thanks vivihw, more suggestions pls -anyaanya(dreamgirl) @费城华人论坛:费城枫下论坛 The Rolia Forum of Philadelphia

关于BROCK的会计硕士，作为毕业生，我的看法！ -vivihw(vivi); 2007-4-30 {3877} (#1904@41)
本文发表在 rolia.net 枫下论坛Sorry, I can't input chinese right now and have to post it in English.

I have read many posts about the Master of Accountancy program and about Brock's discussion. I'm the graduate from Brock's MAcc( not IMacc) program and feel it's necessary to say sth about this. Brock has two graduate programs for accountancy. One is MAcc, which is much cheaper in tuition( around CAD 3000 per term). Moerover, you need to have a bachelor background in accounting from Canadian university. Totally there are two study terms and one internship term in this program. However, it's not gauranteed you will get an internship replacement. It's totally the same procedure as looking for a full-time position as intership. In my class, around 6 people got the intership opportunities. Because of the reputation of Brock's Co-op Accounting program (not the other accounting programs), a lot of accounting firms will come to campus for recruiting and all the students have the chance to apply for those positions. At the end of the program, in my class, three go into Big4, 2 go to the other Big6, 2 go to the regional firm and some go to the industry.

Another program is IMacc which only accept the oversea students and 90%+ are from China. It's a very intense program and, as far as I know, the students also need to have accounting background in China. This program is very expensive though, around 20,000USA for tuition. Moerover, you won't satisfy the requirment of 51 credits for CA after your graduation, since both MAcc and IMacc are not aimed for CA and no CA related course are taught in this program (or only some of them). However, I heard about it that IMacc program is credited for CMA designation. I don't have much idea about the situation of job replacement for IMacc, but I do have several collegs in my firm from IMacc.

Above are some facts about the program in MAcc as you can see I don't add any personal opinions there. Now, regarding most people's concerns, I'd like to discuss it from my view of point:

1: No. of Chines students in the program. Honestly speaking, both MAcc and IMacc have a lot of chinese students. But, I don't consider it's a disadvantage since you will have tons of discussion and presentation all in English. At least, I improve my oral english a lot in this program and this should't be the major important reason when you consider whether to go for this program.

2. The workload of the program. In my class(Macc), I have to say it's a lot of work to do in the program. If you really want to acheive better results, it's normal for you to study very late at night. Too much reading, presentation and paper written in the program.

3. The quality of program. OK... Honestly speaking, I think only one of my professors has very strong background in accounting and can teach stuff (But I heard from my Tax stream classmates, the tax professors are very good and professional). The others....... ???? Personally, I don't think I get development in knowlege and skills in accounting or auditing. Most of that I get from my undergraduate program. Other than that, I developed a lot in my communication and presentation skills. Also, only a few professors in Brock have CA desiganation which looks very wierd to me. (Most have the CPA designation)

4. Desiganation. As I mentioned above, if you do not finish the required 51 credits for CA in undergraduate study, it won't help you get your CA designation by studying in this program.

The last word, English and interview always are most important in job hunting. However, it's true that Waterloo has the best accounting program in Canada. Ok...I think that's basiclly everything I would like to say and, again, it's all my personal opinions. I wish everyone studying in accounting right now will have prospers future. Never give up, you will get there at end!!更多精彩文章及讨论，请光临枫下论坛 rolia.net

so IMacc is a rip-off. BTW, how did you make the title in Chinese? -dodotoron(哇咧); 2007-5-1 (#1921@41)

SAME QT. how did you make the title in Chinese? :-) -ava_green(豆芽); 2007-5-1 (#1926@41)

copy & paste -commerce(commerce); 2007-5-1 (#1928@41)
The truth is I'm using the firm's lap and the Chinese input is really annoying. Furthermore, it's not good to be seen typing Chinese at firm. Thanks! -vivihw(vivi); 2007-5-1 (#1934@41)

could you tell us your class size pls? thanks -icyice(ice); 2007-5-1 (#1924@41) +1

Totally we have 21 students in my class. -vivihw(vivi); 2007-5-1 (#1933@41)

Another suggestion. -vivihw(vivi); 2007-5-1 {456} (#1935@41)
I feel tax students are easier to find a job and the Big 4 firms are always needing a lot of Tax people. Waterloo has the Master of Taxation program, which accept students from other universities and has toronto campus, but the competition is very rigorous. Brock also has tax stream in its graduate progrm and its tax professors are very good. If you are not hating tax, taxation is a good choice. BTW, I'm not smart enough to be a tax person. Good Luck!

