I posted a message a while ago (about 5 months) asking for some advice or comment about whether I should stay with this company I am working for right now as an Accountant or pursue further education and get my degree. Here is a little bit about my background:
- I am 23 years old. I graduated from a local college with a diploma in Accounting and Finance. I graduated with a 3.3 GPA (3.258 to be exact), not exactly the BEST GPA but I would say it is average / mediocre. The college and program I graduated from is well known and respected, but I believe in the business world these days a degree AND a designation (CMA, CGA, CA or whatever) is necessary to succeed and stay afloat.
- Shortly after I graduated (Jan 2005) I applied for a position with a small company as an Accounting Assistant. I was working along the supervision of the accountant (who has been there for about 2 years) who is about my age but with a university degree and CMA designation, and a controller who is apparently a "CA" with international experience, but with little to no experience in Canada. I have been highly suspect of the controllers credentials since his Excel, QB, and other software skills and accounting skills are severely lacking. Additionally, his way of doing business with vendors and the tricks he tries to pull off is highly unethical and deceiving. In any case, I was able to comfortably blend in to my position and was able to carry on my duties and contribute productively. Unfortunately, the accountant i was working along with decided to leave last month for a better position with a different company, and subsequently I was "promoted" to Accountant. I am currently making a measly $ 25,000 salary, with NO benefits (company does not believe in them) and about a 50 hour work week (including doing some weekend work). With the costs of transportation (I commute for about 1 1/2 hrs), taxes, etc.. I am barely making $1200 a month. Additionally, the work environment and lack of direction and organization within our company is unbearable. I have come to a point in my position where my day to day tasks and duties are fulfilled, but I CANNOT assume more responsibility and gain experience because things are such a mess. Anyways, onto the 2nd point.
- I decided 3 months ago that it would be better for me at my point of career and age to pursue further education and enroll in a university and get my degree. Most universities offer direct entry into the 3rd year of a 4 year degree program. I applied to one university (Ryerson University to be exact) comfortably assuming that my 3.3 GPA would hold up again their minimum requirements into their Business Management program which requires a minimum of a 3.0. Fast forward to today, and I received a letter notifying me that I have been placed on a wait list. After several calls and research, I found out that my academic credentials (a 3.3 GPA is not good enough in the highly competitive program) and that if a spot opens up, then they would notify me. Right now I am really disappointed with myself and what i am facing, since I was really hoping come September time I would be enrolled and ready to go into the university (and more importantly, away from this job). I basically got the impression from the people I talked to and from previous experience that my position in the Wait List is also very weak. Now even if I don't get into Ryerson for the September semester, I have found out that with my grades that there are NO OTHER universities that will accept me. York, UofT and other universities require a minimum of 3.8+ GPAs, and even then they are highly competitive.
So I guess to sum it up, I am really looking for some advice or comment on what my next option is or should be. I am 99% sure that I will be leaving this company I am currently working for, even if I am offered a higher salary in the company. My only thing I am hoping for is that I get the call from Ryerson notifying me that a spot have opened up for me (again, highly unlikely.. but I have until Aug 10 to know). I do not want to go back to college and re-take some courses and hope for a higher GPA, since it will be more time i will be "wasting" not getting a degree. The only thing I guess I can hope for is somehow getting into a company and into a more productive position with a decent salary (I will have a total of about 1 year of working experience on my resume).
Anyone ever been in this situation or predicament?