<p>Anyone want to argue why one is better then the other? I want whichever major will give me more room for growth, a possible chance to work on Wall - Street, and a pretty good salary?</p>
<p>First, let me be clear, I liked the finance courses that I took in college as part of my accounting major. I think finanance would be a good second choice or even a good minor? Why?</p>
<p>Accounting has a MUCH broader appeal for the job market. It is essentially the language of business. Not only does it open up jobs to work in accounting,which are plentiful, but also provides opportunities in finance , wall street, consulting, management etc.</p>
<p>Bottom line: Accounting majors can get most or even all jobs that finance majors can get. However, finance majors will not qualify for all jobs open to accounants.</p>
<p>If you want to go into IB, I wouldn’t even do UG business, but if you have to, I would major in finance and minor in accounting.</p>
<p>Major in accounting, study how to do valuations/DCFs on your own. Investment banking is glorified accounting with a good deal of excel modelling. Accounting is more difficult to learn than finance, so that’s what I’d recommend. Plus, a lot of finance courses have BS crap like portfolio theory and whatnot which will not help you for banking. Take at the very least up till Advanced Financial Accounting.</p>
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<p>Don’t follow this advice at all. If you’re at a top undergraduate school that has a business program, MAJOR IN BUSINESS (FINANCE/ACCOUNTING) by ALL MEANS. I’m talking about schools like Wharton, Stern, Ross, McIntyre, etc. Trust me, you’ll have better access to recruiters. Obviously, a degree in Economics/Math/Physics whatever is just as good if you go to Princeton, Harvard or Yale, but that’s because those schools don’t have undergrad business programs. Besides, investment banking is a lot of finance and accounting, so why wouldn’t you major in something that will prepare you for that in the future?</p>
<p>You can major in whatever…accounting or finance. What matters is your GPA and summer internship experience. For IB, any kind of finance work experience will be looked upon favorably. Good luck.</p>
<p>You don’t need to take my advice, but I have worked in the industry from front to back my entire career. I worked with older daughter to get her multiple offers from all top tier firms. </p>
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<p>You could learn finance on the job, and accounting rules could be easily programmed. What IB needs is creative people who could think outside of the box, and that comes from critical/analytical thinking, which is what liberal arts education teaches.</p>
<p>I’m sorry if I sound silly here. Why can’t a business major develop critical/analytical thinking skills thru their 4 years in college? They have to take low division GEs in area outside business, plus upper division non-business course. The difference is a majority amount of upper units have to be towards their major in business/finance/accounting; While a history major will take those major units in history.</p>
<p>Not silly at all a_mom. In fact that was pretty close to what we like to call “pwnage”, i.e, destroying someone else’s argument, and I’m about to back that up. I am likely going to major in business and after doing about 60 credit hours I have taken courses such as:</p>
<p>–Psychology
–Philosophy
–Sociology
–Micro & macro economics
–Three english classes
–Art Appreciation
–Two history classes
–Two government classes
–Communication</p>
<p>AND I plan on taking quite a few more economics, psychology, and philosophy class. </p>
<p>Is that really not enough liberal arts/humanities for you? Would taking an additional 7-10 courses in those subject areas, in addition to the 20 or so I have/will take make much of a difference, if any, in my critical and analytical thinking ability?</p>
<p>To the OP, major in whatever interests you. Both majors can lead to successful well-paying careers. Going to a top school facilities the path to Wall Street.</p>
<p>for finance majors, a lot of them make the switch from accounting because they can’t pull it off. </p>
<p>for accounting majors, many of them decide to minor/double major in finance just to raise their accounting GPA.</p>
<p>now you tell me which is harder.</p>
<p>btw, most (<90%) of liberal arts majors do not work in the business field at all. they end up in their high school job. at least they think outside the box.</p>
<p>Major in accounting! According to this article, accounting is one of the most satisfying fields. On the other hand, the least satisfying careers are: Psychology, Economics and Environmental engineering. Don’t major in those.</p>
<p>[psych-majors-not-happy-with-options:</a> Personal Finance News from Yahoo! Finance](<a href=“http://finance.yahoo.com/college-education/article/111000/psych-majors-not-happy-with-options?mod=edu-continuing_education]psych-majors-not-happy-with-options:”>http://finance.yahoo.com/college-education/article/111000/psych-majors-not-happy-with-options?mod=edu-continuing_education)</p>
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<p>Do you have stats to prove this ?</p>
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<p>Do you mean >90% ?</p>
<p>And you call yourself a cpa?</p>
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<p>…not sure if serious. Even if you go by the article, the difference is 3% lol. You really think that, if you don’t like accounting, its worth a whole major because on average, 3/100 people are more satisfied with their choice? Good grief, some people on this board.</p>
<p>^At least I’m glad to see that 50% of accounting majors are satisfied with their job. I thought that it would be much less.</p>