<p>Hi, so I am a freshman in college and I am really not sure what to major in. I entered college an Accounting major because I really had no idea what I wanted to do so I went with a business degree by default. The thing is, I am considering switching to engineering. The main reason I want to switch into engineering is because I know that an engineering degree is generally of much higher value than a business degree and that undergrads who major in engineering generally have better job prospects than those who major in business I know I can handle the mathematics and I tend to be very studious by nature so I am confident I can handle the course work. Now, this isn't to say I may not want to end up working in business one day, I may choose to go for an MBA down the road, but I think an engineering degree as an undergrad would be much more useful. So, should I just go for it or what do you think?</p>
<p>You’re an idiot (that’s what I think).
Why not try and major in something you’re interested in?
Just because you consider yourself nerdy enough to do engineering doesn’t mean you should. </p>
<p>Job prospects are cyclical. Just because there are better prospects now does not mean there will be in 4 years.</p>
<p>“The main reason I want to switch into engineering is because I know that an engineering degree is generally of much higher value than a business degree and that undergrads who major in engineering generally have better job prospects than those who major in business I know I can handle the mathematics and I tend to be very studious by nature so I am confident I can handle the course work. Now, this isn’t to say I may not want to end up working in business one day, I may choose to go for an MBA down the road, but I think an engineering degree as an undergrad would be much more useful.”</p>
<p>You are correct.
The truth of it is that any engineer applying for the same/similar job as someone with a business degree, all else being equal, will be hired first- for the reasons you mentioned. They know what you are able to do, but just as important, an engineering degree proves your dedication and commitment. It proves these things much better than a business degree could do to with what a degree in engineering requires. It’s not just that you have to be smart; you have to be willing to put in/sacrifice all those additional hours- you have to be diligent. </p>
<p>So yes, if you can handle an engineering degree <em>and</em> are willing to make the commitment/sacrifices (time) for one, then by all means take that route. But do be aware that quite often you will be working well into your weekends while possible business major friends are out partying or doing whatever, but not needing to study for having any where near the same amount of homework/studying to do as you would with an engineering degree. You can think of it in this way: work very hard now in college (make sacrifices that other majors do not need to) to have security and an easier time later on; or choose the reverse… Personally I believe that the first is the smarter decision, representing only a few years in comparison to a lifelong struggle with work/uncertainty/far less opportunities etc…</p>
<p>It will serve you well whether you intend to stay in the field or not- you will have an definite advantage over your competition if trying to win over that job against others with an MBA with an engineering background. They know you will be capable and they know that you will be teachable. </p>
<p>It’s very good that you are considering this now. </p>
<p>And in response to the last part of the above comment, “Job prospects are cyclical. Just because there are better prospects now does not mean there will be in 4 years…,” engineering degrees have been and still remain some of the most valued, and certainly highest paid careers. The above poster’s comment serves as yet another reason why the engineering degree would be a better decision than a vague and uncertain degree in business.</p>
<p>“Just because you consider yourself nerdy enough to do engineering doesn’t mean you should.” This is an odd statement, and not very much relevant to the OP’s topic, but I still felt the urge to reply: I strongly disagree; college should indeed be about pushing yourself- if it’s not difficult then you aren’t really advancing/learning much now are you? What else do you go to college for? And in response to the ‘nerdy’ comment…call the engineering students ‘nerds’ now, but when they are happy with job security and easily paying their bills then others may wished they worked harder/chose a different, perhaps ‘nerdier’ path in college…
</p>
<p>OP, If you have the aptitude and diligence/work ethic (although enough of the latter makes the former possibly not quite as critical), hands down go for it.</p>
<p>^^
He asked about accounting versus engineering.
Accounting job prospects are solid. You’ll start off making nominally less than engineers but also have the potential to earn higher salaries. </p>
<p>You cannot do accounting with an engineering degree.
You also cannot do engineering with an accounting degree.</p>
<p>There are also plenty of fields that pay much higher than engineering (consulting, finance, …)</p>
<p>I can also tell you that since 2010, at least for my school, the median starting salary for businesses majors has been higher than engineering majors, though the difference isn’t large enough to be relevant. </p>
<p>Your best bet is to try and find a field that you’re interested in and takes a fair amount of people out of undergrad. Whether that fields is accounting or engineering is irrelevant.
Then pick a major accordingly.
Engineering is also not something people typically succeed in if they ultimately aren’t interested in this. You’re much better off being an accounting major than an engineer major with below a 3.0</p>
<p>“I can also tell you that since 2010, at least for my school, the median starting salary for businesses majors has been higher than engineering majors, though the difference isn’t large enough to be relevant.”
I’m sorry, but I don’t believe this at all. Look at any listing comparing salaries of majors or a list of the top paying undergrads and you will find engineering taking up around 7/10 spots. Regardless of what one school says, “an undergrad degree in business” is nowhere on these lists. One reason this is very likely is because a B.A in business does not correlate to any particular job; whereas an engineering degree does at the same time it opens up all the doors for so many others. </p>
<p>Here engineering does indeed hold 7/10 top spots:
[Best</a> Undergrad College Degrees By Salary](<a href=“http://www.payscale.com/best-colleges/degrees.asp]Best”>Common Jobs for Majors - College Salary Report)</p>
<p>“You cannot do accounting with an engineering degree.
