<p>I’m not really sure what your unusual family issues are, and I’ve noticed a trend a people coming into CC and thinking that their situation is “unique” when it’s actually not all that unique. Not that it’s not important or an obstacle, but that many other people have had similar experiences and overcome them. I know that there are graduate students (MA and PhD level) who have children, taken care of elders, been sick themselves, and had a host of other problems and still managed to complete their degrees. You, of course, are the best judge of your own life - but I think they would have to be very unusual indeed for you to have to choose either to go straight to graduate school or <em>never</em> be able to get a graduate degree.</p>
<p>If you are concerned that too many people are learning <em>accounting</em>, then you definitely shouldn’t choose sociology. First of all, most social science MAs (sociology, psychology, political science) won’t really give you better job prospects, not over and above other kinds of professional degrees. Second of all, I actually don’t think there are as many people competing for accounting jobs or graduate training as you think. Accounting is a field that, for better or for worse, has a reputation as a boring, tedious job that only eggheads do. Job prospects for master’s trained accountants are actually pretty good. However, a problem that you’ll run into is most MS programs in accounting (as opposed to MBAs with a concentration in accounting) require an undergraduate major in accounting at an AASCB-accredited program.</p>
<p>If you are interested in a more social science degree that leads to professional work, I second the suggestion of social work - an MSW will allow you to do work in a variety of settings and will require your sociology background. You can take specialized classes in management of social organizations and cross-register for analysis classes if you want that background. I was also going to suggest an MPA with a concentration in social policy or economic analysis, since you have the math background. The caveat is that most MPA programs prefer students with some work experience.</p>