Here are some tips for selecting schools, based on an analysis comparing each school to all others across dozens of factors:
Schools Concentrating On Accountants And Auditors
- Focus: For schools with a focus on this career area, look at Montana State Bozeman.
Fastest Response From Schools
- Request Info: For the fastest information for prospective students, look at the Spotlight schools on this page.
Student Body
- Part-Time: For schools emphasizing part-time studies, consider The University of Montana and Montana State Bozeman.
- Adult Learners: For lots of adult learners, consider University of Great Falls, MSUB College of Technology, and Montana State Great Falls.
School Setting
- Out of State: For geographic diversity, take note of Carroll College, University of Great Falls, Rocky Mountain College, and Montana State Bozeman.
- Dorms: For a residential campus environment, take note of MSUB College of Technology, Carroll College, Rocky Mountain College, and University of Great Falls.
Excellence
- SAT: For students with high SAT scores, look at Montana State Bozeman and Carroll College.
- % Accepted: For selective institutions, look at Rocky Mountain College.
- Class Size: For small class sizes, look at Rocky Mountain College, Carroll College, University of Great Falls, and Montana State Bozeman.
Student/Alumnus Reviews of Schools for This Career and State
Montana State University • Bozeman, MT
Studying Business (completion in 2008)
• 10/28/2011
"I was satisfied with the knowledge, information, and experience I left the school with. My only disappointment was that when I applied, I was told "a bachelor's with us guarantees you a spot in our master's program," but this was not the case. They had a whole set of criteria that they didn't tell you about, and if you didn't meet all of it, even if you had a bachelor's, you couldn't get in. So that was a bit misleading, and I still hold a grudge about it 4 years later."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | The staff and facilities are amazing for such a small location. And even though it's "small," there is so much to do. Especially if you love the outdoors, it's the right location for you. You'll have an awesome experience, both in and out of the classroom, and come out ahead of many of your peers in the same field. |
| Program Reputation | 8 | As previously mentioned, they rank in the top 10 of all schools in the nation for graduates passing their CPA Exam on the first attempt. Also, they are considered leaders for entrepreneurial programs in the nation. |
| Program Quality | 9 | The teachers were knowledgeable and they had excellent facilities. They ranked among the top 10 in the nation for students passing their CPA exams on the first attempt, which was a major draw for me. |
| Instruction | 8 | Many of the professors had PhD's and worked in various accounting positions, so they had great insight on the jobs available to us. We learned a variety of different accounting techniques and fields, and the quality of instruction was almost always very high. On occasion, a professor wasn't up to par, but this wasn't common. |
| How Difficult | 9 | The work load and difficulty during years 1 and 2 was low. Year 3 it became moderate, and Year 4 it became difficult. It gradually got harder, which is what I expected. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | It all depended on the teachers. Some teachers lived by the book, explaining all answers out of it, and pulling all test material out of it. Others lived by giving real life examples and having us work in groups to solve problems, and would even tell us not to buy the book because it was a waste of money. So it truly depended on the luck of the draw and who you got. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 7 | Weekend and Night classes were offered, but not often. Online options were limited at the time. It was also difficult to obtain a minor in anything but business. The business classes were only offered at two times, A and B, so you HAD to get into one of those two, which were often popular times to get into other classes for minors outside of business, so it became difficult and you had to focus strictly on your major. |
| Academic Facilities | 8 | The library was a massive building, full of computer, book, and magazine resources. They also offered numerous study rooms with laptops and projectors for groups to practice speeches and projects. All technology was up to date and fantastic. |
| Social Life | 8 | School spirit is VERY HIGH at MSU. The athletics program, although in a small division, is intense, and the graduates still are intense about it years later. There were lots of organized events when I lived in the dorms, and you would still hear about them all over campus once I lived off campus as well. |
| Placement Services | 9 | All of the teachers had held jobs in numerous fields (auditors, IRS, lawyers, etc.) so we were able to talk to them about all of the options available to us. Also, the school had companies like Schwanns and Boeing come in during our early years to talk to us, and when it became clear we wanted to be accountants, representatives from the Big 4 Firms would come in to talk to us Senior Year. As a Senior, advisers would also set up interviews for internships to be done ON CAMPUS, which made it much easier to try and get a position. |
| Alumni Network | 3 | They have never contacted me. I updated my contact information, and I think I have received one postcard ever, which asked me to call and update AGAIN. |
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