcha, well I would look at it this way:

Internships often lead to full time positions.

Taking this internship may lead to a full time position with the Company, while it might help with the Big4 path, not taking it will be foregoing the experience and possible job opportunity.

On the other hand, taking additional accounting and bumping up the GPA might help with the Big4 internship route. Combine that with some serious networking over the Summer and it might work out.

What's your risk tolerance?

Self proclaimed: Highest ratio of Replies to Others v. Posts Created on A71

California CPA - Big4 Aud Manager Alum - Private Accounting at Startups

FAR, REG and BEC with Ninja Notes + WTB Only

Ninja + Wiley Test Bank: [FAR - 81] [REG - 76] [BEC - 88] [AUD - 73](doh!)

Becker Videos: [AUD - 82]

California CPA

[Study Monk]

I got a Big 4 interview back in the day with a 3.0 gpa when I attended UCSC. Dkswodud is going to one of the best business schools in the country assuming he isn't enrolled at UC Berkeley extension. With an internship, 3.2 at Berkeley, and membership at a bunch of on campus clubs he may still have a chance at joining a Big 4.

I spoke to an ancient wise man who sent me on a mushroom induced journey through an ancient forest to find the key to passing the CPA exam. A talking spider monkey told me to throw the last of my drinking water in the dirt to find what I was looking for. So I followed his instructions and the following message appeared in the soil:

"Do 5000 multiple choice questions for each section"

[Author]

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