Masters ...Thoughts on Schools

Ok, I know this is accounting oasis but I figured I could still get some good feedback. I am choosing among a good amount of masters of accounting programs and cannot make a definitive decision. The schools are:

Baruch Boston College UNC-CH UT-Austin Vanderbilt WUSTL William & Mary

I want to stay in the northeast, and preferably NY. I figure that excludes WUSTL and W & M. The rest of the schools have a good northeast presence with BC, Baruch, and UT ahead of UNC and Vanderbilt. Considering I am looking to Big 4 what would be the best choice?

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Best Response

Just as a disclaimer: I don't have an accounting background or MAcc but I was HEAVILY involved in the process of selecting a school and saw the whole process (from school selection to OCR to getting a job) first hand.

If you want NYC only BC and Zicklin should really be considered. The Big4 recruit really, really heavily from Baruch in NYC and BC has a decent presence, too, but obviously it's far better in Boston.

Vanderbilt's program is tiny but has a good reputation in NYC and in Atlanta/Nashville - with most placement in the latter cities.

WUSTL's program was not impressive and placement wasn't good outside of St. Louis and some in Chicago.

Texas has a great program in terms of reputation but it still places primarily in Houston, DFW, and Austin.

UNC is only for people with zero accounting background and only places well in the Research Triangle.

W&M is also tiny and good for DC.

Big4 recruiting is heavily regional and rankings matter very little outside of the best school in that region (think USC for LA, Washington for Seattle, Virginia for DC/Richmond, Notre Dame for Chicago, etc.)

You'll just get the recruiting network locally and that's how the Big4 does their OCR. It's not to say that you couldn't get into a different city from one of those schools, it's just harder due to the lack of recruiting presence locally.

 
NorthEastIdiotJust as a disclaimer: I don't have an accounting background or MAcc but I was HEAVILY involved in the process of selecting a school and saw the whole process (from school selection to OCR to getting a job) first hand.

If you want NYC only BC and Zicklin should really be considered. The Big4 recruit really, really heavily from Baruch in NYC and BC has a decent presence, too, but obviously it's far better in Boston.

Vanderbilt's program is tiny but has a good reputation in NYC and in Atlanta/Nashville - with most placement in the latter cities.

WUSTL's program was not impressive and placement wasn't good outside of St. Louis and some in Chicago.

Texas has a great program in terms of reputation but it still places primarily in Houston, DFW, and Austin.

UNC is only for people with zero accounting background and only places well in the Research Triangle.

W&M is also tiny and good for DC.

Big4 recruiting is heavily regional and rankings matter very little outside of the best school in that region (think USC for LA, Washington for Seattle, Virginia for DC/Richmond, Notre Dame for Chicago, etc.)

You'll just get the recruiting network locally and that's how the Big4 does their OCR. It's not to say that you couldn't get into a different city from one of those schools, it's just harder due to the lack of recruiting presence locally.

I am also heavily considering Baruch, the only issue I was thinking about was if it would affect future MBA admissions. I am a recent graduate of a NY non-target and if I go to another when I have the grades to go to a higher tier school I am not sure how admissions counselors might see this.

 

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