UVA MAcc (McIntire) VS. Boston College MSF (Carrol)
Hi! I have spent a lot of time on WSO, and I am quite amazed by all those helpful suggestions offered by finance professionals. I sincerely hope you guys can also provide me some insights as I am trying to decide between UVA MAcc program and BC MSF program.
My career goal is to work for an asset management firm or a consulting firm (MBB would be awesome, but my rational thinking tells me I probably will get into a 2nd tier). I have very limited interest in IB/Trading. For me, It does not matter if I will work in NYC or not.
My background: Accounting undergrad from a top 60 non-target national university. Internships with UBS (asset management) & EY (assurance) before. International student.
I know you might say I should go for BC MSF if I desire to work in AM/consulting field. The biggest concern I am having right now is BC MSF's placement rate. According to it's website, only 19% international students got offers from the class of 2014. http://www.bc.edu/schools/csom/graduate/gradcaree…msf/msf-employment-statistics.html
On the contrary, UVA MS Accounting has a 98% placement rate for all program students (including intel students). I personally think it might be because it's easier to get a job in the accounting field (like big four recruit a lot of ppl every year). At the same time, I am afraid MAcc program, unlike MSF, would provide me access or opportunities to get into AM/consulting. Many of my friends also tell me that Boston College's location will offer me more networking opportunities, but I also know quite a lot people on WSO say UVA is a target school and BC is a semi-target.
What's your opinion on that? Which school's program would you recommend in terms of achieving my career goals? Any response would be appreciated!
Neither options suits your goals. If I had to choose, and if I'm constrained by your goals (IM/Consulting), i would choose BC. If you're goals become less specific, then a MACC + CPA would probably be the best way to go. But in that case, you wouldn't need to go to Virginia to get one. A MACC is a MACC anywhere really.
this is some pretty crappy advice. A MACC from UT is not looked at the same way as a MACC from UTD... smh. I'd say for your goals choose BC but realize that getting asset mgmt/consulting will be quite difficult from both schools.
You don't know shit. If you get a MACC, 95% of the time you're going to end up in Big 4 Audit/Tax. Where you get your MACC determines which Big 4 office you're going to work in. The possibility of breaking into IM or management consulting with a MACC, from anywhere, is negligible.
You are very misinformed, UTD actually has significant recruiting from the big 4...that being said, yes, UT is probably a better option.
I would choose the BC MSF if you want to do Asset Management or consulting. There seems to be a decent amount of AM recruiting from the program. You will definitely need to network and hustle to get a full-time offer post-graduation.
Go to BC and do the MSF. If you want to hedge you can talk with admissions and try and do a dual degree.
I disagree that a macc is a macc anywhere. People were using the UTA and USC Macc to break into banking. I doubt the same could be said for other schools.
That being said, UVAs macc isn't going to help you with your goal.
Do you ever back up anything you say with any sort of objective facts? What proportion of UT MACCs go into banking post graduation? And how does it differ from the number of Baruch MACCs that go into banking post graduation?
Ok, let me elaborate.
A Macc is a Macc, yes. People use these degrees to get into accounting and for CPA requirements. In this essence, you are correct. But the schools offering the degree vary in prominence. A U Maryland Macc isn't going to give you the same OCR and network as a UTA, USC, NYU, etc, Macc.
So saying there is no difference in school when you get a macc is incorrect. The UTA Macc student will have a more expansive career opportunity than someone with a Maryland Macc.
Yes, the degree is for accounting, but that doesn't mean you can't have a couple banking internships and use the degree and schools networking to get into banking. Banking is more about understanding accounting than knowing about what you learn in finance classes. IYou'll use accounting all day in IB as you build models and do analysis. Knowing the components of the BS option model isn't going to be used much.
Here are some stats:
https://www.mccombs.utexas.edu/Career-Services/Statistics#profile-MPA-E…
5% go into banking.
https://www.marshall.usc.edu/macc/careerservices/for_our_students
USC doesn't have a percentage, but they include non-accounting firms who have hired students. BAML, Goldman, Credit Suisse, Houlihan.
What you said is incorrect because you look at how many people going into public accounting from these programs and infer that these programs can only place into this. The majority of people who get this degree go into accounting because they got the degree for this goal. That doesn't mean you cannot do other things with it. This is where a school brand like UT Austin and USC will benefit you. Baruch could be an anomaly because of its location in Manhattan. A program with a similar ranking not in NYC will not afford you the optionality that top ranked school's program will.
A MACC is a MACC anywhere is factually incorrect.
I really appreciate every response on this thread thus far! Just like all you suggested, it does seem like BC MSF would be a better fit for me considering my situation. But, out of my curiosity, I really want to understand the reasons behind BC MSF's low placement rate. If OCR has a decent amount of companies and BC's alumni network is so strong in Boston area, then why did only 55% American students get offers (let alone 19% for intel students)? What's your opinion or takeaway on that? Thank you in advance!
I know exactly what I am talking about. While a majority of MACC ppl go to Audit, the top programs like UT allow ppl into Corp Fin. rotational programs, Big 4 TAS/Consulting, and UT has ppl get into boutique IB from their MPA. Honestly Esuric you consistently give trolling/crap advice and phoenixfire UTD was just an example, I don't see why you're so defensive regarding the school. In addition, while some MACC's have 95% go to Big 4, some get like 70% with the rest going to smaller accounting firms. So give me a break with the "they're all the same" nonsense.
a majority of them get CPAs into big 4. you'll always have "special cases", but you cant always count yourself to be that exception.
Not to be the bearer of bad news. But the reality is both are generally in a hiring decline. Finance because of regulation. Consulting because of cost cuts. You'd also be competing against experienced and/or domestic applicants. Something to think about
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