Changing my major to...Accounting

[DrStraggler]

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I came into college as a Bio major, but after taking my first bio class, I'm starting to get discouraged. Don't get me wrong, I love the class, and I'm good at it with adequate preparation. However, I recently met with my advisor. She told me that around 5% of last year's bio majors had actually found jobs, and some, (Less than a fourth), had gone on to graduate school. The rest had never landed a job while they were in school or a year after. This scares me. Medical School is definitely not something I'm banking on. I mean, I'm going to give it my all, but admissions are really weird, and I can't say that I'm going to 100% get into an awesome school. So, in the meantime, I feel like I should equip myself with a good back-up.

Right now, I'm thinking if I don't get into Medical School, I'll go for Optometry, because, both of those fields interest me equally. My dad is an accountant, and so are my brothers, so going into that field is second nature, though I can't see myself as an accountant long term. As far as finding the material interesting, I'm good at accounting, the classes are easy for me, and around 90% of graduates from my school find an accounting job 2 months our of school. These are good numbers, hopeful numbers!!

My main question is, is taking up an accounting major advisable? I don't want Med Schools thinking I'm not serious about my sciences (I'm taking all my pre-reqs plus a few upper level sciences).


Any & all opinions are appreciated!

 

[Drrrrrr. Celty]

As long as you take the prereqs medical schools don't care what you majored in. Anyways, if you don't want to be an accountant (as a back up) then don't major in it.

 

[DrStraggler]

I feel like I should have some sort of backup though. I don't hate Accounting at all, I hate Finance and Econ (would never major in those), but accounting major classes are actually pretty ok by me.

What I really want out of a career is to be a physician, I don't know if I could be as happy with anything else, so wouldn't a backup be something I'd be less interested in anyways? Idk, I feel like it's the best option, lesser of the few evils that I've considered!!

 

[MMADoc]

Hello.

I was an accounting major in undergrad and so far it has not hurt my application one bit. However, I also worked as accountant for several years before doing a post-bac so its not the same as the situation youre posing. I believe a background in accounting will only help set you apart and give yourself something to talk about during your interviews.

How far have you gone in you accounting program?

 

[gmcguitar4]

I have friends who are/were accountants and had jobs in the big 4 firms. 3 out of 4 of my friends are not accountants anymore. It really is a miserable job. If you want to do business and make money go into information systems.

 

[Catalystik]

A background in accounting and business practices can only help you if you go into practice as a physician. If it helps keep your GPA high, it would be doubly useful. I see no drawback to majoring in it and adding on the prerequisites. [Of course, to get a CPA, you'd need 150 credit hours.]

 

[DVolle]

If anything, I would say that having an unusual major helps. I'm a geology (geochemistry) major. The majority of my family are miners and, growing up constantly exposed to geology, I wanted to explore that area of science. In addition, I'd have a backup plan in case medicine didn't pan out.

In all of my interviews thus far (3), I've been asked about my major in a positive regard. I think it shows AdComs that you have thought about career possibilities outside of medicine, and that you are a well rounded individual.

 

[chopped1989]

I would major in it, if you like it. As a back up--never! You will be miserable. Also, if you want to go to med school, never think of having a back up. You have to give your 100% as a premed to eventually get into med school and this is coming from someone who screwed up in undergrad. The path to recovery is not easy.

 

[tiedyeddog]

She told me that around 5% of last year's bio majors had actually found jobs, and some, (Less than a fourth), had gone on to graduate school.

Do whatever makes you the most happy, keeps you the most interested, and thus gives you a better GPA. I agree with the above. I had a super hard time finding a job in my off year and ended up finding one in the pharmaceutical sciences, which has nothing to do with my major. Keep in mind, I had tons of research, work experience, and a high GPA, so it might be even harder for those with less credentials. I also lived in a large city so science jobs were easier to find, which is generally true all over the U.S.A.

I think bio majors are super crappy fall back plans. If you can swing it and are worried about not making the cut down the line, just do accounting and take premed on the side.

