<p>how is the accounting program at usc? i'm a transfer student that got accepted to usc engineering, but i'm thinking about switching to accounting. Is it possible to do that? and how difficult is the program? also, how is the job prospect for usc accounting grads? easy to find a job? thanks !</p>
<p>should be fairly easy to change majors from engineering to accounting</p>
<p>that's all I know about accounting</p>
<p>It will be relatively easy to change to accounting (you're gonna have to change to business first, then once you complete the introductary accounting classes you'll be an accounting major). The accounting program is ranked 4th in the country. It is quite difficult and competitive. They say if you get less than a B in either Financial Accounting or Managerial Accounting (two introductary classes in accounting and business) you should not pursue accounting as a major.</p>
<p>It is really easy for Leventhal graduates to get jobs with high-profile accounting firms, and if you received good grades than expect a great starting salary at a very large and prominent firm.</p>
<p>thanks....i hope i can handle it. i'm ready work my ass off. i heard the bussiness curves sucks tho?</p>
<p>The job prospects and starting salaries for both engineering and accounting are similar. There will be more variation within each based on individual merit, specialty, and chance than between the averages for the two. Both attract similar types of people and have similar cultures, though accounting attracts more women and engineering attracts more men. Its easier to switch from engineering to accounting via the mid-career MBA than the other way around. Former engineers are quite common in some accounting specialties.</p>
<p>The career arcs for the two are quite opposite. As an engineer you may do your most creative and independent work at the start of your career, and progress towards being primarily a manager or administrator. In accounting youre almost certain to begin by ticking and tying for a few years before youre ready to tackle less well structured tasks. The working rhythms of the two are also opposite. Accounting tends to have very predictable, repetitive, operationally-focused cycles driven by the calendar, whereas engineering is ussually project oriented.</p>
<p>Unfortunately, you cant really try both to see which you like better. Neither one has much similarity in practice to the experience you get in school. Starting as an engineer and doing an MBA with a concentration in accounting after a few years of working is a great way to go and not at all unusual. However, it will likely put you on a different track from your accounting peers who were raised in the faith. Theyll have completed their 5th year requirement for the CPA and picked up their 3-4 years of public accounting experience before youve had your first accounting job. So youll be getting an entry-level job in industry, probably in cost accounting or information systems while theyll be seniors and managers in public accounting or seniors or controllers in industry.</p>
<p>There arent any easy answers, but job prospects and money should be your last considerations when choosing between these two.</p>
<p>thanks a lot that was extremely helpful! anyone else?</p>
<p>cpchang,</p>
<p>I just graduated from the Leventhal School of Accounting. The curve for courses in the School of Accounting is 3.15, NOT the 2.85 for Marshall School of Business. So it is between a B and a B+. Like others said, the School is ranked top 5 for both undergraduate and graduate by the Public Accounting Report. Job prospect is excellent as the School is a target school for the Big 4 Firms. I was in the MBT Program specifically and just about everybody in my class had an offer by the end of fall recruiting.</p>
<p>baboking,</p>
<p>was your BA in accounting as well? What was your undergrad GPA? </p>
<p>and are you Korean? i once had a korean friend named baboea</p>
<p>I have one semester left as an accounting major at USC (taking off this fall for an internship) and I know a handful of people that switched between those majors. It should not be hard, but do it as soon as possible because the accounting major has a very structured schedule.</p>
<p>A little off topic but, is it true the Marshall curve only applies to a few classes or is it any class in the MSB?</p>
<p>All classes, but a few required classes for business (not business classes) like writing 340 and math 218 are subject to different grading.</p>
<p>My math-218 professor implemented the marshall curve for some reason (I had Goldstein). But the thing you should remember is that the curve doesn't have a negative effect on every class...only a few of the easier business classes that you take.</p>
<p>My math 218 was curved based on the scores on the final. For example if a 218 class had 5 students get an A on the final the class was allowed to have 5 A's for the official class grade. So if you were ranked 1-5 in the class you would get an A regardless of if you were one of the A's on the final. They may have changed the system in the 2 years since I have been in the class though.</p>
<p>Yeah, that 218 curve is still used. Also note that the final is curved in order to tally the number of A's, B's etc given to a class.</p>