Due to the competitive nature, do Big 4 firms discriminate against students who start at a community college?
So I am a student at community college for financial reasons, however I do not want that to make me a 'weaker' candidate. If it does, what can I do to set myself apart from the pack? #accounting #community-college #auditing #working-in-big-companies #deloitte #ey #kpmg #pwc
30 answers
Joel’s Answer
Hi Tiffany,
Big 4 firms do not value what school you went to, but rather your performance in school. Additionally, Big 4 firms value internship experience. I understand how you might feel that you're not a strong enough candidate, as I had those same doubts, as I went to a smaller school and didn't have any accounting internships, only insurance internships. However, I kept my grades up and I practiced my interview skills, and I was able to land a job with PwC. Keep working hard and it will work out!
Good luck!
Joel
Your answer is great Joel, thanks so much for sharing your expertise! At this moment there are more than 800 unanswered questions so I wanted to encourage you to keep going! So many students will benefit tremendously from hearing from you. Keep up the great work!
Jordan Rivera
COACH
Tharun’s Answer
I do not believe Big 4 Firms discriminate against students who start at Community college. These firms will look at your potential and how well you have performed at your college. Higher Grades, doing Internships for gaining experience and willingness to explore new areas like extracurricular activities will certainly make you a strong candidate for the job. Willingness to be proactive and working hard will always keeps the door open for potential opportunities in the future. Good Luck!
Vicki’s Answer
Absolutely not! Your degree is what matters overall. Your degree doesn't say "I graduated from here, but the first part of my schooling was from a community college" The fact that you were accepted into the university, and met their requirements for graduation says it all.
My father was a partner in the Big 4 (retired now) and he said this all the time :) In fact, he actually went to a community college and then went on to graduate from a "4 yr" college
Jane Torres, PHR, SHRM-CP (She/Her)
Jane’s Answer
Thank you for your question! The quick answer to your question is NO. I certainly started in community college and many of my colleagues did as well. Although the Big 4 actively recruit from bigger universities, we accept applications from everyone and have staff with various educational backgrounds and experiences.
Some roles have specific educational and experience requirements so depending on your interest, we encourage you to visit the link http://www.pwc.com/us/en/careers.html for more information.
Wish you all the best!
Alessandra’s Answer
Hi Tiffany - I do not believe Big 4 firms discriminate against students who start at community college. I would suggest to have the following items included on your resume to try and set you apart from the rest of the candidates. High GPA, honors/achievements (ie. Dean's list, scholarship recipient, honor's society), work experience (ie. accounting internship, if possible, would be the best), extracurricular activities (volunteering, schools clubs, sports teams) and stand-out skills (ie. computer skills, bilingual, tech-enabled). Aside from what is on paper, the interviews are a huge part as well. Try to be yourself, research the company you are interviewing with and be really interested and excited for the opportunity.
David’s Answer
Hi Tiffany,
No firm you would want to work for would discriminate based on your college. Good firms judge talent on more than academia, but especially so more than just the name of the school on a resume. Employers of top talent, such as B4 firms, universally look for the best candidates, and that means exploring a student's whole self: grades, extra curriculars, ambitions, goals, and career outlook. You should not feel like a "weaker" candidate for your school.
David recommends the following next steps:
Grant’s Answer
Hi Tiffany,
Big 4 firms do not discriminate against community college students. I think the good advice would be to still aim for a high GPA and become involved with extracurricular activities, as these will set your resume apart. And be sure to get involved with your local firm before and during recruiting. But this is my general advice for any college students! Good luck!
Joey’s Answer
Going off of what others have already said, I would note that the name of the school you went to is far less important than the relationships you built while you were there. Big 4 firms have a population of a wide variety of alumni, of which I'm sure you can find a connection with outside of where you went to school. Definitely attend any campus learning events where anyone from the industry is speaking and make yourself known. You never know what kind of opportunities people have for you until you ask for them!
Dave’s Answer
No. Any company worth working for is not going to discriminate against where you went to school. What is important is what you made of your time there. It also helps to show that you are well rounding by getting involved in extracurricular activities.
