From all the way back in 9th grade, I was set on becoming a nurse. I took all of the health sciences courses throughout high school and I was even accepted into a program that allowed me to do rotations in a hospital.
Now that I have been accepted into college for Fall 2016, i’m rethinking my choice. Don’t get me wrong, I love health science class and I enjoyed my time in the hospital. But, being a nursing major is extremely demanding (so I wouldn’t be able to have a job during college) and nurses do 12 hour shifts. My mom used to be a floor nurse and the stress from constant 12 hour shifts took a toll on her health.
I’m interested to switching to majoring in Accounting. I like the idea of working 9-5, as opposed to 7pm-7am. I find myself to be super organized and I always do well in my math classes. Also, my main criteria for choosing a major is job security, which is why I wouldn’t major in anything relating to liberal arts. Nurses always have job security, but I’ve read that accounting majors have good odds of finding a job.
Are there any accounting majors who can give me some insight into how your major is and what you like/don’t like about accounting?
I would not make this switch lightly. Higher level math has very little to do with accounting. The big question that only you can answer is do you want to be in the business world or in the healthcare field. Andif you have been accepted to nursing programs it may be difficult to switch into a business school at this point.
The hours in accounting can be huge as well, especially during busy season. I cannot think of one successful accountant that consistently works 9-5. (but I do know of nurses who eventually move into jobs in doctor’s offices or schools and have more of a 9-5 schedule) Accounting is an demanding major as well. And to become a CPA, which is the most respected qualification in the field, one needs 150 credits (often including one extra year in a Master’s program), must pass four parts of a rigorous CPA exam, and get work experience.
Accounting is a great field for many and has excellent job opportunities, But do your research and don’t change on a whim or under a false idea that you have found a well-paying " 9-5 career.
No, i’m just Pre-Nursing, not a direct admit for Nursing. I have been doing research about different career options for an accounting major. I want to work for the FBI as a forensic accountant
Thanks for the insight, I appreciate it. I like the idea of working in an office or at a desk, which is why i’m leaning towards the business world
Don’t switch for the hours. I’m not an accountant but work many 12-14 hour days as a professional and I’m envious of my spouse who is a health care professional who has set shifts. When nurses work 12 hour shifts, it’s often four shifts per week. In other professions you may work 10-12 hours + for five days or at times more than five days. Switch because you think you would prefer to be an accountant.
Nursing is difficult physical work, but rewarding in a way that accounting isn’t. Do you have to decide right away? Take the classes you would need to stay on the nursing track first semester, and an intro accounting class. You will know after 1-2 semesters of accounting of it is for you.
It’s not just the hours alone, it’s the 12 hour shift + being on your feet. Starting out, I would most likely have to work the 7pm-7am shifts. The more I think about it, I don’t want to work all night and then sleep during the day. My mom did this my entire childhood as a RN and she wasn’t able to be that involved in me and my siblings lives as she wanted. I only got to interact with her for about 2 hours a day
@intparent I want to apply to a scholarship my bank is offering, but you have to be a finance/business/accounting major to be considered. This is why I would change my major before I start college in the Fall. My first year would just be the typical general education classes. Sophomore year would be when I start taking nursing classes. I have 180 patient contact hours from when I was accepted into a clinical rotation program last year. I do enjoy health science though…
I’m having this internal struggle about what the right choice for me is
Well, you can major in some other area of business if accounting is not for you. It is like trying to describe the taste of something to one, which is hard to do. You have to taste accounting for yourself. Some people really like it. Some people think it is dull. Some people think it is hard, some don’t find it as difficult.
I hear what you’re saying. I liked your advice about taking an intro accounting class to see if I like it. My high school offers an accounting class, but it’s too late for me to take it since I’m a senior. I wish I’d taken the class so I could get a feel for accounting.
Can you find an online course (maybe a free MOOC through someplace like Coursera) , or get an Accounting for Dummies book? I am a little hesitant to recommend it because you might get frustrated without someone to help on the harder bits. But it would give you some idea.
Hmm, I like the idea of an online course. I’ll look around for free online courses.
Also, I have access to the textbook room at school. I can request one of the accounting textbooks and read the chapters. I love reading, so it could hold my attention
If you have already been accepted to a college pre-nursing you need to see if it is possible for you to switch into the business school. At many colleges these internal transfers are extremely difficult.
And I would caution that an online accounting course might be frustrating/a turn off. I would suggest taking one intro class in college and see what you think. Whatever you end up doing having one or two accounting classes won’t hurt.
All that I have to do is just email the university and tell them I’m switching my major. There’s not a special requirement for entering the school of business.
Okay, maybe I’ll stay away from those online courses. I’ll go to the library and check out accounting for dummies
The primary thing you will be doing in accounting isn’t just reading, but working problems with various scenarios where you need to figure out the correct debit & credits to fulfill the scenario. It can be frustrating without help.
Stay away from the WSJ opinion pages… Just stick to the news. But I think there may be a paywall, you won’t be able to read a lot of the articles.
You’re not going to get stuck on the math. It’s 90% arithmetic and 10% basic algebra. At least until you get to the finance and quantitative economics side of it (which many don’t).
The frustrating part with accounting is that there is usually a lot of rules and variables involved, It’s also a lot easier to misread information and make simple errors with accounting than STEM fields (at least in the early classes).
Yeah… it isn’t the math. The math is simple. It is the rules, and how and when to apply them. It isn’t super intuitive…, a book without an instructor isn’t the best way to learn it.
I emailed the university and they changed my major to Accounting. I’m applying for a scholarship with my bank and the scholarship includes a paid internship during summer at the bank, relating to your major. If I’m chosen as one of the 6 people to get the scholarship, the internship will be a good way for me to see if I will enjoy working in the business field
Just stick to the news. But I think there may be a paywall, you won’t be able to read a lot of the articles.