<p>I am a freshman in college, and like most freshman I am looking into many different majors. I think an accounting major may be right for me, but accounting is not a STEM major and that seems to be where all the hype is right now. Is accounting as good as STEM majors? On a different note, is accounting vulnerable to outsourcing and automation in the future?</p>
<p>Don’t listen to the hype – an awful lot of Bio and Chem majors with only undergrad degrees are looking for jobs. Accounting is a solid major with good prospects. I don’t see how accounting could be automated a lot more than it already is – the General Ledger and associated reporting was one of the first areas of business automation back in the early days of computer use. Offshoring is a different issue, but I think accounting functions like tax prep and small business accounting will not be offshored any time soon.</p>
<p>+1</p>
<p>Accounting is numerate. Your ability to crunch numbers in relation to business whether within or outside of an accounts department is a great, flexible skill set.</p>
<p>Yes, Accounting is considered a STEM, here’s a good resource to use going forward for STEM majors: [All</a> STEM Disciplines](<a href=“http://www.onetonline.org/find/stem?t=0]All”>All STEM Occupations)</p>
<p>But I must say, this entire push for everyone to get a college degree is disgusting, for some reason big government politicians keep linking an “education” to the reason for someone’s success instead of market demand, the person’s talents, the person’s skill set and work ethic. </p>
<p>In the 90’s (when I was in grade school) all you heard was get good grades so you can go to college and be a lawyer. But during the early-mid 2000’s with all of the unemployed lawyers out there, now it became go to college to major in either science, technology, engineering or a math subject. How about this? How about a person discover their skill set and talents, review what’s in demand in the market as far as opportunities now and going forward for the next 25-50 years, and create a career plan tailored to the present day situation? </p>
<p>I mean these big government folks trip me out, first they say that college graduates make a $1 million more over a career lifetime, then they revised that down saying they make $500,000 more over a career lifetime, and now today they are saying that college graduates make at least $250,000 more over a career lifetime lol. </p>
<p>These people DO NOT know what the real true secret to success is in this country, because as a whole we are moving away from the pillars of success (tailoring your skills to a marketplace demand and bringing a strong work ethic towards that position) and becoming more and more dependent on a big brother government to tell us what to think, what to do, and even what to study in college.</p>
<p>@NEPats12, if you really want to have a job right after graduation and you want to know which major can lead you to a high paying job, go to your school’s career center. They probably have a database of all graduates: Job, Career, Salary etc.
Visit other schools websites too. (for example: [Career</a> Services at the University of Pennsylvania](<a href=“http://www.vpul.upenn.edu/careerservices/reports.php]Career”>http://www.vpul.upenn.edu/careerservices/reports.php))</p>
<p>PS: @jotucker83, made some very solid points. Don’t let current job market and career/ degree titles fool you…</p>
<p>Wow, this has all been really helpful. Thanks to everyone for all the replies.</p>
<p>jotucker83, i do think that college is pushed too much, and i think that things like trade school and community college could be seen as more viable options for those less suited to school.</p>
if you haven’t seen the trend/pattern yet, Big Education is also a business. It keeps people employed!! Be choosy about where you go, AND What your MAjor IS!! Professors/instructors and counselors get paid whether or not YOU are employed. Consider a top Tech school like DeVry. The old upper education model is really that, just Old, and needs to be reconfigured if not broken up.
And for some in Academia, they teach because they can’t apply their knowledge to the real world constraints, fear failure, etc…
my advice, choose a major in something you know you enjoy AND where there is a Need to fill, a shortage maybe.
@BradG1 I see this is your first post. Please note that this thread is from 2013 and should be used for informational purposes only. The original poster must have already settled on a course of action and would not be checking back.