<p>I am currently a junior at the University of Tennessee. We are ranked #6 in the nation at Supply-Chain Management/Logistics. Further, we have a stellar Accounting program as well. Accounting students normally do the MAC (Masters of Accounting) program after their undergraduate degree in which they go for 1 year and get a Masters degree in accounting which also helps to prepare them to take their CPA exams. I currently have a 3.97 GPA after taking over 68 credit hours, so I have pretty decent grades. I know they say do what you love, but I really like both SCM and Accounting, but I am highly money-motivated (money is my deciding factor since I enjoy them about the same). My main question is this: which degree is more likely to take me into a career path that will most likely make me the MOST money down the road. My goal is to rise up in a company, and at some point get an MBA from a Top 5 business school. With Accounting I would likely go to a Big 4 for 5 years, and then hopefully move to a company as an Assistant Controller/Controller for the company. With Supply-Chain Management the plan would be to go work for a Fortune 100 company (had a lot of internships offers), go get an MBA from a Top 5 graduate school in most likely Operations Management. I would like the input of a lot of professionals in these fields. My main concern with Supply-Chain is keeping momentum moving up in a company. Any input, advice, or comments would be incredibly appreciated! Thanks everyone.</p>
<p>I would say accounting is a better major option. It’s recession proof and has more job opportunities than supply chain management.
What I suggest is double majoring in both, and graduate with 150 college credits (to be eligible to sit for the CPA exam) and become a CPA. You can always decide to get a MBA or MAcc later - because graduate schools look for experience in applicants.</p>
<p>Excellent suggestion by CockyNation. </p>
<p>Also, keep in mind that to if you go to top 5 MBA school, you will looking at a 2-year full-time program.</p>
<p>Regarding CockyNation’s suggestion - just do your homework. Many states have specific sub-requirements related to the 150 hour rule, meaning just having 150 credit hours isn’t enough. I don’t know Tennessee’s rules, but about a third of the states require at least 30-36 hours of accounting to be eligible to sit for the CPA. (The standard bachelors of accounting program only has 24) The double major would make sure you meet almost every state’s requirements regarding related business classes - but some states (FL & TX off the top of my head) have quirky requirements related to business law or ethics that can even have someone with a MAcc heading back for one more class to be able to sit.</p>
<p>Typically, accounting is the safer route and the best you can really do is get a job in Big Four public accounting. You’ll make 60k and get decent increases from there and have the opportunity to exit to some F500 client. I can speak for UIUC in terms of Supply chain management - most people here that go into a field directly related to SCM go into a F500 and also make ~60k. So, starting at Big Four or going straight to F500 is more of a matter of how well you fit in with the firm, not so much a clear winner. </p>