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Help Me Choose My Degree! (+karma)

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Z_rob
Posts: 3076 - Karma: 152
So I'm coming to the end of my Junior year, starting to think about some colleges that I want to go to and getting my stuff together to start applying next year and I'm pretty decided on my top 3 college choices.

1. University of Utah (Skiing and they have a really respectable business program)
2. Western Washington University
3. Central Washington University

I'm looking at either getting my bachelor's in accounting or business and then getting my MBA (Masters in Business). However, I have no idea what to choose for my bachelor's (Accounting or Business?)

Has anybody majored in either of these and want to give me some insight on the two degrees and some background details.

And if you want to throw in any extra stuff/opinions about the 3 colleges i listed and how you like it if you attend it/attended it?

Pros and Cons of each degree and College?

Thanks and like said above +karma to any helpful advice

(And I searchbarred and didn't really find what I was looking for)
Apr 28 2010 1:15PM
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Z_rob
Posts: 3076 - Karma: 152
Oh and also what kind of career paths are offered via which ever path i choose to take would be great too
Apr 28 2010 1:16PM
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shr@gler
Posts: 1233 - Karma: 912

I vote business in Utah!

Apr 28 2010 1:19PM
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Z_rob
Posts: 3076 - Karma: 152
yea ive heard its a really respectable school for business, like top 25 or something like that.

So business bachelor's then get my masters in business too? is that what you mean?
Apr 28 2010 1:21PM
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Alpine3
Posts: 1811 - Karma: 24
hey doood. i got to Bentley University in Waltham Mass. goood school. ranked 21 in best undergrad business programs in the nation. They have an amazing accounting department.

so far ive liked it quite a bit good times good times.

feel free to ask me about specifics
Apr 28 2010 1:24PM
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Rainbow*Stylin
Posts: 1042 - Karma: 24
WWU or UofU are your best choices i think... both good business schools, both got good vibes and good locations... do a little reseach yourself id say check it out, im not a business major but both seem like viable options... Utah is dope, but a little bit weird, too many hipsters w/ fixies and mormons with nice clothers, just a strange valley... washington is dope, ton of hippies and rain... pick your posion bro
Apr 28 2010 1:25PM
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Z_rob
Posts: 3076 - Karma: 152
yea thats a sweet school and all ive read about them, however im really trying to stay out west for college though considering im from washington and im not trying to stray too far away from my family and friends
Apr 28 2010 1:26PM
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Z_rob
Posts: 3076 - Karma: 152
yeah im from washington so a different atmosphere and location like Utah would be cool, and hipsters don't bug me too much, neither do mormons just as long as they aren't the in your face knocking on your door type of mormons
Apr 28 2010 1:27PM
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shr@gler
Posts: 1233 - Karma: 912

Sorry I can not be more insightful.. I based that purely on the fact that you sound like you have already researched a bit. If they have a good reputation it is usually for good reason. Plus you will get some amazing skiing done. Masters in business is a good idea as it gives you more options!

Also you will be the one hiring accountants to count your money! So no choice in that regard as far as I see.

Apr 28 2010 1:28PM
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Z_rob
Posts: 3076 - Karma: 152
Could you elaborate a little bit?
Apr 28 2010 1:28PM
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Z_rob
Posts: 3076 - Karma: 152
haha word to that
Apr 28 2010 1:29PM
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ECB
Posts: 6991 - Karma: 622
Right now, I'm majoring in minors.....

Seriously, I'm in business right now, came to college for accounting, and decided to do finance, just more of my feel I guess.  I'd say go to whatever college has the most amount of programs, not always the best, that way you can easily switch back and forth. 

And without researching the three you listed, number 1 looks the best if they have good business and skiing......
Apr 28 2010 1:30PM
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soulskier
Posts: 17806 - Karma: 3,841
big con of business school:economics
Apr 28 2010 1:32PM
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skeedle
Posts: 6156 - Karma: 628
I love my business program. No regrets transferring out at all.

I am an accounting major, and I love it. It is so practical. If you feel like you have the people skills and are able to read and understand people naturally then I would suggest sticking with accounting. If not you should probably take some human resource management courses but accounting, or even just understanding accounting is an incredibly valuable skill.

Apr 28 2010 1:35PM
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ECB
Posts: 6991 - Karma: 622
Oh and for accounting vs b.a.;
I've found that accounting is more gpa oriented in a way.  For example, recruiters for the big four really only care about your gpa.  While in b.a. its more about who you are as a person, and grades are important but not the only thing they look at. 

