DCP and Accounting program students

Any alumni or active CP/prospective CP please answer...

Would the CP be worth doing? I know it isnt relevant experience but do you think BIG 4 Accounting Firms (in Canada) would place you higher if they see the Disney experience

Yes/No. Personally, this program is special and should be doing it because you want to do it.

If you are a freshman/sophomore and can't start interning because you haven't completed the required classes, this is a great opportunity. You'll have something to start with on your resume if you have nothing. If you do this, you should think like an accountant. Don't just list what you did, like any other major, use numbers. Ask about internal control in your locations. Maybe you might be auditing something. I'm in costuming and I have been able to think of ideas of how tie things together.

If you are a junior/senior, then getting an internship in accounting should be easy enough. You time might be better served in an accounting internship. Lots of people know they will be hired on after they intern or once they graduate. I already have an offer. I'm doing the program for myself and I had a gap before my start date.

Either way, it's a excellent conversation starter in an interview. They will ask about it and if you are doing this because you want to do it, it's really easy to show you enthusiasm. This is helpful if you are a bit nervous.

@Delfblue can I ask you some accounting degree questions? My DD is doing a 5 year accouting program where she is eligle to sit for the CPA exam. She also wants to double magor in Fiannce but her advisor is tellng her it isn't necessary and would be "hard". I think she should do it in case five years from now she hates accounting she'll have other options. Whats your thoughts?
Thanks!

Hi

DisOrBust said:

@Delfblue can I ask you some accounting degree questions? My DD is doing a 5 year accouting program where she is eligle to sit for the CPA exam. She also wants to double magor in Fiannce but her advisor is tellng her it isn't necessary and would be "hard". I think she should do it in case five years from now she hates accounting she'll have other options. Whats your thoughts?
Thanks!

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Not @Delfblue but I was in a similar boat. Honestly she'll find out if she likes Accounting after taking Intermediate I and II. If she can make it through and enjoys it then its the career for her, otherwise Finance is a good fall back option. Double major would be hard. And a 5 year program is interesting considering most places you only need 4 year degree to sit for the CPA, unless the school is offering co-op for some terms.

DisOrBust said:

@Delfblue can I ask you some accounting degree questions? My DD is doing a 5 year accouting program where she is eligle to sit for the CPA exam. She also wants to double magor in Fiannce but her advisor is tellng her it isn't necessary and would be "hard". I think she should do it in case five years from now she hates accounting she'll have other options. Whats your thoughts?
Thanks!

Click to expand...

My husband says it isn't neseccary and agrees it would be hard. It depends on what electives in the CPA she wants to focus on.

canucks96 said:

Not @Delfblue but I was in a similar boat. Honestly she'll find out if she likes Accounting after taking Intermediate I and II. If she can make it through and enjoys it then its the career for her, otherwise Finance is a good fall back option. Double major would be hard. And a 5 year program is interesting considering most places you only need 4 year degree to sit for the CPA, unless the school is offering co-op for some terms.

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Every jurisdiction in the US (except for the Virgin Islands) requires 150 college Semester credit hours in order to sit for the CPA exam. So if you can get a masters in 5 years and be CPA exam eligible then go for it.

DisOrBust said:

@Delfblue can I ask you some accounting degree questions? My DD is doing a 5 year accouting program where she is eligle to sit for the CPA exam. She also wants to double magor in Fiannce but her advisor is tellng her it isn't necessary and would be "hard". I think she should do it in case five years from now she hates accounting she'll have other options. Whats your thoughts?
Thanks!

Click to expand...

I think this is question is difficult because I don't know your daughter nor do I know what her advisor meant by saying it would be "hard". A lot of students I know double major in accounting & finance. They usually take more than five years to do it, but since they need their 150, it's not really an issue. The courses can be difficult for a lot of people. A lot of my homework wasn't necessarily hard, but it was time consuming.

Accounting is second career for me. I completed an internship in audit, tax and at private company. I know the degree I already had gave me the competitive advantage over other students for at least two of my internships. Double majoring could give your daughter a competitive advantage over others, but she could obtain a competitive advantage over others in other ways. She could work at bank or apply for temp work at an accounting firm. It would certainly give her more options when it comes to finding an internship. There were several internships for finance students that I was really interested in, but couldn't apply to.

My advice to your daughter:
1. Take one or two courses in finance beyond the required one. If she likes it, keep going. Get a minor. If she is hungry for more, double major. If you like something, it's not really "hard" to keep pursuing it. It will still be time consuming, but in my experience, the drive to keep going will be there.

2. Seek out assistance from career services or the accounting department. Ask for the names/numbers of alumni in accounting and/or finance. Call them and ask them about their jobs and what they like/don't like. (Don't forget to send thank you notes) I did this when I earned my first degree. One of the alums asked me to call back when I was ready to graduate. She ended up hooking me up with a job. It's how I started my first career.

3. Start looking at internship/job advertisements for both accounting and finance students. Look anywhere. There are tons of great companies and firms. Maybe your daughter has a secondary interest. A friend of mine is a sports nut and is an accountant at ESPN. Note what kind of student they are looking for. Sometimes knowing where you want to end up will help you plan your path.