Work experience amount at Big 4 for MBA
Is 2 years working at the Big 4 with a CPA enough work experience to get into a top 10 MBA?
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4-7 years would be ideal (most cases). Below 4, you need to be special (achieved something very unique) and above 7 is getting quite late.
Misconception on this board is that it is extremely hard to get into a top mba program coming from big 4. While it is tough, (as is any other profession) I would argue that it is easier getting in than coming from IB for the simple fact that very few big 4 folks apply for top mba programs. If you are someone who is about to start with the mindeset of applying for an MBA in 3-4 years time, getting quality leadership in and out of work, taking every opportunity given to you, good gpa, gmat, essays and recommendations, you WILL GET IN a top 15.
A lot of the top schools are now trending towards younger applicants. Accordingly, 3- 5 years is more in the range. Of course, this should be paired up with top notch GMAT, good recs and ecs.
It seems like a CPA would be helpful in the admissions process.
I've done a good amount of research on this. i think it will be difficult with only 2 years of experience, but like anything else, i guess there are always exceptions to the rule. if you spend 1-2 years at the senior level i feel this will greatly increase your chances of gaining admission because at the senior level you are directly responsible for the supervision of staff and leading the day-to-day operations of an engagement. you build communication, people, and leadership skills during this time that are extremely valuable in an MBA setting.
i agree with the sentiment above that it is very possible for big 4 CPAs to pursue top MBA programs, but your entire application is going to need to be steller. your undergraduate GPA, accomplishments at work, essays, etc will all have to be top notch, especially in comparison to other candidates with a similar background. you will find big 4 CPAs at all the top MBA programs, but the number of seats "reserved" for people with this background is more limited than for those coming from an ibanking or consulting path.
Met a whole bunch of HBS guys at a function recently. Most of them were bb bankers, s/t. Met 2 from big 4, both from consulting. not 1 auditor / tax guy / cpa. Not shitting on accounting, just stating facts. Sample size of 50 hbs kids.
That's because all of the accountants were still at work
Sorry, I wasn't clear. I met a bunch of students from Harvard Business School, they are currently enrolled full time and the jobs listed were jobs they had before enrolling in the program.
I knew of people with 2-3 years years at a Big 4 (audit, or some accounting related advisory) who made it to the likes of Wharton, MIT, etc. So it's not impossible. But I'd also side with most people here and say that it's still a difficult thing to achieve.
How about 1 year in audit and 2 in TAS (business Modelling and valuation) is it the same?
Another thing I'd like to know. I'm really interested in valuations/modeling.
bump
I know Harvard and Wharton are the highest aspirations for MBA potentials, but there are other great schools. For instance, the MBA programs at Bentley are worth considering since they not only provide academic knowledge, but also prepare students to face the challenging times we live in—globalization, the need to adapt quickly to new cultures and new trends and to be ready with innovative approaches. GMAT scores, resume/work experience, interviews and undergraduate transcripts are very important for qualifying admission. Recommendations and application essays are also considered. All that to say – don’t limit your choices to a few top-notch schools that are extremely hard to get into.
Big-4 folks (tax/audit - not consulting) are certainly at the top b-schools, but it varies by school. You'll see very few (if any) at HBS and Stanford, a handful at Wharton, a smaller minority at Booth/Kellogg/Sloan/Columbia/Tuck/Haas, and a larger minority at Ross, Duke, Darden, NYU, Cornell, Yale, UCLA.
what about big 4 consulting folks?
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