Student Membership in the IMA

If you like management accounting or enjoyed your cost accounting course, you might want to consider joining the IMA as a student member.

Here's what the IMA website has to say (http://www.imanet.org/ima_membership/membership_categories/student_members.aspx):

As an IMA Student member, you can learn about the accounting and financial management profession, explore your future career options, and build your résumé and professional network.
Student Membership
We offer Student members access to many IMA membership benefits at significantly reduced rates:

• IMA Student membership fee of $39 (regularly $195)
• Reduced CMA certification entrance and exam fees
• Opportunity for a scholarship to attend the IMA Annual Conference & Exposition

IMA Student membership is available to individuals who are:

• Enrolled in at least six (6) undergraduate or graduate credit hours, or the equivalent, per semester
• Reside in the U.S., Canada, or Mexico

Student membership can be held for a maximum of six (6) years. Students who become Professional members can't revert back to Student membership.
The programs and benefits for Student members include:

Student Leadership Conference
This exclusive IMA event enables students to explore management accounting career options first-hand while networking with experienced professionals.
Scholarships
IMA sponsors a variety of scholarships to help offset the high cost of education:

• IMA Memorial Education Fund Scholarships
• Stuart Cameron and Margaret McLeod Memorial Scholarship
• Rolf S. Jaehnigen Family Scholarship
• IMA Research Foundation grant program for doctoral students pursuing research in management accounting

Networking
IMA offers several options for you to engage with other students, professionals, academics, and thought leaders:

• Student chapters at colleges and universities
• Local IMA chapters throughout the U.S.
• Proprietary LinkUp IMA social network

Publications and Educational Resources

• Strategic Finance
• Campus Connection newsletter
• Topical and timely webinars
• McLeod Library, offering assistance with research and bibliographies

Job Connection
Once you enter the profession, you will have access to:

• A specialized page on LinkUp IMA helps job-seeking members find positions
• An excellent source of targeted job postings in accounting and finance

CMA Certification
Begin the CMA (Certified Management Accountant) program while you are still in school and get a head start on earning this essential credential.

Special Offers
Exclusive offers are available from quality brands such as Bank of America, FedEx, Hertz, and Geico on a range of business and professional services, including:

• Executive Recruitment
• Shipping
• Office Supplies
• Personal Insurance
• Automobile Insurance
• Technical Training
• Retail Discounts
• Rental Cars
• Credit Card Reward Programs
• Identity Theft Protection
• Employee Recognition

MA Society of CPA Membership

I strongly suggest that if you are an accounting major that you join the MA Society of CPAs and put that membership on your resume ASAP.  It is very inexpensive - $25. 

Student Membership

Any Accounting/Business undergraduate or graduate student attending a college or university in Massachusetts; or, attending a college or university out-of-state with a permanent address in Massachusetts.  

Here are just a few of the great benefits of becoming a student member:

MSCPA special events, meetings, and committees.
Internship and Employment Opportunities
Participation in MSCPAonline.org resume database
Scholarships for tuition, books, and exam fees.
Access to the members-only area of MSCPAonline.org
MSCPA bi-monthly magazine, SumNews
Digital edition of the MSCPA's bi-monthly magazine, SumNews
Weekly MSCPA e-newsletter Friday@Five
New Accountant Magazine
CPA Exam Review Courses – up to $400 savings


Go to https://secure.mscpaonline.org/join/submit_student_application.php to complete the application.

Massachusetts Society of CPAS

Did you know that the MA Society of CPAs posts accounting internships on their site?  Go to: http://www.mscpaonline.org/careers/browse_internships  to see what's available.

WSJ Offers

Students can get a terrific deal on the Wall Street Journal.  Click this link for more details: https://buy.wsj.com/shopandbuy/order/subscribe.jsp?trackCode=aapw3cfx&mg=inert-secaucus-wsj

Reading the WSJ is a great habit and can help you with the professional exams like the CPA and CMA.  Also, exams for the CFP (Certified Financial Planner) and the ChFC (Chartered Financial Consultant) will be easier if you make the WSJ a habit.

CMA program

If you are not totally sold on the CPA route, then take a look at the CMA.  I have been a CMA for 20 years and have a great appreciation for the program.  Go to http://www.imanet.org/cma_certification/become_a_cma.aspx for more information.  I also highly endorse the Gleim CMA review systems.  I used that system years ago and passed the CMA on the first try.  Go to http://www.gleim.com/accounting/products.php#CMAReviewSystems to learn more.

Accounting Majors - Look at the UMD scholarships!

Scholarship applications are now available for the 2012-2013 academic year.
Deadline is March 15. 

For a complete listing of all UMass Dartmouth Scholarships, visit
http://www.umassd.edu/financialaid/scholarshipopportunities/ 

For UMass System Presidential Scholarships, visit
http://www.umassd.edu/financialaid/scholarshipopportunities/presidentialscholarships/
 

Special note to accounting majors, the Alphee Laflame, Kenneth Gammons, Matt Macy, and Kevin Santos scholarships might be of special interest to accounting majors! 

