2014-15
vanderbilt
MAcc
Master of Accountancy
Your ticket to a top
No exper
Vanderbilt Master of Accountancy You didn’t major in accounting or business? Never imagined being a CPA? No problem. We created our Master of Accountancy (MAcc) program to help students from widely diverse academic backgrounds launch rewarding business careers. Our program, designed in consultation with some of the world’s leading professional services firms, offers you a combination of advantages you’ll find nowhere else. World-class instruction. Small classes. Opportunities for a paid internship during the academic year with a premier global firm. An emphasis on professional development. Preparation for the CPA exam. In just one year. Bring your strong academic, communication and critical thinking skills. We’ll take you from there.
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firm.
ience necessary.
Table of Contents All Are Welcome.............................................2-3 Curriculum .............................................................4-5 Partner Firms.................................................. 6-7 Career Path......................................................8-9 One Day in the Life.....................................10-11 Class Profile........................................................12 Admissions Information...............................13
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“The team dynamics I learned from playing football helped with my transition to grad school and even into my internship. A career in accounting really is all about working together on a team and that’s the way the program is structured.”
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Poets, quants and
historians
welcome.
What we look for most in prospective students are the qualities that are reliable predictors of success (and that recruiters prize). Like strong academic performance. An aptitude for analysis and problem solving. Solid communication and interpersonal skills. Keen work ethic. So, even if you didn’t major in business as an undergraduate, rest assured that we welcome those with diverse academic backgrounds. P.S. By the way, we welcome business majors too.
Reggie Ford Deloitte–Nashville As a former football player and a Nashville native, Reggie looked to Vanderbilt for his undergraduate and graduate education. With a major in Economics, he was looking for an option that would make him an expert in his field. His drive for success aided his search for a career that is stimulating and meaningful, as well as remaining close to home.
MAcc
2014
Class
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89
%
First time CPA pass rate for the Class of 2013
Professor Karl Hackenbrack Associate Dean & Faculty Director, MAcc Programs
go from zero to cpa An audit and assurance position with a global professional services firm isn’t an anonymous role in the back office. It’s a fast-paced, people-centric, teamwork-oriented pathway to companies in a wide range of industries, with opportunities to work around the world. It’s also a ticket to top leadership (or wherever else you’d like to go). And thanks to our rigorous curriculum— which includes training in leadership and communications as well as a built-in Becker CPA review course—you can complete the CPA exam and be on track for the top in just one year. You won’t get that from other programs.
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You won’t just learn accounting.
final weeks, you and other MAcc students work with a licensed executive coach to maximize and apply what you learned from your internship experience. At all times, our professional development coaches are available for one-onone coaching.
At Vanderbilt, like nowhere else, your professional development is a major part of the MAcc program. It begins with coaching and a leadership assessment through which you gain insights into your strengths, challenges and personal motivators and how they all affect your working relationships with others. Then you’ll work with one of our professional development coaches with prior public accounting experience to turn all this feedback into strategies you can take into your internship. During the program’s
The bottom line? You’re even more valuable to potential employers. You’re not just ready to handle a job. You’re prepared for your career.
in one year. SPRING
Mod 2
Managerial Finance (2)
Financial Reporting II (2)
Financial Reporting I (2) Audit Institutions and Processes (2) Accounting Information Systems (2) Audit Engagement Documentation (1)
Taxation of Business and Investment Transactions (2) Managerial Economics (2)
Mod 3
Mod 4
CPA Prep
Advanced Financial Reporting (2) Winter Break
Mod 1
SUMMER
Advanced Cost Accounting (2) Audit Internship or electives (6)
Introduction to Law and Business (2)
Research in Financial Reporting (2)
Strategic Management (2)
Business Ethics in Accounting (1)
Taxation of Business Entities (2)
Commencement
FALL
Immersion Week Advanced Audit Topics (2)
Orientation: Communication, Leadership and Ethics in Accounting (1)
MAcc Curriculum at a Glance
Becker CPA Review Course and CPA Exam
(x) = credit hours Curriculum and course information is updated annually and is subject to change.
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Intern with one of the
And get paid
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10,000
$ As part of the program, you’ll have unparalleled access to our partner firms (who happen to be among the world’s top public accounting firms) to pursue a 10-week, paid internship. The internship allows you to round out your education with the real-world experience you’ve been preparing for. And it enables partner firms to give you a “trial run”—since successful internships typically lead to job offers upon graduation.