 

[tiedyeddog]

You have to give your 100% as a premed to eventually get into med school and this is coming from someone who screwed up in undergrad.

I'm not saying not to try your hardest, but it's probably a wise plan for life to always have a back-up plan for everything....

 

[MossPoh]

Major in what you want to major in. It is perfectly acceptable to NOT major in science as long as you get the prereqs out of the way. I was a nonscience major and it seemed to help me more than hurt. The first two years of school were a little rougher in some areas, but third year has given me a lot of fuel to talk with attendings about things that interest them. I find the bio to med school kids tend to be a little less interesting.

 

[Sesom]

I came into college as a Bio major, but after taking my first bio class, I'm starting to get discouraged. Don't get me wrong, I love the class, and I'm good at it with adequate preparation. However, I recently met with my advisor. She told me that around 5% of last year's bio majors had actually found jobs, and some, (Less than a fourth), had gone on to graduate school. The rest had never landed a job while they were in school or a year after. This scares me. Medical School is definitely not something I'm banking on. I mean, I'm going to give it my all, but admissions are really weird, and I can't say that I'm going to 100% get into an awesome school. So, in the meantime, I feel like I should equip myself with a good back-up.

Right now, I'm thinking if I don't get into Medical School, I'll go for Optometry, because, both of those fields interest me equally. My dad is an accountant, and so are my brothers, so going into that field is second nature, though I can't see myself as an accountant long term. As far as finding the material interesting, I'm good at accounting, the classes are easy for me, and around 90% of graduates from my school find an accounting job 2 months our of school. These are good numbers, hopeful numbers!!

My main question is, is taking up an accounting major advisable? I don't want Med Schools thinking I'm not serious about my sciences (I'm taking all my pre-reqs plus a few upper level sciences).


Any & all opinions are appreciated!

My backup is to marry a premed that gets in and become a video game player.

 

[tiedyeddog]

My backup is to marry a premed that gets in and become a house b****.

Fixed it for you.

 

[Sesom]

Fixed it for you.

So be it.

 

[Itsame]

I came into college as a Bio major, but after taking my first bio class, I'm starting to get discouraged. Don't get me wrong, I love the class, and I'm good at it with adequate preparation. However, I recently met with my advisor. She told me that around 5% of last year's bio majors had actually found jobs, and some, (Less than a fourth), had gone on to graduate school. The rest had never landed a job while they were in school or a year after. This scares me. Medical School is definitely not something I'm banking on. I mean, I'm going to give it my all, but admissions are really weird, and I can't say that I'm going to 100% get into an awesome school. So, in the meantime, I feel like I should equip myself with a good back-up.

Right now, I'm thinking if I don't get into Medical School, I'll go for Optometry, because, both of those fields interest me equally. My dad is an accountant, and so are my brothers, so going into that field is second nature, though I can't see myself as an accountant long term. As far as finding the material interesting, I'm good at accounting, the classes are easy for me, and around 90% of graduates from my school find an accounting job 2 months our of school. These are good numbers, hopeful numbers!!

My main question is, is taking up an accounting major advisable? I don't want Med Schools thinking I'm not serious about my sciences (I'm taking all my pre-reqs plus a few upper level sciences).


Any & all opinions are appreciated!

I'm certainly no expert, but accounting seems like a good plan to me. Having a marketable skill is something I've thought about a lot over the past three years in case medical school doesn't work out this time around (exactly why I'm not a bio major myself).

Not to mention that accounting might be really useful if you want your own private practice one day (or even want to keep track of your finances with all those medical school loans!). As long as you find the classes interesting, why not?

 

[Neurosis]

yeah, i was just like you, i didn't know what to major in so i chose bio as a default major. All i can say is thank god i decided to switch out in a psych major instead, by far more interesting.

 

[Neurosis]

anyway if i don't make it into med school i can always go to graduate school for psychology

 

[simondimond]

I'm an accounting major. I think you are making a wise decision. An accounting degree is actually worth something. Just understand that accounting is not just adding and subtracting numbers. Managerial and cost accounting are extremely difficult courses. The business background can only help you when you become a doctor.

