Unranked liberal arts college to competitive grad school?

[eva215]

Hi everyone,

I'm a rising senior (nontraditional student) at a small unranked (USN&R) liberal arts college - Bay Path College.

 

I'm set to graduate with a 3.8 (business admin w/ a minor in accounting) from this small, unranked LAC (it is regionally accredited, of course), and I will also "graduate" with an undergraduate certificate in accounting (4.0) from a highly-ranked local business school. 

 

I would like to attend the Master of Accountancy program at UMass Amherst. (Ultimately I am looking to become a CPA.) I am also going to apply to Bentley, but I'd only be able to attend if I was awarded significant merit- and need-based aid. I am worried that Bay Path's unranked status will hurt my chances of admission. 

 

If that lack of recognition/ranking does prohibit me from gaining admittance to the MSA program at UMass Amherst and Bentley, would I also have difficulty gaining admission to a post-bacc accounting program?

Thanks for any input anyone can provide!

 

 

[Dedi]

I also come from a small, relatively unknown, private liberal arts university. My philosophy (though it may not be the opinion of the adcom of some schools) is that it doesn't matter where you go. What you do with what you have matters a lot more. For example, since I'm going into a research based program, I'm doing all that I can to gain research skills and do some independent research projects before I apply. In some cases, I need connections from professors in order to receive those opportunities.

I'm not sure what the requirements are for admission in accounting and what are bonus points (e.g., internships?), however, so I'm not too helpful in the specifics. But I hope you can apply what I've said over to your situation.

[Vene]

I went to an absolute no name university and had no problems. I would be surprised if you ran into too many hurdles.

[eva215]

Thank you both so much - so reassuring I really hope this doesn't prove too difficult - I wish I could apply now to find out! So many obstacles have come between me and my academic/career goals - I don't want to delay this much longer.

[bhr]

If anything, you may have a step up. I've seen a sense of entitlement on here from many candidates from Ivy's or other top schools, who think they somehow deserve a spot in the program of their choice. You just need to be able to show that you have the ability to succeed at UMass, not that your college is on their level.

[victorydance]

Coming from small LAC can actually have a major advantage: it is much easier to cultivate meaningful relationships with your profs. Of course, it's up to you to make that happen and if you don't then it might hurt you in the end game when compared to other applicants from better schools.