Guidance in Degree Planning Needed for A new resident in USA

[rkotak2]

When I first arrived to study in the US many many moons ago, I remember people talking behind my back that I was "FOB" (Fresh off the Boat).  Apparently, I was making a lot of cultural mistakes that were not obvious to me but were something the locals found funny.  When I did my internship, apparently they were surprised about the quality of the work I did because they said they didn't expect it from an FOB (exact words from my NY-born and bred boss).  

Your degree is probably not the only thing that is hurting your job hunt.  You will (like I did when I first arrived) have to adjust to the local ways of dressing, talking and behaving.  Those factors are probably way more important for a new immigrant than a new degree.  Join your local toastmasters, volunteer your services at a hospital etc - these will help you get acclimated to the new culture you are facing.  

An online masters will not help at all.  You might be better off doing something local (part-time while you work), to do networking and try to fit in with the local folks.  You might meet people in the local program that can provide you the references/leads to get interviews.  You have to understand that employers have to consider not just your educational background, but your cultural fit - they have no way of knowing if you will act/react/think the same and work well with the locals on their teams.    

Also, location is a big factor in US employment.  You said Illinois (probably not in Chicago then?), but if you really wanted an accounting or bookkeeping job - you might have better odds in the big cities nearby like Chicago or Milwaukee.  Or do what everyone is doing right now - move to Texas as that's where professional jobs are moving LOL.

Thanks for your opinion. I understand what you mean. Ofcourse i am sure i make many cultural mistakes too  but I am in Chicago, Illinois and i have been here for almost 3 years and have interacted and worked with the locals over that time so i can say that is not the biggest factor here. The reason i need an American degree is for my profile- sometimes it can be hard to get past the HR systems if the degree is foreign. I dont want to be in a position where i always have to explain more on my degree. And an online masters is a masters degree as long as it is accredited- it serves the purpose. Education is valuable regardless of whether it helps me get the job i want now or never. And i have joined few network chapters to help me connect with the people in the fields i need to work in but truth is i need to speak their language and need the right qualifications to be able to benefit from the networks i make.  And that's why i am taking up @rachel83az advice to go for a UMPI Accounting degree + MBA and CPA. With those in hand i can join all the networks available and should be enough to get my foot in the door. What do you think about that? Thanks for your time

---

If you just wanted any generic business job, I would agree that you should skip the second bachelor's degree. However, if you want to work in accounting, that's more specific. I don't think that a foreign degree + MBA would be enough to show that you actually know how American accounting works. Accounting is pretty universal, but there are still some quirks that are different in each country; it's not simply about being able to add columns of numbers. Without a US Accounting degree, you'd probably still be able to get hired for something, but maybe not what you actually want to do.

I would probably get the UMPI Accounting degree + Project Management minor because I don't know that your foreign degree would be evaluated as sufficient to take the CPA. Illinois requires you to use NIES to evaluate foreign credits for being able to take the CPA exam: https://crushthecpaexam.com/foreign-cred...-cpa-exam/ You used a different evaluator before; an evaluation from NIES might or might not be less favorable. Different evaluators often give different results. You might be able to get away with UMPI Accounting + current foreign degree, though.

Thank you @rachel83az. I am working on this already. Yesterday i called UMPI and talked to the enrollment advisor and i filled up the application and have requested the Academic Evaluation Services to forward the evaluation to them so i can get the picture of what courses i need to complete. I want to first work on this ASAP and then get my MBA and my CPA hopefully before 2023. Any degree plans of someone who managed to get a both the degree and the MBA in 6months would be appreciated or any links that can help me in this journey. Thanks alot for the priceless advice.