How to study for Accounting Exam?

I have a bachelors degree in accounting and finance. What is a good path to take for grad school?

• I wanted to prepare myself to be a cpa after graduation. My school did not have the greatest accounting program and I did not get hired by the public accounting firms I applied to. I had planned to study for the exam on my own after graduation but its been almost 6 months and I have barely done any studying. I just started a job as a fund accountant. The pay is low but that's what I had to take for the time being. The company has a tuition reimbursement program that I think I should take advantage of. But I am not sure what to study the second time around. I am most intersted in a masters in taxation at a school with much better firm connections and maybe study for the cpa then if I am still interested. I'm not very interested in an MBA which probably wouldnt mean much for me since i have so little experience. Maybe economics or even something like statistics. I'd like to know which programs would be most sought after, would have the greatest job prospects, and could potentially help double my current 30k salary.

• Answer:

  I'm in the same boat...except i have a different degree. I thought long and hard about if i should go back to grad school.....because although we technically qualify for good paying jobs with our undergrad degrees, every company that pays well expects you to have at least a few years of experience. even then for every opening there's hundreds of job applications. Grad school is always nice....and go for it by all means if you have the funds.... but don't feel discouraged just yet! Another option is to volunteer some time on the side (ie helping out and getting experience at a firm you'd ideally like to apply for). That along with the current experience you're getting will open up so many doors that you didn't have immediately post-graduation. getting a masters doesn't always mean more doors will open. lots of times, experience is more valuable than a degree. Also....this place offers tuition reimbursement, but is there a catch? would you have to agree to work there for x-amount of years after graduation? as far as which grad program would be MOST beneficial for you....i have no idea. I'm currently entering a masters of public administration program (and unlike the MBA program, I don't have to take foundation courses.......in fact, you'll probably get in with zero foundation courses) take a concentration in analysis. Companies would LOVE someone with you with an undergrad degree in accounting and finance and a grad degree in public admin. You would likely become the director of budgeting or some other high title, which would give you a lot of pay. but again......you can do all of this WITHOUT grad school. You just have to put in the time and accept that you won't make much more than 30k till you put in a few years of experience.