Many international students consider studying accounting. Accounting can be a challenging major, and students must ask themselves a few questions before starting. The most important of these questions is: is accounting right for you?
Are You Committed?
Accounting can be a very challenging major and takes four years of serious commitment to complete. With difficult classes, intense curriculums, and very little free time, many international students find that accounting may not be right for them and decide to leave the field. Leaving a major halfway through your courses can be tough for students, as they may have to take extra classes, extend their time to graduation, and inevitably pay more money. International students should be in it for the long haul if they are serious about getting a degree in accounting. By planning for classes and preparing for tests and homework, international students can be successful in the major and have a great career following graduation. Every potential student must ask him or herself: why study accounting? Students should feel a drive or connection within themselves that draws them to an accounting degree.
What Do You Want to Do?
Before starting an accounting major, students should really ask themselves why study accounting. Is it for the job, the money, or another reason? Before starting, students should have some type of idea what they want to do with the degree. Generally the interest begins with a dream or vision of an exciting career in accounting such as running your own business or working for the FBI (or the equivalent in your home country). Students need to do some detailed research on potential careers in the field and decide if any of the possible careers are a good fit for them. Will an accounting degree help you achieve your goals? There is a good chance that the answer is yes, because accounting is one of the most versatile degrees available. Look into the career options and determine if accounting is right for you. It’s never too early to being to think about your future!
Are You Willing to Put in the Time?
Accounting can be tough. Classes are intense and the workload is challenging. Those who are willing to take the time to study, learn and embrace the concepts of the degree, however, will go on to have a great career. Four years may seem like a long time today, but those four years of studying accounting will provide with the tools to be successful for the rest of your life. Studying accounting can often feel like a full time job. The course load is quite intense, with classes in mathematics, finance, business, and accounting. While some concepts can be challenging, by studying the material and taking the time to make sure you fully understand accounting principles, you can be successful. You must study to be successful in accounting, so the library will be a major resource. Accounting students will tell you what classes they find difficult or interesting. By talking to current students you can get a feel for the coursework and time needed, and get good advice as to what professors to take and which ones may grade harder than others. It is also a good idea to talk to the different professors in the accounting program. They can give you advice on studying accounting and can help you with some advising questions. It is also never a bad idea to get close to professors. Later in your studies, professors will know you and may even go out of their way to make sure you are doing well in your courses. With this help and potential networking connection, students can set themselves up for potential careers, internships, and even recommendations for graduate school. So why study accounting, and is accounting right for you? Take the time to do some research and really answer these questions.