Also, when you take a job with accounting, most likely in the big four, you are in a sense a nobody at work.  However, that being said, you get promoted quickly in some cases, because many accountants leave their first job after a few years (usually 4 to 6) to pursue other jobs.  So that being said there are not many long term workers in the big four.  However, if you want to someday start your own business, accounting is a great way to go.  Go to college for 5 years (4 if you take a lot of AP and work hard at college)  Get a CPA, get a job for 4-6 years, then quit and be on your own.  You will be suceessful that way. 

Pay wise right now, accountants start out of college usually making 60,000+ and jobs are plentiful, while b.a. majors right now are having trouble finding jobs.  With finance, marketing, itm, etc.....there is a wider range of jobs, but not all of them are real good.

I feel like I really told you the bad stuff about accounting more so than the good, but thats my views on why I didn't choose accounting.  My advice to you, wherever you go, join a business club your first semester, as lame as the club might be, go to every meeting, listen to as many guest speakers as you can.  That really helped me.  Some accountants love what they do. Absolutely love it.  One guy came in, worked for the big four for 6 years, quit, and took with him a few clients, one being time warner cable.  The guy hooked up american idol and cable.  Basically started that shit.  He has made millions by starting his own business, with the main client being Time Warner Cable, American Idol and some other show.  Then there's also forensic accounting, my school is getting that program at the start of next year. 

Look into the three colleges, see what programs exactly they have, google them all, find as much info, ask people in your town now, go to an accounting firm in your town, ask them about their college, ask your business teachers in high school right now, mainly ask questions to everyone!  I've chosen finanace, but might also major in accounting (my school has both for majors, yeah it will be a lot of work, but that way when I graduate I can do either).

Sorry for the length, but you are in the same situation I was in, except mine was later on in high school, start of senior year, so I had like 2 months before apps were due to apply
Apr 28 2010 1:43PM
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Z_rob
Posts: 3076 - Karma: 152
thank you that was really helpful as were most of the posts so im handing out mucho karma right now :)
Apr 28 2010 1:49PM
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Z_rob
Posts: 3076 - Karma: 152
bump
Apr 29 2010 1:21AM
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mark.p
Posts: 1422 - Karma: 10
As a senior Accounting/Finance double major, I would say that you really can't go wrong with this combination.  It is tough to do, but with summer classes it's not impossible to get everything done in four years.  If you want to sit for the CPA exam, most states require you to have 150 credit hours completed, which a double major in Acct/Finc or Acct/Econ will allow you to do.

As was previously mentioned, Accountants care about GPA... a lot. However, you don't have to be a genius to get good grades as long as you work hard consistently throughout your college years.  After graduation, the Big 4 public accounting firms (Deloitte & Touche, Price Waterhouse Coopers, KPMG, and Ernst & Young) is a great route for you to take in order to get some good experience doing auditing or tax.  After a few years, most people get burnt out working in such high - paced environments and join either a smaller acct firm or the corporate world.

If you decide that public accounting is not for you, no problem. Accountants are generally always in demand in the corporate world in positions that pay very well.  Companies like accounting majors.

If you are willing to put in the effort to become do accounting, it will pay off in the end.  If you have any questions about accounting, just shoot me a pm and i'll be glad to answer
Apr 29 2010 2:58AM
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skier_boy26
Posts: 11295 - Karma: 502
bahahahahhahahahahhahahahahhahahahahahahhahaha man that was ripe
Apr 29 2010 3:09AM
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Z_rob
Posts: 3076 - Karma: 152
?
Apr 29 2010 12:09PM
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easiestEC
Posts: 2471 - Karma: 489
ever consider Sierra Nevada? they have an extremely strong business program and they work with you to seal a job once you get out of college. not to mention the skiing is unreal! 22 mountains within a hour of the school. and northstar is 15 minutes away
Apr 29 2010 12:24PM
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hellomynameisjef
Posts: 5794 - Karma: 167
Utah is pretty sick, but anyone can get in. It's like 45 minutes away fro park city
Apr 29 2010 12:54PM
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Z_rob
Posts: 3076 - Karma: 152
no i havent but i am definitly going to look into that. THANK YOU!
Apr 29 2010 3:39PM
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Barefootin_Fiend
Posts: 7618 - Karma: 4,727
I'm at work right now, so I didn't read any responses and I have to be short. Sorry if I repeat.

I would highly recommend getting the Accounting degree. It is by far, without a doubt, the best business degree that you can get. It's the harder degree, so even when applying for non accounting jobs down the road, the employers tend to look at it like "if he could do that, then he's got to be smart enough to do x job too."

I've got my bachelor's & master's in accounting & I don't regret one second of it. Unless you're a doctor or an engineer, you'd be wasting your money getting anything else.

