Is this a mistake?

College Majors Engineering Majors
1

<p>Hello, first of all, I am sorry if this is the wrong forum - I don't know where else I'd put this. Secondly, I am in no way attempting to troll.</p>

<p>For my entire life I've been the typical math/science type of student, up until now (I am a high school senior). I have aced all of my classes thus far with a 4.0 average, and I hope that whatever I try to major in I will be successful. I have good study habits. So of course this far I've assumed I was going into engineering. But looking inside myself, I am drifting.</p>

<p>After much thinking in eleventh grade, I settled on industrial as it seemed like the kind of stuff I like to do; in addition, I liked industrial because of the business related aspects of it. So for awhile I was content with industrial engineering, but honestly I had no idea what it really was. Just the Wikipedia definitions and what general skills it uses.</p>

<p>As college draws closer for me it seems that I am leaning farther and farther away from engineering. Deep down I really do not think I am a math/science person anymore.</p>

<p>I still like math, but science is not the work that I like. It could be because it's harder than other subjects, but any reason, science does not excite me. And industrial engineering, although not as heavy science as other types of engineering, uses lots of programming and heavy math that does not really excite me. And not because it's harder. I just don't feel warm and fuzzy about it. I really never did, I just went through with it because in high school it's pretty much going through the motions no matter what the subject matter is.</p>

<p>And, after weighing my interests, I really want to get a degree in accounting based on my love of finance. What worries me is if I will be giving up lots of opportunities. To be honest, I really like business-type stuff. I like it because it's hard in a different way than engineering (and in general yes, I think it is easier). I like finance and the like, but attempting to get into investment banking is stupid. Especially because the banking jobs themselves are tiresome and illogical to living a healthy and fulfilling life. With accounting, which I consider to be an actually difficult major, I feel that I will be able to do what I like.</p>

<p>I do not necessarily want to be a generic accountant, but rather do business work that is somewhat respectable or do anything similar to accounting and attempt to rank up. Whether I want to do economics, finance, accounting, or the like, an accounting degree will provide background as an actually useful business major. And a CPA or certification seems like a good idea.</p>

<p>No, I will not attend a target, but an excellent state school. The accounting program is good.</p>

<p>So those are my thoughts, and my question is: Am I making mistake, or is accounting a rewarding career decision? I want to live up to my (at least I think I have) potential.</p>

<p>Thanks.</p>

2

<p>I don’t know anything about accounting, so I don’t know how you would like it. I do know that in 1999, when my husband and I started our firm, we charged the same amount per hour that our accountant did. Now, we charge 29% more than we did in 1999, while he charges 94% more! Sigh.</p>

3

<p>Im in the exact same boat as you, second semester Junior who was always good at science and math. Hell, I’m taking both AP Chem and AP Physics and Honors Math simultaneously. I’ve been to the International Science Fair, even did Research at a state university with a professor. Everyone expects me to go to engineering or science.</p>

<p>But just like you, deep inside me, I do not like it very much. I’m not a science/math person really (unlike you). When I scorll through a list of majors, I usually skip the engineering/sciences, but whenever I see more social sciences (urban planning/studies, international relations, economics, sociology) I stop and check out their stuff.</p>

<p>I can’t offer much advice, but I already hinted at this with my dad and he told me to make a Venn Diagram with 3 circles: one circle for jobs that make a lot of money, another circle for jobs that you want to do, and another circle for what you are good at. The Intersection of all 3 is the ultimate job.</p>

<p>[how</a> to be happy in business – venn diagram / what consumes me, bud caddell](<a href=“http://whatconsumesme.com/2009/posts-ive-written/how-to-be-happy-in-business-venn-diagram/]how”>http://whatconsumesme.com/2009/posts-ive-written/how-to-be-happy-in-business-venn-diagram/)</p>

<p>This is the diagram, I think it’s ok. Jobs that bring money: Definitely engineering. Engineering managers ON AVERAGE make six figure salaries. What you love: you said accounting and finance excited you, maybe become a consultant? sales manager? You might not like science but you like math and numbers. What you are good at: Math and Science, and other things I’m sure.</p>

<p>Good luck!</p>

4

<p>How do you know that you like accounting/finance any more than engineering? What do you actually know about accounting?</p>

5

<p>You’re right, I don’t know an incredible amount about accounting or business, I am merely saying that I have feelings about it (at least over the engineering disciplines). Although I have read books and other material on it.</p>

<p>Hence my post, asking if my background knowledge and logic is sound.</p>

6

<p>You haven’t even started college, yet. Instead of stressing over this irrelevant issue, devote your present time to activities that provide you with learning opportunities and enjoyment. Once you start your college career, sample as many classes as you can, and focus on the ones you enjoy the most. Do some research, develop a general idea of what you’d like to study, and create and execute a plan; pick up some practical skills along the way, and that’s it.</p>

7

<p>I agree with Enginox. Worry about that later.</p>

<p>If it will help you feel, without AP credit, you’ll have a year of physics, a semester - year of chem, and 2 years of math. The rest are going to be your engineering major classes and general engineering core classes which arent so science intensive as much as they are math. but again, wait until college. plus when you get in college you’ll have a year to decide what you want</p>

8

<p>I feel like emotions towards this sort of thing really skews peoples’ perceptions and ultimately affects their decision-making (sometimes negatively). This is very prevalent in theoretical physics, which is what I’m involved in, because people read about Stephen Hawking and they want to study particle physics or string theory without actually knowing what that entails. They’re hanging on to an image that isn’t at all what physics is really like.</p>

<p>I think you’re doing the same thing here. It’s possible that you aren’t, on an internet forum none of us will know that. What you must realize is that these feelings will screw with you unless you’re highly suspicious of yourself. Make a logical and fully informed decision. Wait till you take your classes, because for most people that’s what general education requirements are for. Or don’t wait and just go to the library and pick up some engineering books, some finance books, really dig in deep and find out what it’s all really like. After all, these are the decisions that will affect you for the rest of your life.</p>

<p>Remember also to always keep an open mind about everything, because until you try it, you won’t know if you like it or not. Don’t hang on to emotional attachments of daydreams you’ve had about being this or that, or how much something might suck. This is the only time you’ll be encouraged to take interest in anything and everything and find what you really want to do.</p>

9

<p>Once you get to college as a freshman, you can plan your freshman year schedule to keep your options open to both engineering and business. For example, you can take:</p>

<p>Calculus or more advanced math for engineering (business typically requires calculus, but often a “light” version, so taking the version for engineering keeps options open)
Physics for engineering (probably fulfills breadth for business)
Economics intro (for business, probably fulfills breadth for engineering)
Business and/or Accounting intro
English reading/writing (likely a requirement for all majors)
Possibly other courses for either major, or breadth, or general interest</p>

<p>Then, based on how you like the courses, you can decide. In other words, you can defer your decision until then (or even until the middle of your sophomore year) without “wasting” schedule space.</p>

10

<p>Someone in my school who was probably the most science-adept person I’ve met applied ED to Wharton last year and is now a very happy freshman there.</p>

11

<p>Yeah, I would have applied to Wharton if I had any chance of getting in : (</p>