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What went into your decision to go into the accounting or finance fields?
I'm a senior in high school, I like math and social studies. I play and enjoy fantasy football as well I bowl.
7 answers
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Kevin’s Answer
I'm fortunate to have dual qualifications in Accounting and Business Administration. My Accounting degree has given me a deep understanding of how financial statements are created and how they can be interpreted. This knowledge has been a stepping stone for me to delve into strategic analysis and deal-making roles.
Accounting as a career can be quite consistent, with a bit of a twist every month due to the diversity of transactions and the need to record them accurately. On the other hand, Finance tends to be more centered around deal-making or transaction support. It's all about knowing what to buy and the perfect timing to make the purchase.
Deal-making can sometimes be intense and require a lot of time, but it's also incredibly rewarding. Both Accounting and Finance are excellent career paths, it really just comes down to what kind of work sparks your interest.
Accounting as a career can be quite consistent, with a bit of a twist every month due to the diversity of transactions and the need to record them accurately. On the other hand, Finance tends to be more centered around deal-making or transaction support. It's all about knowing what to buy and the perfect timing to make the purchase.
Deal-making can sometimes be intense and require a lot of time, but it's also incredibly rewarding. Both Accounting and Finance are excellent career paths, it really just comes down to what kind of work sparks your interest.
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Isaiah’s Answer
I personally ended up in the accounting field because I was in the business school but could not decide what path to take. I took the introductory courses for some of the different fields of business and accounting really interested me and kind of clicked right away. After doing some research into different salary ranges and hiring rates, accounting checked all the boxes I needed and was by far the most interesting business course to me. With all this being said, I always tell incoming college students to take a wide variety of courses in your first year or two because you never know what may grab your attention. You do not need to have it all figured out the second you step on campus, talk with your professors, friends and counselors to help you navigate the new world you're entering and figure out the right path for you.
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Enrica’s Answer
Hey Jake,
I pursued dual majors in Accounting and Finance, two fields that truly captivated my interest. I've always had a passion for numbers and math, and these subjects allowed me to delve deeper into that fascination. Finance, in particular, drew me in with its intriguing economic elements. I found that Accounting and Finance complement each other perfectly, creating a harmonious blend of knowledge and skills.
Wishing you all the best on your journey!
I pursued dual majors in Accounting and Finance, two fields that truly captivated my interest. I've always had a passion for numbers and math, and these subjects allowed me to delve deeper into that fascination. Finance, in particular, drew me in with its intriguing economic elements. I found that Accounting and Finance complement each other perfectly, creating a harmonious blend of knowledge and skills.
Wishing you all the best on your journey!
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Brianna’s Answer
I had this same question when I was a senior about to enter college. I had a family friend who was a Chief Operating Officer at a large company, and I asked him for advice. I thought his advice was great, so I will share it here. He recommended that I get a degree in Accounting and try to work at one of the big 4 public accounting firms as an auditor because as an auditor, you get to learn all about different types of accounting and finance. After a few years of doing that, you can decide to change your career and specialize in an area that you like, for example, accounts payable, payroll, treasury, or FP&A.
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Leleah’s Answer
First I considered if it was something that interested me that I felt like I could do for an extended number of years. Next I looked at the career options and their availability. Accounting and Finance work with money and that is something that is not going to go away and while I do expect to see some changes as technology advances, I do not think it will be able to replace all of the things that fall under the umbrella of Finance and Accounting so there will likely be jobs available in that field in the future.
If those boxes are checked I would look at what it would take to start a career in accounting. I know someone else mentioned that to sit for the CPA exam requires 150 credit hours which many times would cover a master's degree. College can be a big investment so I would look what it would cost to get the degree and the certification and compare that with salaries in that field to make sure that the investment in college would put you in a place to be financially successful.
If those boxes are checked I would look at what it would take to start a career in accounting. I know someone else mentioned that to sit for the CPA exam requires 150 credit hours which many times would cover a master's degree. College can be a big investment so I would look what it would cost to get the degree and the certification and compare that with salaries in that field to make sure that the investment in college would put you in a place to be financially successful.
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Grete’s Answer
Great question, glad you're looking into accounting and finance! I majored in Finance with similar interests of yours. I originally was pursuing an accounting degree, as my high school offered an Introduction to Accounting class. I thoroughly enjoyed the class, as well as economics and math. Take advantage of various business courses (both Accounting and Finance) in university. Ultimately, this made me switch within the business school. Take advantage of internships which will give you real world job examples! Wishing you the best of luck on your education journey!
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Katie’s Answer
Hi Jake,
Both majors are great options that lend themselves to a plethora of different career opportunities. I would recommend doing some research into what careers interest you the most. From there, you can then determine if an Accounting or Finance degree would lend itself better. Keep in mind, most people who get an accounting degree start off working in public accounting but move to industry jobs after they gain some experience.
Keep in mind, the accounting route also allows you to sit and obtain your CPA license. The requirements to obtain this certification include sitting for 4 exams and either getting a masters degree or obtaining 150 college credit hours. Some people choose to double major in accounting and finance to fulfil this requirement. Ultimately, you have to figure out what you career path is the best fit for you. However, don't stress too much about it, you can always pivot if you realize the career you thought you liked isn't the right fit!
Both majors are great options that lend themselves to a plethora of different career opportunities. I would recommend doing some research into what careers interest you the most. From there, you can then determine if an Accounting or Finance degree would lend itself better. Keep in mind, most people who get an accounting degree start off working in public accounting but move to industry jobs after they gain some experience.
Keep in mind, the accounting route also allows you to sit and obtain your CPA license. The requirements to obtain this certification include sitting for 4 exams and either getting a masters degree or obtaining 150 college credit hours. Some people choose to double major in accounting and finance to fulfil this requirement. Ultimately, you have to figure out what you career path is the best fit for you. However, don't stress too much about it, you can always pivot if you realize the career you thought you liked isn't the right fit!
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