Delimma, brock u. Macc tax stream or not -anyaanya(dreamgirl); 2007-5-8 {646} (#2092@41)
Got an offer from brock u macc tax stream, but don't know whether it is worth of studying. Live in the us and waiting for both us green card and canada maple card. want to study one term in tax stream and come the state to find job. Can I find a job in the states with a canadian degree emphasized in taxation? Can I find a professional job in canada easily? only one year us accounting associate experience. already have a master in accounting and got an oral offer from one of big four.didn't work for them because status issue (they didn't sponsor h1b). Stay at home for four years and want to jumpstart career. Any reply is welcome. Thanks

I don't know so much about the education and job replacement in US. Personnaly, I think -vivihw(vivi); 2007-5-9 {673} (#2094@41)
I don't know so much about the education and job replacement in US. Personnaly, I think it's not easy for you to find a job in US with a Canadian master degree in tax. I don't know where you got your current accounting master degree: China, US or somewhere else. If it's from US, why don't you try to apply the Big four in Canada directly. I have lot of colleges graduating from US. I don't feel another Canadian master degree will help you more. On the other hand, if you have both US and Canadian Taxation background, it should be very easy for you to find a job. All big 4 firms have the international taxation group which mostly deals with US taxation. Gook Luck!

more questions -anyaanya(dreamgirl); 2007-5-9 {448} (#2105@41)
As a graduate of Brock U, how and when did you find your job? DId you find an internship druing summer break? How does their' co-op work? How many and when companies will go to Brock to recruit new hires? what is price range for housing, is driving mandatory? will you have class during day or night? any job opportunity in St. Catherines? Where did people find their jobs? big city or local? I noticed D&T has office in St. Catherines. Thanks

Ooops..You do have a lot of questions! -vivihw(vivi); 2007-5-10 {943} (#2127@41)
Regarding so manay questions, i can only try my best to answer the ones I know, the others you can find more information from university website:
1. I found my job in last October before I finished my program in December
2. Most firms come to university for campus recruiting from September.
3. Housing in St. Catharines is a little cheaper than that in Toronto. I think 300-350 for one room is normal.
4. Driving is not mandatory. You can definitely take a bus.
5. Most classes are at daytime.
6. Most students find jobs in other cities like Toronto. But there are local job postings as well.

Last word, as I said before, if you want to pursue the CA designation in Canada, it's a waste of your time to study in MAcc or Imacc. Moreover, I agree with Ice, to your situation, CPA is much better than a master degree in Canada. Not even saying you've already had a master degree in accounting. Hope the information will help you some!

thanks vivihw, more suggestions pls -anyaanya(dreamgirl); 2007-5-10 {597} (#2131@41)
Thanks for your generous inputs. The turth is that I already passed the CPA exam but not certified. The place where I live is not that economic robust and I am afraid of not finding an appropriate professional job as I hope. Another thing that bothers me is I am out of job market for four years, maybe a degree will help? Brock U is cheap compared to other 20K plus taxation programs. Will the study at Brock increse my marketablity? ( At least I have sth to say on my resume CURRENTLY if I am in the program and other things such as networking, resume exporsue). Any career planning suggestions.

Don't waste your time. A cpa will be more valuable than another accounting master. -icyice(ice); 2007-5-9 (#2122@41)

I am a Imacc -vannigen(vannigen); 2007-5-28 {734} (#2330@41)
Hello, this is a 2005 Imacc student from Brock, I am in a Coop placement right now. Regarding the setting of the Imacc program, I have to admit that some of the professors are really good. It is a enjoyable to attend their classes. Of course, some are not. My only suggestion is that you need to really practice your English as much as possible, because if you are surrounded by Chinese, you would prefer to speak Chineses. That is what I really was before. You have to forece yourself to talk in others in English, otherwises, you will find that you are not efficient in English in work. Some of the Imacc students are strong, so even they do not have Canadian education background, they could be outstanding in their study and work.
Hi Vivi. I think it's you. Will you go to the graduation party on 15th? -zhang_yiyun(Tony); 2007-5-30 (#2349@41)

Tony? -kaqima(hehe); 2007-5-30 (#2363@41)

Yes. You? -zhang_yiyun(Tony); 2007-5-30 (#2369@41)

Vivi, i am thinking of Brock's MAcc, need your advice -allurezz(buick); 2007-5-31 {2025} (#2383@41)
本文发表在 rolia.net 枫下论坛Hello Vivi, I have been thinking of Brock's MAcc for long time. Your article really helps. Would you please give me some advice? Thanks.

My Background.

