UTMPA2011 wrote:
Sorry, I forgot to answer the second part of that. As of right now, my intentions are to stay in public accounting. I am open to other opportunities though, so that MAY change during grad school. Also, I have no preference on where I end up geographically.
I can understand that you may have limited time while you are in school to study for the GMAT. However, it could be the deciding factor in admissions at UT. GPA is subjective, so schools look to the GMAT as a comparative data point. While you can wait to take the GMAT until summer, I would strongly discourage it if you really want to increase your scholarship offer at Wake.
Both schools have interesting options. The Wake MSA gives you the option to pursue an MBA within one year. The MSA/MBA combination is certainly a unique selling point of the program. The placement and CPA pass rates are also strong points of the program. However, the program does not have the career mobility of UT. At UT, you will be able to actively recruit in accounting and finance across the country. While you can recruit with Big 4, you could also land a nice gig with Morgan Stanley, Intel, Bank of America, etc. I would recommend that you look at employment reports to gain perspective on the types of employers that hire from each program. I can tell you from personal experience that employers will bend over backwards to recruit at UT. Several of my classmates had offers from every Big 4 firm and then some. Also, you can call the shots about location preference.
You should also consider the curriculum. The Wake MSA is heavily focused on CPA exam content. However, the UT program offers a great amount of flexibility to take interesting MBA electives. I don’t know if you have decided whether you would prefer tax or audit (not the only choices, but the most popular), but UT has more in-depth courses than Wake. For example, I was able to take courses in international tax and mergers and acquisitions that were cross-listed with the UT law school. There is also a separate class for partnerships and S corporations.
Given these differences, I think you should definitely consider more than just cost of attendance. Furthermore, if you are waitlisted at UT, you should strongly consider retaking the GMAT if UT appeals to you. I know you may be busy, but the grad school that you choose will make a significant difference over your career.