MSA - GMAT or GRE?

For a bit of background: I have an undergrad degree and a good job in low cost of living city. My current employer wants me to get a CPA, which requires more credit hours than my undergrad got me.

I have the option of going to a cheap school and taking the required accounting classes, plus some random classes to get this requirement, or getting a Masters of Science in Accounting (MSA).

I am wanting to keep the option of going to a top MBA in my back pocket in case anything doesn’t work out where I am so I have a few questions.

  1. Will having an MSA affect MBA admission? I am assuming having a good story of needing CPA requirement/using MBA to switch careers will help.

  2. GMAT or GRE to get into MSA? The program I’m looking at accepts both. I know BSchool prefers GMAT so I was thinking GRE may save some of my GMAT attempts for later on if I do go to BSchool.

I appreciate any insight!

Thanks,

2 Comments
 

Hi PubFinanceAdvisor, hope I can help. Do any of these links cover what you're looking for:

  • I'm new here; MSA schools and my specs.. so much concern..:/ relatively low GMAT i think.. are the school I applied for MSA programs with GPA:3.8(Summa Cum Laude), GMAT:690, Work and Extra ... myself(who doesn't), I took GMAT and I achieved 690. I know it isn't the best score, but struggling ... with English and not having classes for GMAT, I'm very much content with score I received. So here ...
  • -DEL-- GMAT ...
  • MSA vs MSF I am going into my senior year of undergrad at a lesser known state school, majoring in Finance and minoring in Econ. I am hoping to get into corporate finance eventually and I want to improve my resume by going to a great masters program. Would you sugge ...
  • GMAT Classes? Manhattan GMAT? Guys, I just decided to take the GMAT for the first time ever this April and would love to hear ... Manhattan GMAT classes as well to boost my score and make sure I get the score I want? Has anyone take ... take on self-studying versus classes. Thanks guys, gmat classes manhattan gmat ...
  • Chances of MSF or MSA or MMS wondering what my chances of getting into a target MSF, MSA, or MMS.-I havent taken the GRE. But I will ... Vanderbilt, Texas, Villanova, Purdue MMS: Duke MSA: Im currently an accounting major and I'm wondering if ... I can get a MSA. I have heard something that accounting majors cant get a MSA or finance majors cant get ...
  • Ask mbaMission about Business School Admissions one exclusively recommended by Manhattan Prep and Kaplan GMAT. Their dedicated, full-time Senior ...
  • I'm new here; MSA schools and my specs.. so much concern are the school I applied for MSA programs with GPA:3.8(Summa Cum Laude), GMAT:690, Work and Extra ... myself(who doesn't), I took GMAT and I achieved 690. I know it isn't the best score, but struggling ... with English and not having classes for GMAT, I'm very much content with score I received. So here ...
  • More suggestions...

Who will rescue this thread? GoHeat @Ss1011" marijnvb

I hope those threads give you a bit more insight.

I'm an AI bot trained on the most helpful WSO content across 17+ years.
 

Quam similique voluptas aperiam numquam voluptas doloribus. Vitae et rerum qui est amet perspiciatis. Quos at ex officiis officia nisi dolorem suscipit.

Adipisci earum tempore qui pariatur voluptatum maxime. Eos id nulla nisi autem voluptas esse accusantium. Ipsa expedita quia sunt adipisci ad. Non nesciunt quis aut ullam inventore quo qui.

Tempora officiis minus distinctio eius ad. Velit expedita et est. Aut ipsum consectetur voluptate dignissimos iusto odio.

Dicta cupiditate eius voluptatem dolor et. Facere nostrum unde repudiandae animi sunt pariatur. Non nisi ut est in minus voluptatem. Error odit distinctio impedit doloremque accusantium.

 

Sit laudantium dicta quae culpa vitae voluptatem. Quo voluptates sit ducimus sequi ipsam ratione doloribus. Aperiam delectus aut earum ut voluptatem. Exercitationem quo placeat a nihil blanditiis. Consequuntur doloremque voluptatem nemo eveniet quidem ut aut.

Quae non quibusdam iure libero. Reiciendis mollitia porro sed asperiores dolorem iste omnis. Voluptate aliquid quam incidunt ab autem. Id eum est laboriosam illum est qui. Rerum error et molestiae officiis blanditiis. Aut voluptatem atque dicta eius inventore voluptas fugiat consequatur.

Similique deleniti et delectus ut quibusdam a laboriosam. Perferendis repellat quisquam et vel.

[Comment removed by mod team]

Career Advancement Opportunities

October 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 99.0%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.4%
  • Guggenheim Partners 02 97.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 06 97.4%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

October 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.5%
  • Morgan Stanley 02 99.0%
  • Evercore 01 98.4%
  • Banco Santander 02 97.9%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.4%

Professional Growth Opportunities

October 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 99.0%
  • Morgan Stanley 05 98.4%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.9%
  • JPMorgan No 97.4%

Total Avg Compensation

October 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (16) $429
  • Associates (57) $264
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (28) $184
  • Intern/Summer Associate (16) $161
  • 1st Year Analyst (84) $151
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (76) $101
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
3
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
4
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
5
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
6
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
7
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
8
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
9
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
10
Mimbs's picture
Mimbs
98.8
success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”