You also cannot do engineering with an accounting degree.”</p>
<p>You are wrong. Engineers very often take jobs in finance and accounting. The reverse though would not be true: someone with a degree in accounting could not qualify for an engineering job.</p>
<p>The basic idea is that an engineering degree trumps a business/finance/accounting degree in difficulty, knowledge, and skill set; as a result the engineers can take jobs in those ‘lesser’ fields. But it does not work the other way around of course.</p>
<p>“You’re much better off being an accounting major than an engineer major with below a 3.0.”</p>
<p>Actually, not really- not really at all. It’s not uncommon for engineering students to have much lower gpas in comparison to other non-STEM majors due to the difficulty/effort required. It’s not really comparable, and doesn’t mean that it’s better to get a higher gpa elsewhere.
In fact, all else being equal (interest etc.) it would be far better to get that degree in engineering even with a lower gpa because the engineer can take the accounting major’s job. This is true even if the engineer wasn’t taught certain accounting concepts because the employer will be willing and often preferring to hire on the engineer who has proved he or she is highly capable and able to learn what is needed/be trained on the job- an engineer is that much more valuable. It is in this way that the engineers very often and easily can take non-engineering jobs (not uncommon at all).</p>
<p>So how exactly does an engineer go about sitting for the CPA?
For your own sake, you’re probably better sticking to areas in which you have at least a little bit of experience.</p>
<p>There were a few engineers who applied for an investment banking position that I also applied for. I guess the interviewers missed the memo that they should have been impressed by the engineers with lower GPA’s less relevant work experience and lack of knowledge of finance…</p>
<p>@Tinuviel8- Since when do engineers take accounting courses? Also, each type of engineer has different salary AND job employment. If you’re majoring in ChemE and I’m majoring in accounting, I’ll be the first one to find a job. Moreover, you said that engineers make more money than accountants, I disagree to a certain extent. You’re forgetting the fact that there are more than one type of engineering. Let’s say you’re comparing ChemE with accounting. You’re comparing ~31,700 of chemical engineers with ~1.3 million of accountants. Of course, the average of ChemE salary will be above accountants’. Not all accountants are CPAs.</p>
<p>The potential for accountants to get high salary can be found here and keep in mind that these are usually non-CPA accountants-
[Careers-in-Accounting.com:</a> Your Guide to Salaries](<a href=“Web Page Under Construction”>Web Page Under Construction) </p>
<p>Back to the OP, it doesn’t matter if you think you’re confident or not because you haven’t seen the workload of engineering before. Before you know it, you’ll be dropping out of classes. I’m not saying that you shouldn’t go for engineering but I’m saying that don’t be too confident because you’ll be surprised with how complicated engineering or any other type of major is. Go for something that you’re interested in. Ask yourself these questions-</p>
<p>Will this major keep me interested for 5, 10, 20 years?</p>
<p>Will I be able to find a job with the economy we’re in?</p>
<p>Will I be able to maintain a high GPA?</p>
<p>Will I be able to handle schoolwork, internship, clubs, activities, etc simultaneously? </p>
<p>Am I going for this major for salary, job opportunity, or interest?</p>
<p>If you can answer these questions honestly, then you can definitely find a perfect if not good major.</p>
<p>“So how exactly does an engineer go about sitting for the CPA?”
My statements were to make the point that an engineering degree is viewed as superior in the sense of what it says about the degree holder’s knowledge but more relevant here, to what they are capable of learning. No as engineers they aren’t certified accountants, but the engineer is seen as highly trainable and many do not end up working engineering job due to this. If a specific employer is seeking a certified accountant and no other, than that’s what they will hire- of course.</p>
<p>My original purpose in responding to this thread was in response to the original poster. If the OP holds equal interest in either engineering or accounting or business and is equally capable, then the superior degree would be engineering. It’s pretty difficult to argue this, and I’m not going to further. Look up the information yourself. I suspect that I will continue to get similar posts as this is in the business forum, but nonetheless…</p>
<p>“For your own sake, you’re probably better sticking to areas in which you have at least a little bit of experience.”
Where does that statement come from? You do realize that having knowledge is not necessarily required by having experience? I can know about something just by talking to others who know by experience or otherwise, or by reading and learning, for example.
While I realize that being told one is wrong, as I did above, may incur negative emotions; the intent was to make you aware and reconsider your views- something you are not apparently willing to do, meaning there is no further point in conversation.
If you would like to debate what I have said, and would like to talk to others who do have more experience than I, I would suggest you visit the engineering forum on the site.</p>
<p>There is a reason the large financial firms/investment banks recruit almost solely from top (usually ivy) engineering programs. </p>
<p>TIMES, or maybe FORBES, had an article that I actually saw posted on this forum somewhere (link anyone?) that showed where 40% of STEM majors chose a different career path - i.e. business/finance - as opposed to their technical major.</p>
<p>Im willing to bet the opposite is not true; I would guess 5-15% of business/finance/econ majors might, MIGHT, end up working in a technical field.</p>
<p>Thus, job prospects would appear to be more plentiful for an engineering graduate as opposed to a business grad.</p>
<p><em>Note - this represents the (quite ironic) perspective of a current STEM major considering a change to finance/econ</em></p>