You also learn a lot of cool things about how the world works when you major in business.

 

[Envix]

My backup is to marry a premed that gets in and become a video game player.

Backup? That should be your main objective! Medical school is the backup plan.

 

[DrStraggler]

Thanks for all the info/testimonials guys! I talked to my advisor, and I'm taking an intro ACCT course next semester. Hopefully, if I find it doable, that's where I'll be.

I'm liking the feeling of finally having my feet somewhere! I never felt like a true Bio major, because, though I loved it, I was always unhappy about the career prospects.

And to those who said that back-ups aren't a good idea, I just can't process that way! I'm going to give Med 100%, but I think it's wise to have a fall-back!

I mean what's sadder than a 24-year old Science Major working as a Bank Teller? Besides science majors are really difficult things to pursue! I don't want to work insanely hard for nothing, ya know?

 

[willen101383]

Thanks for all the info/testimonials guys! I talked to my advisor, and I'm taking an intro ACCT course next semester. Hopefully, if I find it doable, that's where I'll be.

I'm liking the feeling of finally having my feet somewhere! I never felt like a true Bio major, because, though I loved it, I was always unhappy about the career prospects.

And to those who said that back-ups aren't a good idea, I just can't process that way! I'm going to give Med 100%, but I think it's wise to have a fall-back!

I mean what's sadder than a 24-year old Science Major working as a Bank Teller? Besides science majors are really difficult things to pursue! I don't want to work insanely hard for nothing, ya know?

You obviously have a mature outlook on your situation. Fall back plans are extremely important! Best of luck!

 

[tspx23]

If it helps i switched over from bioinformatics to business management my freshman year. I did it because I hope to be in charge of my own practice one day. I don't think it would have any negative implication... Ever since I switched I used to have a GPA of a 3.4 and I raised it to a 3.69 now. There are several job opportunities for me as well, I've gotten several interviews and there is a direct program to do an MBA at my school as well. There will definitely be more opportunities for you.

 

[MD Odyssey]

I think that you should leave college, go find a place to live in the mountains or on the beach and surf, ski, snowboard, or mountain bike your ass off. After you've had a chance to step out from your mom's apron strings, then maybe think about whether you want to pursue a career in medicine or not.

If your parents are driving any decisions in your life, you need to cut the umbilical. Like, now. Don't go to college until you have a clue what you want to actually due with the next 20 years of your life.

 

[MD Odyssey]

I mean what's sadder than a 24-year old Science Major working as a Bank Teller? Besides science majors are really difficult things to pursue! I don't want to work insanely hard for nothing, ya know?

Seriously? Piss of, mate. I've forgotten more science than you'll ever know, and I was working in a bike shop as a mechanic. You're a fool. Get a clue.

 

[MossPoh]

Seriously? Piss of, mate. I've forgotten more science than you'll ever know, and I was working in a bike shop as a mechanic. You're a fool. Get a clue.

What the hell are you angry about? It wasn't even a direct response to you. You want a pat on the back for not performing up to your max potential? Congrats.

 

[DVolle]

Seriously? Piss of, mate. I've forgotten more science than you'll ever know, and I was working in a bike shop as a mechanic. You're a fool. Get a clue.

Didn't that one really smart guy work as a janitor at MIT? He might have you beat.

 

[DrStraggler]

Seriously? Piss of, mate. I've forgotten more science than you'll ever know, and I was working in a bike shop as a mechanic. You're a fool. Get a clue.

Haha relax my man. You're obviously a very different person than me, and if anyone is a fool, it's you for trying to make everyone else like you. I admit that I'm not wise...at all, I have a plan, for myself, and I don't advise anyone else to follow it because I don't know what they want out of life.

And all the power to you, if you had fun at that mechanic shop..... awesome! I would probably be more depressed that I'd ever been, because that's something I can't handle.

Point: We're different people, respect others enough to not push your "PHILOSOPHY" on them.