2011 Accounting Graduates Earning Average Salaries of $50,000

Check out this article with information on accounting salaries.

Scholarship

Accounting majors - you can get in on this - check it out!

Check out this scholarship for business majors.  The deadline is April 30, 2012.


MillerCoors Scholarship


Program URL: http://www.adelantefund.org/adelante/MillerCoors_National_Scholarship.asp
SYNOPSIS:  The sponsor offers this scholarship of $3000 for students who are eligible for college junior or senior status by the Fall of 2012. Applicants must be pursuing a degree in Accounting, Communications, General Business, Economics, Finance, International Business, Marketing, Public Relations or Sales.
Deadline(s): 04/30/2012

Accounting majors - Chance for a Scholarship!

Dear Students,

How is Connect helping you in this course? McGraw-Hill wants to hear your story. You can enter the Get Connected and Win Video Contest for a chance to win a $5,000 scholarship!

All you have to do is create a 1-minute video about your Connect experience and submit it to McGraw-Hill. Check out the contest website for all the details and fine print to get started.

There will be a total of 50 prizes including $5,000, $2,000, and $1,000 scholarships, iPads, iPod touches, Amazon Gift Cards, and more.

The contest opens up February 27^th, but I wanted to give you a heads up so you could start planning your video right away.  The submission deadline is Wednesday, March 21^st which will come very quickly!

Good luck! 

Professor Griffin 


PS - Many of my accounting students have used Connect and I encourage them all to submit an entry.  Keep in mind that contests like this are not always well received by students so the odds of winning and better than you think!!

Higher Earnings - Becker CPA Exam Review

Here's an interesting article from Becker's CPA review about higher eranings of CPAs.
Higher Earnings - Becker CPA Exam Review

Wall Street Journal Offer

Hi CCB majors (and any other students who are interested).

You can get the Wall Street Journal, delivered for $29.95 for 15 weeks, $49.95 for 26 weeks or $99.95 for 52 weeks.  These are amazing savings off the newsstand price.  For example, the 15 week price is a savings of $101.30 while the 52 week price is a savings of $355!

You can also add Barons for $16.00 for 15 weeks.  The benefits of reading the WSJ are truly great!  I have been reading the journal since before I graduated from college.  Did you know that students who subscribe are 76% more likely to earn a GPA of 3.5 or higher, 46% more likely to be prepared for job interviews, and 140% more likely to be starting a full-time job upon graduation.

Years ago when I was studying for professional exams such as the CMA, ChFC, and CFM, and when I took the series 7 and 63 exams (registered representatives - investments), I found that the knowledge I picked up from the WJS was invaluable.  Accounting majors thinking of taking the CPA exam someday should start reading the WSJ now so that you can broaden and deepen your general business knowledge.  MBA students need the journal.  No doubt about it.  At very high quality schools, there are upwards of 1,000 undergrads reading the WSJ.  Wonder why?  They want to get ahead!

If you would like to take advantage of these special rates, email me (mgriffin@umassd.edu) the following information:

Student name:

Delivery address:

City:
State:
Zip:
Email (required)
Phone number
Major
Graduation Month/Year
And specify if you are undergrad or grad

For students doing or thinking of doing an internship, the WSJ is a great habit as it will give you an exposure to current events and real world stuff that you might have trouble getting elsewhere.  The WSJ will help you in job interviews and conversations with the boss and co-workers.  It will give you a background to draw upon in class and certainly will provide you with lots of ideas for investing whether you are playing a stock market simulation game as part of a class, participating in an investment club, or getting ready to invest those big bucks you are going yo make on the job.

CFE

One of the most popular certifications that students show interest in is the Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE).  According to the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners, the CFE credential is increasingly being designated as a preferred credential in the hiring practices of businesses, government entities and law enforcement agencies. As a CPA once said to me, fraud is big business.  Many CPA firms have a fraud or forensic accounting department.


Here are some of the benefits of the CFE (Source: www.acfe.com)

Increase your earnings – CFEs earn nearly 22% more than their non-certified colleagues according to the 2010/2011 Compensation Guide for Anti-Fraud Professionals.

Advance your career – CFE certification is documented evidence of expertise and experience, representing a high level of skill, knowledge and professionalism.

Enhance your marketability and job security – Robert Half International identifies the CFE as "in-demand...one of the most marketable credentials today" and A.E. Feldman, a leading executive search firm states, "...the CFE has emerged as the gold standard in the area of fraud."

Gain professional visibility and credibility – The CFE is accepted worldwide as the standard of excellence in the anti-fraud profession.

Distinguish yourself from your peers – The CFE credential is recognized in the hiring and promotion policies of leading organizations, including the FBI, the U.S. Department of Defense and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).