[jlondon]

I’ve applied to big 4 a total of 13 times in the past 3 years. I even had a few referrals.. and one from a director, and another through the help of another director. But it’s hopeless.

I think it all drills down to it is my college gpa of 3.0 ; which is not that low, but of course compared to big 4, it’s a piece of shit grade. I don’t get why they are so strict on this. I can honestly say, I am well rounded and know how to think outside the box to resolve problems, but my accounting courses in college really did some damage to my future. Had 2 C’s in intermediate accounting, which caused my gpa to be extremely undesirable, and rejected left and right by the big 4. So, just a piece of advice to you college students (future CPAs’)… make sure you get an A, if you get a C, you might as well fail the class and get a petition to retake it, because C’s are permanent on your record. What can I say, I was young and didn’t take school that serious back then, but now I know.

So maybe it’s time for me to start looking at regional firms. I’ll have to take at least a 10 grand pay cut which would really suck. But, hopefully taking this step back, and lunge me forward 3 steps….

Just wanted to give you ninjas who are still in college some advice since I’ve went through it and realize how hard it is when they judge you on your gpa.

Anyway, any advice for me? I’m 28, and it will be very painful to go back to an entry level job at 50k. What’s the average duration for someone to be “experienced” in public accounting. Fyi, I’ve never done public accounting, but I understand to some extend how things work since I’m working a public company.

BEC: 69, 57, 72, 73, (anticipated for 4/4/2015)
AUD: 65, 63, 74, 84!!! (expires 7/31/2015)
FAR: 63, 57, (scheduled for 4/1/2015)
REG: ... 42, (Anticipated to be around 5/20~)

-Every Set Back is a Set Up for a Major Come Back #motivation

"I've missed over 9,000 shots in my career. I've lost over 300 games. 26 times I've been trusted to take the game winning shot, and missed. I've failed, over and over and over again in my life. And that is why, I succeed." - Michael Jordan

"You are not your past, but the resources and capabilities you glean from it" -Jordan Belfort

[fuzyfro89]

The referrals are great, but your stats just might not cut it. Your grades are borderline, and you don't yet have the CPA license. Passing the CPA exams will shift most attention away from your gpa because they literally don't matter once you get the license.

My advice, get your license, and try again.

[fuzyfro89]

The referrals are great, but your stats just might not cut it. Your grades are borderline, and you don't yet have the CPA license. Passing the CPA exams will shift most attention away from your gpa because they literally don't matter once you get the license.

My advice, get your license, and try again.

[funtiks]

I have 3.7 GPA and never got an interview with big4 because I didn't attend any of their events or join BAP

PACE U … NYC

FAR - 76*, 73, 85
BEC - 69, 72, 78*, 80
AUD - 72, 71, 90
REG - 71, 74, 85

AFTER 3 YEARS I'M DONE!!!

[funtiks]

I have 3.7 GPA and never got an interview with big4 because I didn't attend any of their events or join BAP

PACE U … NYC

FAR - 76*, 73, 85
BEC - 69, 72, 78*, 80
AUD - 72, 71, 90
REG - 71, 74, 85

AFTER 3 YEARS I'M DONE!!!

[jlondon]

@fuzyfro89 Thank you! I will definitely need to get this.

BEC: 69, 57, 72, 73, (anticipated for 4/4/2015)
AUD: 65, 63, 74, 84!!! (expires 7/31/2015)
FAR: 63, 57, (scheduled for 4/1/2015)
REG: ... 42, (Anticipated to be around 5/20~)

-Every Set Back is a Set Up for a Major Come Back #motivation

"I've missed over 9,000 shots in my career. I've lost over 300 games. 26 times I've been trusted to take the game winning shot, and missed. I've failed, over and over and over again in my life. And that is why, I succeed." - Michael Jordan

"You are not your past, but the resources and capabilities you glean from it" -Jordan Belfort

[jlondon]

@fuzyfro89 Thank you! I will definitely need to get this.

