Hello folks,
I am a BCom graduate from India and with the spare time I have I would like to convert my 3year degree to a 4 yearone so that I can get a US degree and be able to get into local job market. I made a few attempts for jobs, but a local degree appears to be a MUST. I do have some job experience back there in India about 8 yrs ago.
Appreciate, if you folks could share your experience and extend your comments/suggestions.
BTW, I have a GC for sometine now.
Thanks.
US: Looking for Opportunities in Accounting
US: Looking for Opportunities in Accounting
Speak with the undergraduate academic advisors at a business school that you can attend, and ask if you can join the BS program in Business.
They may ask you to join as a general education student and admit you to the business school only after you have completed some credits and done well in the courses that you take. Also show them your B.Com transcripts / course descriptions and ask how many credits you can transfer toward your BS in Business.
Typically a BS requires 180 quarter credits or 120 semester credits depending on whether the school is on a quarter or semester system. From what I know someone with a 3 year Bachelor degree from India usually manages to transfer about 90 quarter credits or 60 semester credits (half of what is required to complete the degree), and so has to complete the remaining credits at the US school. Typically, many general education requirements in foreign language, college level algebra / calcalus / statistics can be transfered.
Also note that many states have a 150 semster credit requirement for the CPA.
They may ask you to join as a general education student and admit you to the business school only after you have completed some credits and done well in the courses that you take. Also show them your B.Com transcripts / course descriptions and ask how many credits you can transfer toward your BS in Business.
Typically a BS requires 180 quarter credits or 120 semester credits depending on whether the school is on a quarter or semester system. From what I know someone with a 3 year Bachelor degree from India usually manages to transfer about 90 quarter credits or 60 semester credits (half of what is required to complete the degree), and so has to complete the remaining credits at the US school. Typically, many general education requirements in foreign language, college level algebra / calcalus / statistics can be transfered.
Also note that many states have a 150 semster credit requirement for the CPA.
US: Looking for Opportunities in Accounting
#1
Where you located In US?
Do you have any relevant job exp in this field? If yes what kind?
Are you M/F S/M?
Are you just looking for second income? (I mean spouse is working & you just want to bring some extra money)
Let me know the answers I may shade some light on this.
If you have GC then any US Uni will give you 90 Credit( I assume your major was accounting in B.Com) and you need total of 120 credit for your BS, you will not require to take any accounting class, but as Bobus mentioned you have to take some other subject to reach your 120 credit.
Thanks,
LK
Where you located In US?
Do you have any relevant job exp in this field? If yes what kind?
Are you M/F S/M?
Are you just looking for second income? (I mean spouse is working & you just want to bring some extra money)
Let me know the answers I may shade some light on this.
If you have GC then any US Uni will give you 90 Credit( I assume your major was accounting in B.Com) and you need total of 120 credit for your BS, you will not require to take any accounting class, but as Bobus mentioned you have to take some other subject to reach your 120 credit.
Thanks,
LK
US: Looking for Opportunities in Accounting
Thank you both so much for your replies.
I am planning to meet with the career advisors as to what needs to be done next with my academic evaluation.
To Lakshya, I am a married female living in dallas. I dont want to do a MS or MBA at this point in time. I'd like to enter the job market as a professional. The reason for 4 year degree appeared to be a better option(considering we are planning to R2I)than doing those quick bookkeeping courses. Any suggestions?
Thanks.
I am planning to meet with the career advisors as to what needs to be done next with my academic evaluation.
To Lakshya, I am a married female living in dallas. I dont want to do a MS or MBA at this point in time. I'd like to enter the job market as a professional. The reason for 4 year degree appeared to be a better option(considering we are planning to R2I)than doing those quick bookkeeping courses. Any suggestions?
Thanks.
US: Looking for Opportunities in Accounting
Having a CPA is good for here and even better if you R2I. Learning bookkeeping might not give you a job, but if you still want then get small course at local county college.
Go to H&R Block website, in past they had few months evening courses. After that they'll help you to get IRS certified tax person (although anyone can easily get it) & they might hire you during tax season.
Go to AICPA and/or your state CPA website, get your B.Com degree evaluated by authorized evaluator, take missing classes/course either at state/county college and start preparing for CPA.
I hope this will help.
Go to H&R Block website, in past they had few months evening courses. After that they'll help you to get IRS certified tax person (although anyone can easily get it) & they might hire you during tax season.
Go to AICPA and/or your state CPA website, get your B.Com degree evaluated by authorized evaluator, take missing classes/course either at state/county college and start preparing for CPA.
I hope this will help.
US: Looking for Opportunities in Accounting
#1
Seems like money is not the main criteria here but you want to enter in job market with less or no experience.
* First don?t waste your money (if you are paying) with career advisors (they never focused on their career that?s why they are career advisorJ)
* Get your academic evaluation only if you are joining accredited college/Uni.- every college and Uni use different company for academic evaluation so don?t waste your money if you are not planning to join college.
* Do not join those quick course/vocational school/community college. Join real college/uni/online uni.
* If you just want to grab some experience cook your resume call accountemps or Robert half, they may place you on entry level job. From that you have to build your experience.
* My personal suggestion is if money is not the issue here then finish your college, You will not need more than 30 credits, for BS. You can join any online uni. And finish ur degree.
* Further if you want to go for CPA you need 150 credit (minimum req for all state now), so you will need 60 more credits, and emember CPA exam is not that easey especially if you are taking without any real job exp.
* CPA will only helps if you want to go above manager level position or you want to market yourself with zero US experience. I would only recommend CPA if you have next 3 years with no responsibility (kids/husband/cocking etc), and lots of time so you can concentrate on your study.
*Having CPA in India will be useful if company is following US GAAP (MNC-US based company etc), otherwise it will not make much difference.
