True, unfortunately. A lot of people consider a stint at the big four like grad school. Eight years after I left E&Y, it's still the first thing people notice on my resume.

I think bryris' intention was to work at a local firm to get experience. This route is likely to offer a better lifestyle and more flexibility. It won't have the cache on your resume that a big firm will, but is not a bad option if you just want the experience as a backup career or as a base to strike out on your own.