<p>Well, I'm a junior in High School right now and I'm having a hard time deciding between these two majors. Both are offered at my local university.</p>
<p>I enjoy working with numbers and have done really well in some of the advanced math classes (such as calculus). I'm also really interested in computers.</p>
<p>I've done exceptionally well in the two years of accounting classes I've taken thus far in High School, but it has gotten to the point where it seems more like memorizing laws and regulations -- calculations seem very few and far between. This is really detracting me from wanting to pursue this major. On a positive note, accounting does seem to involve problem solving and analysis to some extent (which I like). However, it also seems that the accounting profession now involves more interaction between clients. Being an introverted person, this does not exactly excite me.</p>
<p>The only thing that worries me about computer science is this constant threat of outsourcing and the fact that technologies are constantly evolving. I also feel that a career in computer science may provide slightly less job security.</p>
<p>Nothing beats computer science if you want to do problem solving. The job market is a lot better for those in CS than accounting. Basic programming jobs do get outsourced, but CS is about a lot more than that, and you shouldn’t worry about it if you have a CS degree. Technology is always changing, so it’s unlikely something you learn when you’re 20 when still be relevant for your entire career. But it’s not so fast that you’ll feel like the rugged has been pulled from under you. Anyway, it would be boring if you just did the same thing over and over again your entire career. If you want that, go for accounting.</p>
<p>There are a few programs now in Business Information Management which combine CS/Informatics with business/management (heavy in accounting and finance) and courses in economics, math, stats, business communications. Grads who combine that with an appropriate part-time job and an internship or two get hired! But if that isn’t an option, you might be able to combine a CS major with business and accounting classes (a minor?). CS/Informatics gives you high tech analytic tools and accounting is the language of business.</p>
<p>It’s smart to consider how easy or difficult it is to outsource your skill set. But as anom217points out, college CS is more about analytical problem-solving than basic programming. If you find you like that aspect, then you might want to consider other fields, such as physics and engineering, that apply computational tools to difficult problems.</p>
<p>You might want to ask this in the engineering/business/science forums.</p>
<p>Similar to what paradoxical mentioned, f you genuinely love both CS and Accounting then MIS (Management Information Systems) is a combination of the two and routinely ranked as one of the most lucrative/valuable majors. Most of the CS will be networking/database related. CIS (Computer Information Systems) tends to center more around conventional programming languages and web development with the same lower division courses as a business degree – less emphasis on management, databases and informatics.</p>
<p>Accounting is not about math. It’s like you said, closer to law. Finance is more math-oriented but also very legal in nature. Most programming is all about problem solving, but only a few programming specializations use calculus or highly abstract mathematics on a regular basis.</p>
<p>Have you considered statistics or actuarial science? Those are the “number crunching” gigs most people mistake accounting for. Very in demand by employers as well. I also doubt you have much client contact as you’re basically deciding how long people have to live for insurance companies lol (generalization of course).</p>