I have a master degree in computer science, but after setting my mind in accounting, I went to get a Diploma in Accounting (part-time) from McMaster Univ in Dec. 2005. I have been working in my current company since Feb. 2005. The company has around 30 people only. I will say 70% of my job is bookkeeping. The rest job include budgeting, product costing, inter-company reconciliation (German parent company), GST, payroll, etc. We have a consultant to do month-end stuff and auditor to do final F/S. I want to find a new job to be a real accountant, not doing any bookkeeping. Then I found it is not easy for me to find such a job. I figured out probably it is because I do not have a bachelor degree in accounting.

I know I must earn an accounting designation in Canada. CA is no way for me because I do not want to study for a bachelor in accounting. So CGA is my goal now. I need to take 4 courses to transfer all possible credits to CGA level 4. The problem is, I am afraid I cannot get a decent accountant job to have CGA required senior experience, if I have a diploma only. So I want to go back school to get a master degree. Brock said I need one capstone course (ACTG 4P12) to meet the admission criteria.

I know an accounting designation much more valuable than a master degree. I hope a master degree can bring me a decent accounting job (in firm or midsize ot big company) to aquire CGA required senior experience.

Questions:
1. The general stream of MAcc has 9 courses. You said basically it has 2 academic terms and 1 internship term. So you finished 9 courses in 2 terms? That's a pretty heavy load, right?

2. For my case, do you think Brock's Macc degree can help me to achieve my CGA goal? Is it worth? Am I too old for the program? (I am 35 already!)

Thank you for your help. Waiting to your reply.更多精彩文章及讨论，请光临枫下论坛 rolia.net

不要回学校了, 你的教育背景已经够强, 把简历改好换份senior的工作更可行. For your reference: -7y7(醉里吴音); 2007-5-31 (#2385@41)

Hello 7Y7, thanks for your advice ... -allurezz(buick); 2007-5-31 {669} (#2387@41)
Hello 7Y7,

It was those of your articles about Canadian Accounting that brought me to the Diploma in Accounting program in McMaster 3 years ago. Actually I joined your yahoo accounting group from the very beginning, and downloaded many useful stuff. (the group seems already down ??) I read all of your articles. All excellent! Thanks.

I am taking Business Law right now, plan to retarting job-finding after the course is finished in mid June. Do you have time to take a look at my resume sometime? Thanks a lot in advance.

Tell you the truth, I always feel "inferior" to those have a bachelor degree in accounting, though I know my capability is not.

My suggestion... -vivihw(vivi); 2007-6-18 {334} (#2649@41)
based on your background, you can go for designations of CISA and CIA. With your background in both CS and Accounting, you should be able to find very good job in internal auditing/control or information systems auditing. Don't stuck in the rigorous "accounting" thinking. Accounting could be more than Journal Entries, GL and F/S.

Thank you very much for your suggestion -allurezz(buick); 2007-6-27 {91} (#2884@41)
I gotta to think about it seriously. Saying IT, I only like coding, nothing else. Thanks.

hi,could you give me some opions? -qioao(飞飞); 2007-6-6 {447} (#2442@41)
i'm glad to see your article.I'm a female new immigrant .i just got the offer of BAcc(Co-op) from brock univerversity.Could you please introduce some aspects of the major ,the university life or the city of St.catharines?esp.the job future after graduation.
I have a little child with me,so i wonder how it is difficult to study accounting(c0-op) in university?i wonder if it is practical to study full time with a 2.5-years-old boy .thank you

The late reply! -vivihw(vivi); 2007-6-18 {901} (#2648@41)
First of all, congratulations! Honestly speaking, BAcc (Co-op) program is the best in Brock. Most students can find the co-op in big 4 or big 6 firms. Once you got co-op in the firm, the firm will support you for all the CA exams (mostly). Some students can even finish UFE at graduation. As far as I know, there is very few Chinese students in that program. Definitely recommend you go and take it. You should be able to get the childcare subsidy from the government and then put your son in the daycare center. When I started my MAcc program, my son is only 10 months. Because my husband went back to Toronto for working at the second term, I have to take care of my son by myself , write thesis paper and look for a job at the same time. It is a hard time, but nothing is impossible. I think you can get over all the difficulties and feel everything is worthy when you look back later!
Good luck!

Is it worthy to get a graduate assistantship while studing in Macc program? Is it easy to find a job outside the school rather than work in the departmetn? -anyaanya(dreamgirl); 2007-6-21 (#2706@41)

You can find a TA or Marker job very easily in Brock. However, the pay is not so good. At the same time, I don't think you will have so much time to work outside school. -vivihw(vivi); 2007-6-23 (#2746@41)

thank you for your reply -qioao(飞飞); 2007-6-27 {159} (#2876@41)
i'm greatly encouraged by your reply.I'll come back to Canada onjune28,2007.I 'll come to St.catharines to visit brock university and make my final decision

@Philadelphia

thanks vivihw, more suggestions pls

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