Why a MAcc?
From the Virginia Board of Accountancy:
The Board recently recommended that students planning to become licensed CPAs consider graduate study in accounting:
The Board believes that the increased rigor and the strategic focus of graduate level courses can be valuable in preparing future accounting professionals to meet the increasing demands of the marketplace and to excel in the practice of public accounting. Read the full statement (pdf).
From W&M Master of Accounting graduates:
I knew I had a solid foundation in Accounting coming out of my undergraduate program. What I didn't know was how much more I could learn in just one short year. The MAcc program has truly expanded my horizons and given me a new take on the world of accounting. I can't wait to make my professional contribution to this amazing field. Even just a few months after graduating, I was able to contribute meaningfully at work - more so than many of my peers. Brian Adams (BBA '06, MAcc '07)
Getting to talk directly to decision-makers and regulators at the SEC (during the Veris CPAtrek) was an amazing experience. Not only did I have a chance to interact with them one on one, but also I was gratified to realize that after just one semester I was able to ask intelligent questions and sustain a real conversation with them. It was truly a fantastic experience. Dustin Traylor (BBA '07, MAcc '08)
As an Economics undergraduate, I knew I wanted to pursue a career in the business world but I wasn't sure which path to take. After graduating, I worked in an accounting firm for a few years and realized it was the right field for me. The MAcc program at W&M let me take the foundation I had laid as an undergraduate, round it out with the two Bootcamps they offer and then dig right into a curriculum that is sending me back into the business world better prepared than ever. It has given me much more than just the tools to sit for the CPA: it has given me a more sophisticated perspective on the business world as a whole. Nadia Khan (BA '04, MAcc '08)
Because I had credits coming into William & Mary, I was able to finish my undergrad requirements in three years and take the MAcc in my fourth year. Two degrees in four years - it took a little planning ahead, but it was well worth it. The faculty and staff at W&M worked with me every step of the way to make the process as easy as possible. Shelley Lind (BBA '05, MAcc '06)
My sights are set on becoming a personal financial advisor and my undergraduate degree in Mathematical Economics is a good step in that direction. But a thorough knowledge of Accounting is key to being the best advisor I can be. The MAcc program at W&M made it possible for me to deepen my knowledge base without missing a beat. After a summer in Bootcamp and a year mastering the intricacies of today's balance sheets, I know I will be able to give my future clients the expert advice they deserve. Hakob Stepanyan (Hampden Sydney '08, MAcc '09)
The agencies and people we visited on the annual trip really inspired me. I knew accounting was the field for me but I didn't know how many different sorts of opportunities a master's degree in the field could make possible. I am spending the year after graduation as an intern at the Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB). This is truly a career-defining chance. Cheryl Cochet (BBA '07, MAcc '08)
From W&M faculty:
Why get a MAcc? Simple...because a MAcc gives you the tools that open up many doors of exciting opportunities! Prof. Alex Woods
In addition to the substantial knowledge increase in areas such as finance, accounting and taxation, our MAcc experience provides valuable lessons in other important areas - effective teamwork skills, exposure to the actual regulatory process, appreciation for diversity in the workplace, and an understanding of client expectations - intangibles that are critical to our students' career success. Prof. Howard Busbee
Do you want to be the audit staff assigned to the mundane audit tasks, or do you want to be the one the partners ask for when there are really challenging issues? The knowledge you will gain in the W&M MAcc Program will help you to stand out in the crowd and have access to the best career-promoting opportunities. Prof. Denise Jones
You learn to learn beyond the text books. Prof. Rachna Prakash
Why get a MAcc? Doing so is an investment by the student that provides the educational foundation that is requisite for career success. This foundation provides the requisite base for real world competence for entry-level positions and for future learning (both on the job and in a classroom environment) that is necessary as the graduate continues to develop through his or her career. Not having this base either makes it impossible or unlikely that the student will experience the same level of either short-run or long-run career success. Prof. Jim Smith
Albert Einstein once said "Problems cannot be solved at the same level of awareness that created them." The MAcc degree will not only broaden and deepen your institutional knowledge bank to achieve your immediate goals (e.g., the CPA exam), but it will also equip you to think critically about complex issues - or at a higher level of awareness in Einstein's vernacular. Prof. Jim Irving
One of the things that I view as being so useful about the MAcc degree is the broad range of skills that it provides. In addition to the courses that focus on accounting, the training in closely related topics, such as finance, is invaluable. Having worked in public accounting as well as litigation consulting for a number of years, I strongly believe that this broad-based training will give MAcc graduates a substantial competitive advantage no matter what direction their career takes. Prof. Laura Simmons
Students sometimes ask me if I think they will still do "fine" if they don't pursue a Master of Accounting degree. My answer is "I'm sure you will...but we designed the MAcc Program so you will be able to do substantially better than "fine'!" W&M's MAcc Program provides students with a unique opportunity to begin an accounting-related career a step ahead of the rest, and it will prepare them to maintain that advantage throughout their career. I fully expect one of our W&M grads to turn up on the FASB, or as Chief Accountant of the SEC, or CEO of one of the large professional accounting firms! Prof. Kim Smith
One of the greatest benefits of the MAcc degree is the versatility of the degree and the preparation students receive to springboard into many different areas of business. I have friends with MAcc degrees who currently are orthodontists, derivatives consultants, tax directors and CFOs of large corporations, owners of assisted-living facilities as well as audit and tax partners for local, regional, and the Big Four Accounting Firms. For me personally, it provided the opportunity to excel in public accounting, followed by the pursuit of a PhD. It's a no-brainer; earn a MAcc degree! Prof. Brad Lindsey
