University Prestige, does it matter(for accounting)

[zetazeta]

Originally Posted by AboveAndBeyond

Sorry to thread jack but instead of accounting, what about for investment banking or even corporate banking for that matter? Love to hear ULIC's thought on this one, he seems knowledgeable in banking.

Does it give you an advantage coming out of a prestige school(UBC/SFU) than say Cap or BCIT for investment banking or even corporate banking?

To answer the OP's question, I'd say no it doesn't matter as much for Accounting.

School matters a LOT for ibanking. I did quite a bit of research into this industry at one point (check out wallstreetoasis.com forums, they have legit advice and industry professionals over there), and school (target/ivy) definitely matters if you are gunning for BB or even MM. GPA and past internships also plays a huge part (GPA is more of a cutoff).

If you are in the lower mainland, UBC is your best bet. Sauder has a Portfolio Management program which I've heard is pretty good. If you take a quick search on linkedin for connections at BB's, you will see that the mass majority of their people are from target and ivy league schools. Hell, look in the public resume review section on wallstreetoasis, some of these people have decked out resumes... these are the peeps you are competing against for BB/MM. Here's an example of some of the people you would be competing against URGENT: Please demolish my resume! | Wall Street Oasis


UBC PMF Program | Sauder School of Business at UBC, Vancouver, Canada

[mr.wonderful]

Originally Posted by lowside67

It's actually interesting, I am finishing my CMA and writing CFA level 1 a week apart and the material is so different. The CFA exam is a bunch of studying but frankly if you are of average intelligence and put in a lot of studying, I don't see how you can't pass this. No one concept is hard, you just have a lot to remember. I was talking with a member of the CFA institute and asked why the pass rates are so much lower than they used to be and he said it was simply because they are getting more and more marginal candidates trying out for it. Remember, that field is ULTRA competitive to get a job - passing the CFA is absolutely not enough to set you apart and if you don't have the juice (networking, a well rounded resume, and great interview skills) you are wasting your time as even if you pass the exams, you won't get a job in the field.

This is not true in the accounting world where there are enough people competing for jobs without a designation that having the designation gives you a significant leg up.

Mark
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I am planning go get the CPA designation
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[buhdeh]

If you are going for Big 4 then yes it matters, sort of. UBC/SFU makes no difference. Any other school (in BC) you will be severely disadvantaged unless you're a top of class, perfect GPA, lots of work experience type of person.

For ibanking, it matters even more. I would personally not even bother with pursuing finance at a school like SFU or below unless you're okay with working at small/lower tier firms.

[mr.wonderful]

Originally Posted by buhdeh

If you are going for Big 4 then yes it matters, sort of. UBC/SFU makes no difference. Any other school (in BC) you will be severely disadvantaged unless you're a top of class, perfect GPA, lots of work experience type of person.

For ibanking, it matters even more. I would personally not even bother with pursuing finance at a school like SFU or below unless you're okay with working at small/lower tier firms.

Of course I would like to get hired by the big 4, but if not, Im sure it doesnt make a huge difference. I can work for other mid sized or start up firms or government or self employment etc.
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[AboveAndBeyond]

Originally Posted by Ulic Qel-Droma

Traders and bankers are totally different things. I'm a trader.

You'll prob wanna ask someone experienced with a CFA about banking.

Might have worded it wrong but AFAIK S&T is part of the IB umbrella. What about specifically for trading than?

Does coming from a prestige school help in that regards if you wanted to get into S&T?

[Selanne_200]

Originally Posted by mr.wonderful

Of course I would like to get hired by the big 4, but if not, Im sure it doesnt make a huge difference. I can work for other mid sized or start up firms or government or self employment etc.
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Well if you want to do accounting, it would be hard for you to be self-employed out of school. You're not worth anything without your CPA.

[tiger_handheld]

If you want your CPA with audit hours, you need a CPATO , if you dont need audit hours, go work at Joe's Manufacturing as junior>intermediate>senior accountant and you'll get your CPA as well. CPA offers two paths- the traditional CA path (big 4) or CGA path (industry)

[Selanne_200]

^There are actually 3 paths. There is Public, Private and Government. The traditional CA path also isn't limited to the Big 4 only but as long as it's a CPATO and you just make sure it's an audit training office and not a review if you want your full CPA certification.

[Token]

Has anyone here actually used the CFA exams to get an accounting position? I'm not even sure an accounting job would qualify to give you hours for the experience requirement. From all my friends in accounting it seems that CPA is the key.