Lets say you R2i in 3 years?
US degree will help you to get job in any service industry in India and you can always cook your US experience.
Other side..
Accounting is such a vast field with intense competition that your 0-3 yrs exp will not put you at the place which you can market very well in India.
Also keep in mind?
Deeper you go in this field it?s become very high pressure/long hours job, especially if you work for publicly traded company.
Unless you choose to be bookkeeper or AR/AP rep then its fine.
Thanks/LK
Seems like money is not the main criteria here but you want to enter in job market with less or no experience.
* First don?t waste your money (if you are paying) with career advisors (they never focused on their career that?s why they are career advisorJ)
* Get your academic evaluation only if you are joining accredited college/Uni.- every college and Uni use different company for academic evaluation so don?t waste your money if you are not planning to join college.
* Do not join those quick course/vocational school/community college. Join real college/uni/online uni.
* If you just want to grab some experience cook your resume call accountemps or Robert half, they may place you on entry level job. From that you have to build your experience.
* My personal suggestion is if money is not the issue here then finish your college, You will not need more than 30 credits, for BS. You can join any online uni. And finish ur degree.
* Further if you want to go for CPA you need 150 credit (minimum req for all state now), so you will need 60 more credits, and emember CPA exam is not that easey especially if you are taking without any real job exp.
* CPA will only helps if you want to go above manager level position or you want to market yourself with zero US experience. I would only recommend CPA if you have next 3 years with no responsibility (kids/husband/cocking etc), and lots of time so you can concentrate on your study.
*Having CPA in India will be useful if company is following US GAAP (MNC-US based company etc), otherwise it will not make much difference.
Lets say you R2i in 3 years?
US degree will help you to get job in any service industry in India and you can always cook your US experience.
Other side..
Accounting is such a vast field with intense competition that your 0-3 yrs exp will not put you at the place which you can market very well in India.
Also keep in mind?
Deeper you go in this field it?s become very high pressure/long hours job, especially if you work for publicly traded company.
Unless you choose to be bookkeeper or AR/AP rep then its fine.
Thanks/LK
US: Looking for Opportunities in Accounting
#6,
Very nice and detailed post...it really helps to pitch-in with the knowledge and experience (life and real-time):emrose:.
A quick question to knowledgeable people like you and Bobus...Do you guys have any suggestions for "Dummies" like me (technical guys) who are interested in picking up on some decent knowledge of Accounting in general and Business Accounting in particular? Can you suggest a good (and simple) Accounting handbook - something that'll give a good over-view of the subject?
=================================================
I simply cannot resist the temptation of asking questions when I come across knowledgeable people. -DJ :cool:
Very nice and detailed post...it really helps to pitch-in with the knowledge and experience (life and real-time):emrose:.
A quick question to knowledgeable people like you and Bobus...Do you guys have any suggestions for "Dummies" like me (technical guys) who are interested in picking up on some decent knowledge of Accounting in general and Business Accounting in particular? Can you suggest a good (and simple) Accounting handbook - something that'll give a good over-view of the subject?
=================================================
I simply cannot resist the temptation of asking questions when I come across knowledgeable people. -DJ :cool:
US: Looking for Opportunities in Accounting
#7:
Four options, not mutually exclusive:
(a) Take the Introductory Financial Accounting course at a nearby university. Many will also offer the course as part of continuing education with evening classes.
(b) Schaum Series Zindabad - pick up the intro financial accounting and book keeping workbooks - will not be chatty and will not have pictures and stories. You will need to work thru it like you may have done with Schaum Series books on other subjects.
(c) Buy an intro financial accounting textbook that comes with a CD/DVD.
(d) Look for videotapes/DVDs on Intro Financial Accounting.
Accounting is divided into four pedagogical areas - financial accounting, auditing, taxation and managerial/cost accounting. It makes sense to start with financial accounting. Then take the Intro Tax course. If you are interested further, take a course in Business Finance.
Four options, not mutually exclusive:
(a) Take the Introductory Financial Accounting course at a nearby university. Many will also offer the course as part of continuing education with evening classes.
(b) Schaum Series Zindabad - pick up the intro financial accounting and book keeping workbooks - will not be chatty and will not have pictures and stories. You will need to work thru it like you may have done with Schaum Series books on other subjects.
(c) Buy an intro financial accounting textbook that comes with a CD/DVD.
(d) Look for videotapes/DVDs on Intro Financial Accounting.
Accounting is divided into four pedagogical areas - financial accounting, auditing, taxation and managerial/cost accounting. It makes sense to start with financial accounting. Then take the Intro Tax course. If you are interested further, take a course in Business Finance.
US: Looking for Opportunities in Accounting
#8,
Thank you very much!
Hopefully, I'll make good use of your advice.
================================================
It's important to knock on the right door...Over the years I'm mastered the art. -DJ :cool:
Thank you very much!
Hopefully, I'll make good use of your advice.
================================================
It's important to knock on the right door...Over the years I'm mastered the art. -DJ :cool:
US: Looking for Opportunities in Accounting
Thank you all for the responses.
Especially #6.
I am getting clearer by the day since I joined the forum. I think I will stick to the 4 year degree plan than venturing into CPA for now until I get some experience.
Yes, money is one of the main criteria why I want to acquire some quick-fix qualification which is long-lasting as well.
How do you think they rate a BS in accounting, in India (you know, what kind of employers)
Thanks.
Especially #6.
I am getting clearer by the day since I joined the forum. I think I will stick to the 4 year degree plan than venturing into CPA for now until I get some experience.
Yes, money is one of the main criteria why I want to acquire some quick-fix qualification which is long-lasting as well.
How do you think they rate a BS in accounting, in India (you know, what kind of employers)
Thanks.