<p>My cousin is about to become a senior in high school, and he is now looking into possible career choices. He is not too talented in math or sciences, and even his parents admit that they don't think she will be a doctor or a science researcher. I want him to get a job that is lucrative, and for some reason accounting comes to my mind. So will he enjoy majoring in it? FYI, he got around 650 on the math section of SAT I.</p>
<p>Also, I heard accounting is the easiest business major, is this true?</p>
<p>this has been answered many times. The basic answer is if you can do the basic 4 functions very well, and maybe some algebra, you can do accounting. No fourier transformations required.</p>
<p>Accounting is the hardest, not the easiest, but the math is mostly done on computers. That said, business majors at UT Austin (and I’m not sure where else) must take 6 hours of calculus, and it is very difficult to get an A in those classes for people who are good at math.</p>
<p>EDIT: Before anyone says business calc is easy, it’s not business calc, it’s the same stuff the engineers and math majors do.</p>
<p>openedskittles, I think liberal arts(i.e. econ in my case) had to take 8 hours of calculus at U of IL several years ago, but I got credit for it with AP classes. The point is that if basket weaving majors had to take it in my case, or marketing majors in the UT case…then the guy is probably going to have to take it(or not) regardless of what he chooses to major in.</p>
<p>The hardest math you’ll probably do is some kind of STAT course. If you are very worried about it then put a lot of effort into selecting an easy professor. Or see if you can take it in your last semester when hopefully you’ve already scored and internship and a job offer.</p>
<p>What is it about accounting that makes it so hard? Memorization? I don’t think accounting would be as hard as engineering or something like that, would it? Plus, I’ve heard even finance is more mathematical.</p>
<p>It’s the hardest because it’s not always intuitive. It’s a whole different language. Accounting isn’t as hard as engineering, hence I was restricting my statement to business majors. Just because something requires more math does not mean it is more difficult.</p>
<p>Accounting is easy once you get it, but some people never get it. Assets minus liabilities equals equity. Debits increase asset accounts and decrease liability and equity accounts. Credits decrease asset accounts and increase liability and equity accounts. Those are the fundamentals that defeat many an accounting student and drive them into marketing.</p>
<p>The simplicity of the double-entry accounting concept provides a sturdy framework for the many accounting rules and conventions. There are tons of rules to memorize in intermediate and advanced accounting but the real weed-out process happens right in the beginning with debits and credits. If you don’t understand the fundamental concept it’s hopeless to try to learn the rules. </p>
<p>It’s a good thing that so many give up so quickly because it might be a very poor career choice for them.</p>
<p>No. There is excess supply of Accountants. I think someone just posted a study by the AICPA. In addition, it is easy to enter the accounting field via community college and if you are business major you are eligible to take the CPA exam if you have 30 cr hours of accounting. There are few who make top $$$ in accounting, but many accounting majors making $ high school graduates would make.
I would suggest a field in healthcare or teaching. The starting salary for Accountants is low $30k depending on where you live (level of automobile technician). Whereas healthcare/teaching offers higher pay and would be less stressful and more stable than accounting.</p>
<p>Johnny Vue - I posted the study by the AICPA and suggest you reread it before using it as a source such as you did. Stating that accountants are making money that high school graduates earn is ridiculous. If you look closer at the study that I posted you will find that the outlook for accounting careers is good and far from unstable. I am also questioning your rationale that teachers are making more than accountants? You posted a similar post a few weeks ago that I responded to with a question and you never responded back.</p>
<p>I read some of his previous posts and think he is being serious. He claims to have a 4yr degree in accounting, but can only find 30K jobs by searching on sites like career builder and craigslist. This poster is a ■■■■■ and nothing he says should be taken seriously in my opinion.</p>
<p>Yes, for whatever reason he can only get bookkeeping jobs. Bookkeeper =/= accountant.</p>
<p>If you don’t want a CPA you can still get good jobs, they are certainly busily recruiting such people at my school. However if you get mediocre grades at a mediocre school and don’t get your CPA you better hope the economy rebounds…</p>