BEC: 69, 57, 72, 73, (anticipated for 4/4/2015)
AUD: 65, 63, 74, 84!!! (expires 7/31/2015)
FAR: 63, 57, (scheduled for 4/1/2015)
REG: ... 42, (Anticipated to be around 5/20~)

-Every Set Back is a Set Up for a Major Come Back #motivation

"I've missed over 9,000 shots in my career. I've lost over 300 games. 26 times I've been trusted to take the game winning shot, and missed. I've failed, over and over and over again in my life. And that is why, I succeed." - Michael Jordan

"You are not your past, but the resources and capabilities you glean from it" -Jordan Belfort

[ruggercpa2b]

@jlondon did you even get interviewed or you never got a call back. The reason I ask is because if someone at Director level puts in a good word for you you should at least get an interview.

I work at a Big 4 firm and got in because of knowing a senior manager and also having experience. My GPA is a 2.5 for undergrad and 3.5 for masters. I might have gotten lucky since I was considered an experienced hire. But it did take me at least a year trying to apply on my own. Good luck!

AUD - NINJA in Training
BEC - NINJA in Training
FAR - NINJA in Training
REG - NINJA in Training

AUD - 1/6/18
FAR - TBD
REG - TBD
BEC - TBD

AUD - 73, 72 retake 7/2/2016
BEC - 8/20/2016
REG - TBD
FAR - TBD

I am so ready for this nightmare to be over. Been at this way too long.

[ruggercpa2b]

@jlondon did you even get interviewed or you never got a call back. The reason I ask is because if someone at Director level puts in a good word for you you should at least get an interview.

I work at a Big 4 firm and got in because of knowing a senior manager and also having experience. My GPA is a 2.5 for undergrad and 3.5 for masters. I might have gotten lucky since I was considered an experienced hire. But it did take me at least a year trying to apply on my own. Good luck!

AUD - NINJA in Training
BEC - NINJA in Training
FAR - NINJA in Training
REG - NINJA in Training

AUD - 1/6/18
FAR - TBD
REG - TBD
BEC - TBD

AUD - 73, 72 retake 7/2/2016
BEC - 8/20/2016
REG - TBD
FAR - TBD

I am so ready for this nightmare to be over. Been at this way too long.

[Anonymous]

I don't know why people are so set on big 4. 3 years, really?! And during that you never applied at a regional firm. 1. In my area, entry level at the mid-tier and large regional paid more than big 4 entry level. 2. If you had interviewed at and been accepted at a regional firm 2 years ago, your shot at an experienced big 4 hire would be better than your shot now. 3. The largest regional/mid tier firms are almost as competitive to get into as big 4 so don't think it will be any easier just because you changed your goals. 4 They care about GPA (esp intermediate accounting) because it is the best indicator for you to pass the CPA exams. They don't want to be stuck with a bunch of seniors who haven't been able to pass and have no one to promote to manager. 5 yrs from now

[Anonymous]

I don't know why people are so set on big 4. 3 years, really?! And during that you never applied at a regional firm. 1. In my area, entry level at the mid-tier and large regional paid more than big 4 entry level. 2. If you had interviewed at and been accepted at a regional firm 2 years ago, your shot at an experienced big 4 hire would be better than your shot now. 3. The largest regional/mid tier firms are almost as competitive to get into as big 4 so don't think it will be any easier just because you changed your goals. 4 They care about GPA (esp intermediate accounting) because it is the best indicator for you to pass the CPA exams. They don't want to be stuck with a bunch of seniors who haven't been able to pass and have no one to promote to manager. 5 yrs from now

[jlondon]

@ruggercpa2b I got 1 interview out of 6 referrals, and that's only because my good friend (senior associate) is good friends with one of the recruiter there. And that's the only reason why I even got an interview in the first place. So that makes me think they pretty much toss my resume even with referrals. It makes me want to sort of be like yahoo CEO Scott Thompson now…he did all that and still at the top… . so frustrated. Do they actually request an official transcript? I'm Jk, of course…

I am seriously frustrated. But Congrats to you! Well, as last resort, maybe I'll have to go for a Masters.. and work my hardest to get a 3.7 at least.