The average amount paid for a MAcc internship.
100
%
Last year (and the year before that and the year before that), 100 percent of the graduates of our MAcc program received job offers from our partner accounting firms.
world’s top firms.
while you learn.
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Where can a vanderbilt
where do
“I came to this program thinking that I was just gonna come here, take classes, get my hours, sit for the CPA and be done with it, but I have made the best friends I’ve made in my life.”
“When I got to my internship there were so many things that we had talked about in class that gave me a leg up on the other interns.”
amanda essay
Cory Thompson
Vanderbilt MAcc | 2014 Undergrad Major: Economics Undergrad Institution: Vanderbilt University PwC, Chicago, IL
Vanderbilt MAcc | 2013 Undergrad Major: History Undergrad Institution: Greensboro College Deloitte, New York
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“I went on second round interviews and some people who were interviewing were searching for spots while I had my offer already. It shows that it and our students get the jobs before other programs.”
cherry tran
Vanderbilt MAcc | 2014 Undergrad Major: Economics Undergrad Institution: Duke University EY, McLean, VA
macc take you?
you want to go? Our partner firms are among the top of the professional services field—and often quoted as one of the best places to work or launch a career. Soon after admission, you’ll have opportunities to network with them, visit them in their offices and evaluate which might be best for you.
MAcc
JR./SR. Associate
(Auditing and Assurance)
MANAGER
(Auditing and Consulting)
CONTROLLER
PARTNER
CFO
Public Accounting and Services
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Corporate Sector
CEO Entrepreneur
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One Day in the
Life:
Brent Blackburn
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Brent Blackburn, an English major, worked for a few years before enrolling in the Vanderbilt MAcc program. “I was looking for a career and not just a job,” he says. “I like hanging out with people and that’s what drew me to this program. Accounting is actually a very people-focused business.” Students complete their internships during our partner firms’ “busy” season in January and February. Here’s how Brent describes a typical day during his internship with Nashville’s KPMG office.
6:00 AM
1:00 PM
Head for the downtown Y to work out. Before my internship I wasn’t really a morning person!
After lunch, there is a little more urgency to follow up on information gathering and connect with clients before the end of the day.
8:00 AM
Arrive at the client’s site—except on days when I had to call Europe, where it was already mid-afternoon; then I might arrive at 7. I’ll check emails, get caught up and meet with my senior associate about the work for the day.
3:30 PM
Keep projects moving. A lot of my projects involve reviewing cash and bank accounts, long-term debt and fixed assets. Some projects might take 10 minutes. Others might take two hours.
9:00 AM
Our first meeting of the day with clients usually happens around this time. Meetings consist of posing questions to the clients to gather information and insight into their business. There is a lot of stopping and starting based on when we can schedule times to meet with or talk to clients. It takes multi-tasking to a whole new level.
5:30 PM
Later in the evening , we open the doors to the audit room and team members compare notes on issues we need to deal with.
11:00 AM
My senior associate is great about checking in with me every couple of hours. It gives me an opportunity to ask questions I might not otherwise have asked.
6:30 PM
During the evening we are usually consolidating information we got that day. Although we do not have set hours, the average workday during busy season ends later in order to meet our deadlines. For the majority of the work week, that means ordering food in. But on Fridays, KPMG team members meet somewhere for dinner to unwind.
Noon
Our team typically goes to lunch together to get to know each other a little more outside of the office.
