<p>Okay, so maybe I'm just getting cold feet about this whole "major" thing, but I was just wondering if anyone had any advice. I'm an incoming freshman at BU, planning on majoring in Economics. However, taking a look at various internships/careers (I plan to work for the government--may not be glamorous, but it's secure), it seems like it's easier to find a job as an accountant (and that at least entry-level accounting jobs pay more). However, BU offers a 40year BA/MA program in Economics, so I would either graduate with a BBA (Bachelor's in Business Administration) in Accounting or a Master's in Economics.</p>
<p>I think the "looking at the big picture" aspect of Economics appeals to me, but I also know that accounting isn't just sticking your nose into a book and crunching numbers. Can anyone weigh in on whether or not a Master's in Econ or a BBA in Accounting would be more marketable/competitive?</p>
<p>I feel like accountants would enjoy a lot more job security, and with the ability to go into private practice, I could also make time for a family when the time comes...</p>
<p>Edit: To clarify, to major in Accounting, I'd have to switch colleges within BU, which would put me behind the other SMG students.</p>
<p>Either is acceptable, but accounting is probably a little more flexible, in so far as the transition between public and private practice. There is nothing wrong with econ though, from what I have heard there are many public administrators and government officials with economics backgrounds. One last caveat, many economists working for the national government have a PhD, so with just a masters you may be limited to working at the state or local level.</p>
<p>Thanks for the feedback, guys. I dunno, though. Having a more focused major allows you learn skills that you'd actually use in your job, and majoring in accounting would also (ironically) give me more leeway to pursue other studies.</p>
<p>Also, pursuing a Master's in 4 years would require me to stay around BU during at least one summer, meaning that I would have no flexibility to go to distant internships. Also, doing the Master's in four years means that some semesters I'd have to take 2-3 grad courses at once basically for the last two years of college, and I wouldn't be able to study abroad.</p>
<p>The more I think about it, the more unappealing the 4-year BA/MA Econ idea is. And Acere, I have to take Micro and Macro anyway just to switch to Accounting, and with my AP credits, I'll have flexibility to take more Econ courses if it interests me.</p>
<p>With accounting you'll end up spending A LOT of your life doing very arbitrary number crunching. Also, there's very little opinion or big-picture-type decision making in accounting. It's all just balancing bank rec's and stuff.</p>
<p>With economics, unless you're going into academics or getting a PhD, you're not going to use it directly. But, if you do go into academia, you'll do a lot more THINKING!</p>
<p>"With accounting you'll end up spending A LOT of your life doing very arbitrary number crunching. Also, there's very little opinion or big-picture-type decision making in accounting. It's all just balancing bank rec's and stuff."</p>
<p>Haha. Maybe if you're a bookkeeper. Accountants isn't input/output. Public accountants are paid to analyze, research and offer their opinion. In the private sector, financing, costing systems and internal controls are critical in operating a business.</p>
<p>To the original poster, a Masters is not a terminal degree in Economics. You'll likely have to pursue a Doctorate for great jobs. You could major in Economics, get a Masters in Accounting and likely be close to meeting the CPA requirements of your state.</p>