BEC: 69, 57, 72, 73, (anticipated for 4/4/2015)
AUD: 65, 63, 74, 84!!! (expires 7/31/2015)
FAR: 63, 57, (scheduled for 4/1/2015)
REG: ... 42, (Anticipated to be around 5/20~)

-Every Set Back is a Set Up for a Major Come Back #motivation

"I've missed over 9,000 shots in my career. I've lost over 300 games. 26 times I've been trusted to take the game winning shot, and missed. I've failed, over and over and over again in my life. And that is why, I succeed." - Michael Jordan

"You are not your past, but the resources and capabilities you glean from it" -Jordan Belfort

[jlondon]

@ruggercpa2b I got 1 interview out of 6 referrals, and that's only because my good friend (senior associate) is good friends with one of the recruiter there. And that's the only reason why I even got an interview in the first place. So that makes me think they pretty much toss my resume even with referrals. It makes me want to sort of be like yahoo CEO Scott Thompson now…he did all that and still at the top… . so frustrated. Do they actually request an official transcript? I'm Jk, of course…

I am seriously frustrated. But Congrats to you! Well, as last resort, maybe I'll have to go for a Masters.. and work my hardest to get a 3.7 at least.

BEC: 69, 57, 72, 73, (anticipated for 4/4/2015)
AUD: 65, 63, 74, 84!!! (expires 7/31/2015)
FAR: 63, 57, (scheduled for 4/1/2015)
REG: ... 42, (Anticipated to be around 5/20~)

-Every Set Back is a Set Up for a Major Come Back #motivation

"I've missed over 9,000 shots in my career. I've lost over 300 games. 26 times I've been trusted to take the game winning shot, and missed. I've failed, over and over and over again in my life. And that is why, I succeed." - Michael Jordan

"You are not your past, but the resources and capabilities you glean from it" -Jordan Belfort

[Soundwave]

If you REALLY want to get in the Big 4 you have to join the organizations where people at the Big 4 are in such as ASCEND and ISACA. ISACA is a really big one and this PWC director once told me about this kid that volunteered for them all the time at events and was a student member who didn't pass the first round of interviews and the director put him on the second list anyways and he eventually got the job.

[Soundwave]

If you REALLY want to get in the Big 4 you have to join the organizations where people at the Big 4 are in such as ASCEND and ISACA. ISACA is a really big one and this PWC director once told me about this kid that volunteered for them all the time at events and was a student member who didn't pass the first round of interviews and the director put him on the second list anyways and he eventually got the job.

[jlondon]

@Anonny I see what you're saying. Yea, that makes sense. Who wants accountants that are non-CPAs' . And yes, I haven't applied to any regional firm because I did have my eyes only on a big 4. So many companies request big 4 experience, that is the reason behind my thought.

All these companies, glassdoor, salesforce, start ups, all requests big 4 experience.

But I will now go for a regional firm, pay cut it is… Thanks for the advice.

BEC: 69, 57, 72, 73, (anticipated for 4/4/2015)
AUD: 65, 63, 74, 84!!! (expires 7/31/2015)
FAR: 63, 57, (scheduled for 4/1/2015)
REG: ... 42, (Anticipated to be around 5/20~)

-Every Set Back is a Set Up for a Major Come Back #motivation

"I've missed over 9,000 shots in my career. I've lost over 300 games. 26 times I've been trusted to take the game winning shot, and missed. I've failed, over and over and over again in my life. And that is why, I succeed." - Michael Jordan

"You are not your past, but the resources and capabilities you glean from it" -Jordan Belfort

[Author]

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