big4sucks wrote:
currently I'm an auditor at a Big4 in a major city. i've only been there for a year, but i'm already thinking about what i should do next with my career because I do not want to do this forever. i know the best Bschools typically want you to have a good 5 yrs of work exp before you start, but i was wondering how they view applicants with only 2 yrs work exp (2 when applying, 3 by the time i start). i have good leadership experience from college (president of student govt and cultural organization), but barely any during my first year at Big4.
also, how are auditors viewed in general by the top bschools? i know ibankers and consultants prob have the edge over us but how is auditing work experience and having the CPA license viewed? thanks in advance
While I may not have the knowledge that some professionals may have, I know that CPAs make it to b-school just as well as any other professions. You are a bit younger than most applicants, but all you have to overcome that is to support your reasonings in your essay - why now? SImply saying that you don't want to do the type of job you're doing wont' cut it. Think about it in the adcoms' shoes. Why would anyone admit you? Well, perhaps your experience can contribute much in the accounting class. Perhaps your extracurricular activities have shown much leadership skills. Perhaps you've hit a plateau in your workplace and cannot learn anymore, therefore needing to move on. Whatever your reason is, as long as you stated cohesively, convincingly, and wholeheartedly, that's the most you need to worry about anyway. As far as CPA license, I think it's just the cherry on the chessecake type of deal (or icing on the cake, whatever you'd like
). The most important will still be your work experience, your grades, your GMAT, your letters, your essays, and your extracurricular activities.