Alice’s Answer
The 'competitive' part of getting into a Big 4 is how well you did in school, the internships you had during the summer, your references, and your interview - NOT that you went to community college. There is nothing wrong with going to a community college. My father taught at a small state school for 43 years. He was a fantastic professor and mentor to many students over his career. Because of the smaller class size he was able to get to know his students and help them individually. Did I mention he was an accounting professor? Work hard and do your best no matter what you do (or where it is) and there will be payoffs later on. You can do it!
Emilio’s Answer
I don't have the experience of going to a community college, but I did not go to a school that was recruited by the Big Four. My advice is to apply to any related accounting internships to get some experience and meet people through these experiences.
mohamed’s Answer
Mark’s Answer
Big 4 firms don't discriminate from people who start their education at a community college. While most job opportunities require a 4 year degree, much consideration goes into the grades you earned, applicable work experience and internships. In my opinion, an internship at a big 4 is invaluable because you can see first hand what goes into working for these firms and if you make a good impression, you'll have a better chance of receiving a job offer over others who didn't intern at a big 4.
Lauren’s Answer
The Big 4 firms do not hold going to a community college against a candidate in their applications. I know at PwC, we look for the candidates that are hard workers and will fit in at our firm! If you have good work experience, are involved in organizations on campus, and show you are willing to do the work, you will stand out just as much as someone who started at a Tier 1 school!
Elena’s Answer
Hey Tiffany,
I don't think that Big 4 firms discriminate against students who start at a community college. As long as you are an excellent student, it should not affect anything. I personally know a few students, who started at the community college, received a master's degree in accounting afterwards and successfully received a job offer from the Big 4 accounting firms.
Denise’s Answer
Alexandra’s Answer
William’s Answer
The Big 4, especially PwC does not discriminate against people who attend community colleges. We are an inclusive firm that accepts everybody for who they are and where they came from, and base one's success on the things that they do within the firm.
Yes, you do need to display some sort of academic excellence and initiative within extracurricular activities to be admitted to the firm, but it's more about what you are able to accomplish once you start.
Best,
William Tu
Riham’s Answer
Best of luck!
Vincent’s Answer
As one of my professors once said "the CPA exam is the great equalizer". I would highly suggest you trying to pass your CPA exam while in school. This will help open many doors and will make life much easier when you start working. If you show that you are a bright student and have your exam parts passed, it shouldn’t be very difficult getting a job at a Big 4 or Regional firm. Good luck!!
Grace’s Answer
Connor’s Answer
Through networking, strong academic performance, and internship experience, you will be a strong candidate, regardless of attending a community college. Big 4 firms are more concerned with the candidate you have become rather than the candidate you may have been years ago.
However, because the recruiting process is competitive, you may need to be proactive in demonstrating your strengths. Once you transfer, aim for a strong GPA at your university, get involved in accounting or business clubs, and seek out leadership roles or volunteer opportunities. Internships, even with smaller firms or in related fields, are highly valuable and show practical experience. Networking is also crucial—attend career fairs, connect with recruiters, and build relationships with professors who can provide recommendations. Highlight your unique journey in your resume and interviews, emphasizing your determination, adaptability, and the skills you gained by managing your education and finances responsibly. By excelling academically and gaining relevant experience, you can absolutely stand out to Big 4 recruiters, regardless of where you started your college journey.
Grace’s Answer
Aaron’s Answer
Hi Tiffany,
I started my college career at a local community college, and soon transferred to a public college in my home state. I am currently working at a big 4 company. It all depends on the work you put into yourself, your school work, and your persistence to be the best student you can be.
This includes getting high grades, actively pursuing internships, and being involved in the college and local communities for starters. You can also see which colleges in your area have recruiting relationships with the Big 4, to get yourself in front of the recruiters from these companies.
I hope this helps!
Jonathan’s Answer
Nathan’s Answer
Good luck!
Anh’s Answer
The Big 4 firms do not discriminate against students who begin at a community college. They care more about your academic performance and relevant work or internship experience. I know people in the Big 4 who started at community college and are some of the best colleagues I've worked with. Keep in mind that the Big 4 is very competitive when hiring new graduates. To improve your chances, focus on maintaining a good GPA, taking relevant classes, and gaining internships.
Matthew’s Answer
Simeon’s Answer