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CLASS PROFILE
All Vanderbilt Business students have one thing in common: They’re different. But while there’s no risk that we’ll ever reduce students to statistics and averages, here are a few figures that may give you a picture of who your classmates might be. Class of 2014 Profile Class Size . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 Average Age . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 Undergraduate GPA Average . . . . . 3.54 GMAT Range . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 640-720 Women . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36%
Cities in Which Graduates Have Gone to Work Milwaukee Minneapolis Nashville New Orleans New York Orlando Philadelphia Phoenix Portland Salt Lake City San Diego San Francisco San Jose Seattle Washington, DC
Atlanta Austin Birmingham Boise Boston Charlotte Chicago Columbus Dallas Denver Detroit Honolulu Houston Louisville Miami
Partial List of Undergraduate Majors* n n n
Advertising Anthropology Art History
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Business Administration Economics Engineering
n n n n n
History Mass Communications Physics Political Science Spanish
Partial List of Undergraduate Institutions* Boston College Colgate University n Cornell University n Dartmouth College n Davidson College n Duke University
Franklin and Marshall College n Furman University n Rice University n Tulane University n University of Florida n University of Michigan
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n
n
University of the South University of Texas n Vanderbilt University n Wake Forest University n Wofford College n Yale University n n
*For historical list please visit owen.vanderbilt.edu/macc 15 12
admissions requirementS
Open house ADMISSIONs EVENTS
Successful candidates have strong academic performance in prior university studies, with proven problem-solving skills and analytical aptitude. They will be able to demonstrate integrity and exhibit exceptional communication skills and carry themselves with a mature, professional presence. To be considered, all applicants will provide the following: n n n n n n n
Online application Transcripts from all universities attended GMAT or GRE score (you may submit your application prior to taking the exam) Essays Two letters of recommendation Resume 1st round interview and attendance at an Open House admissions event (by invitation only)
Prerequisites Students must have completed the following courses from an accredited school, with a grade of B or better. Additional prerequisites may be required on a case-bycase basis. Students may be admitted to the program before these requirements are met. n n n n
Introductory Financial Accounting Introductory Managerial/Cost Accounting Introductory Statistics Introductory Microeconomics
We encourage you to apply as early in the admission cycle as possible.
Deadline to Apply
Campus Decision Interview Event Deadline
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Oct 6, 2014
Oct 23-24, 2014
Nov 7, 2014
2
Nov 10, 2014
Dec 4-5 ,2014
Dec 19, 2014
3
Feb 2, 2015
Mar 12-13, 2015
Mar 27, 2015
4
Mar 16, 2015*
Apr 9-10, 2015
Apr 17, 2015
* U.S. citizens & permanent residents only
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Open House admissions events are by invitation only, for selected candidates who pass a 1st round interview 1st round interviews are by invitation only and are conducted via video call, phone or in person Application fee of $50 is non-refundable and due at the time of submission
Open House Admissions Events
Open Houses are second round interview events scheduled from Thursday afternoon through Friday afternoon. Participants will learn more about the program and hear from representatives of our partner firms as well as interact with other applicants, current students, faculty and staff from the MAcc and MAcc Valuation programs.
Welcome Weekend Event
Welcome Weekend is open only to those who receive an offer of admission and is an opportunity for admitted students to get to know their classmates and immerse themselves into the Nashville and Vanderbilt communities. Students will also have the opportunity to meet members of our partner firms. n
Welcome Weekend for the Class of 2016 – April 17-18, 2015
TUITION AND FINANCIAL AID
2014-2015 MAcc application deadlines & event dates Round
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Vanderbilt is pleased to offer ready access to financial aid. Additionally, merit-based scholarships may be awarded based on achievement and potential. With exceptional job placement made possible through our unparalleled network with the top professional services firms, the typical “payback” for the program is less than two years.
Estimated Expenses Tuition. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 47,950 Books/Supplies. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 1,842 Rent/Utilities. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 9,918 Meals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 3,986 Personal* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 5,770 Transportation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 1,994 Loan Fees**. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 1,296 * Includes allowance for the University Health Insurance Fee and for the Activity/Recreation Center Fee (projected). ** Average loan fees incurred by similarly classified borrowers during the previous academic year.
owen.vanderbilt.edu/macc
A distinguished school. With some
distinctive differences.
We’re competitive, not cutthroat. We lead with ideas, not egos. We take business personally. Our professors will know you by name.
Vanderbilt Master of Accountancy
Vanderbilt University | Owen Graduate School of Management 401 21st Avenue South | Nashville, TN 37203-2422 Telephone: 615.322.6509 | Fax: 615.343.1175 Email: macc@owen.vanderbilt.edu Web: owen.vanderbilt.edu/macc Hours: 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM, U.S. Central Time ©2014 Vanderbilt and the Vanderbilt logo are registered trademarks and service marks of Vanderbilt University. REV. 09/14 Vanderbilt University is committed to principles of equal opportunity and affirmative action. Visit owen.vanderbilt.edu for Vanderbilt University’s complete EEO and affirmative action statement.