I'll revisit after work....
Apr 29 2010 4:05PM
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leahey
Posts: 2548 - Karma: 32
Interesting, I guess you are right. It is funny because I actually am considering both accounting and engineering etc. Good advice right thurr ^^
Apr 29 2010 4:09PM
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Z_rob
Posts: 3076 - Karma: 152
great advice, i really hope you do revisit cause i will definitely have some more questions for you!
Apr 29 2010 4:14PM
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BenWhit
Posts: 4654 - Karma: 3,256
yo i saw that you go to bentley in a thread and im wondering what the socail situation is like there. im going, for sure, i just want to know what its like. like not only parties, but like is there stuff to do on an average night?
Apr 29 2010 4:20PM
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Barefootin_Fiend
Posts: 7618 - Karma: 4,727
fire em off man. I'll be in and out for the next couple of hours while I finish up some work, but I'd be more than happy to answer any questions you may have.
Apr 29 2010 5:19PM
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Z_rob
Posts: 3076 - Karma: 152
Do you enjoy being an accountant?

How hard is the degree, aka the courses?

Is your job really hard?

What kind of stuff do you do?
Apr 29 2010 10:07PM
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Barefootin_Fiend
Posts: 7618 - Karma: 4,727
Yeah, I like it. It's kind of nice being the smart guys in the room. Some things suck, but you'll have that everywhere.

i've kind of always been an accounting whiz (so to speak) so acct classes were never outlandishly difficult for me. but i've definitely seen a lot of people struggle along the way. i guess that's just one that you'll have to figure out for yourself.

courses: i liked them all.a lot more than the retard gen ed waste of time courses.

is my job really hard? My job isn;t hard for anyone who studied and did well in college.

lately i've been working on implementing a new electronic expense reporting system that is integrated into your iphone, our GL, PY, & HRIS. (gen led, payroll, hr syst)

we've also recently implemented an electronic invoicing system that works with our PL. system approval by a mgr goes directly to the payables system so the funds are dispersed. there's a little more to it, but you get the idea

i do lots of journals. i negotiate contracts. i file certain tax returns. sometimes I play on newschoolers like eryday. the list really just goes on and on and on. i analyze revenue trends & assemble data from all of our systems to help the company make the right decisions.

i think that's all for this round....
Apr 29 2010 11:37PM
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Z_rob
Posts: 3076 - Karma: 152
you are quite possibly one of the most helpful people ive might on this site, especially on this subject. Thanks a ton! ill post some more questions if i think of any, id give you more karma but i already gave you 10/10 earlier today!
Apr 30 2010 1:13AM
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skiierrrrrrr
Posts: 998 - Karma: 694
university of utah isnt even in the top 100 undergrad business programs according to newsweek...
Apr 30 2010 1:23AM
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skiierrrrrrr
Posts: 998 - Karma: 694
ahhh i meant businessweek not news
Apr 30 2010 1:34AM
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Sleet
Posts: 327 - Karma: 13
COme to western! I go here and it's amazing. The parties, people, and baker; its all great. Also go for a business degree. There's more career paths available after college where as accounting, you're kinda stuck in one general category.
Apr 30 2010 1:39AM
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Z_rob
Posts: 3076 - Karma: 152
according to this site they are 51st

Apr 30 2010 1:45AM
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Barefootin_Fiend
Posts: 7618 - Karma: 4,727
no problem man. feel free to hit me up any time if you've got another question, or just want a second opinion on something. glad to help.
Apr 30 2010 11:16AM
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Barefootin_Fiend
Posts: 7618 - Karma: 4,727
You couldn't be any more wrong on this one.
Apr 30 2010 11:34AM
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bryant
Posts: 273 - Karma: 31
i cant tell you much about the college aspect of this topic, though my mom is an accountant and owns her own business and she loves it. she makes mad bank as well as gets to pick her own hours so if i were you i would combine the two you could easily minor in business your first 4 years and then for your masters do a business aspect of it at least i think thats possible. correct me if i am wrong.
Apr 30 2010 11:46AM
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Z_rob
Posts: 3076 - Karma: 152
wait you mean get my bachelor's in business and then get my masters in accounting? or just get a more concentrated business degree through my masters?
Apr 30 2010 12:59PM
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NW_Rider
Posts: 2580 - Karma: 314
You a cat!
Apr 30 2010 1:32PM
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Tasche
Posts: 5422 - Karma: 99
get a degree in mechanical engineering. Problem solved.
Apr 30 2010 1:46PM
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amo
Posts: 6709 - Karma: 1,248
I live in Weston and drive by bently almost every day.
Apr 30 2010 1:47PM
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