best combo of majors

tylerd1994 · 10-09-2012, 06:24 PM

Hi there,

I'll graduate this year from high school with 40 credit hours from my local community college. Most of the credits are gen eds. With such a head start I figured it would be a great idea for me to double major and get some sort of a masters. My question is how possible is a double major of accounting and finance with an MBA be to achieve? How long would you think that would take me? I imagine if I have a double major with an MBA then hopefully passing the CPA exam would set me apart from many, having an impressive resume. What do you guys think? I'm open to any suggestions also, possibly other majors to double major instead of finance.

Thanks!

ChrisTKD · 10-09-2012, 08:28 PM

You should be able to double major in accounting and finance but don't expect that to make you more attractive as a employee than someone who majored only in accounting or only in finance. There is a fair amount of overlap between the two degrees and it's possible to fill in the stuff you don't know with a little self study on the job. The employer is really looking for either an accounting major or a finance major or they are indifferent between the two. So having both isn't an advantage. Your GPA is more important than the extra major.

I believe many states now require a 5 year accounting degree to take the CPA exam. An MBA straight after your undergraduate education is worthless IMO. You could probably get a one year MBA at the same university but it would be just extra business classes. MBA's really only become truly valuable after several years of experience under your belt.

tylerd1994 · 10-09-2012, 08:33 PM

So what would you recommend as a good double major for accounting. Maybe a communications like major? Also then it would be a good idea to get the MBA for future preferences. My major goal is to make at least 6 -figures by my midlife.

Ill take advise on anything that would best supplement an accounting degree as I imagine I should double major in at least something because of the extra time I have. Thanks!

ChrisTKD · 10-10-2012, 02:09 PM

You can make six figures with just an accounting degree. Many MBA programs will just offer redudant courses because your accounting degree requires that you take basic classes in finance, economics, marketing, management etc. A general MBA program (e.g., Harvard, Darden) works best for non-business undergrads (engineers, liberal arts majors). If you wanted to go into finance a quantitative-based MBA (e.g., Wharton) might be a plus.

If you can already write well then a communications major really isn't going to add anything for you. If you are at all interested in programming or application software I would suggest taking as many computer science or information technology courses as possible.

tylerd1994 · 10-11-2012, 07:35 PM

I'd say I'm a fairly competent writer. I just want to make the most out of my time and get a set up of degrees to make myself stand out well and give me options. I have a feeling if I don't get the degrees early on, once I get a job I won't want to go back to school. I want to set myself up with the chance to keep moving up in terms of salary and power if I'm good enough. I do enjoy using computers but I don't know much about them when it comes to engineering and programming. I'd also like to steer clear of any high level math courses as it is not my strongest subject. I do really well with arithmetic and simple algebra/geometry, but calculus is just not too fun for me.

GoalsOriented · 10-12-2012, 12:18 AM

I am assuming someone/somewhere told you the following:

Potential Earnings: Two degrees, at the same Bachelor level
>
(Potential Earnings: One degree, at Bachelor level + time value of additional debt and lost salary from extended graduation date)

Did they explain the details of how this was true and why you would earn ANY additional amount with two Bachelor degrees, much less the amount needed to cover additional debt/lost salary?

tylerd1994 · 10-13-2012, 12:54 AM

No one has told me much, I assumed since a good portion of my college is over with and paid for for free, I could easily take advantage of getting two degrees. I then imagine for the same price a normal person would get a degree, I could have two. Thus having two degrees giving me more variety and more options to grow in a profession. I'm not set on two degrees but I am set on at least furthering my education past just simply a bachelor's degree. I just can't see where having two degrees could do anything but benefit oneself.

mrdude108 · 10-13-2012, 11:32 PM

I would agree with the above posters. The big way two degrees or a degree and a higher level degree would help the most is if you get something like Engineering/CS and then an MBA while working in the field to give you some management knowledge and the degree to move up in the company.

Doing something like Accounting and then immediately getting an MBA won't do you much good. I was set on doing the same thing, I wanted to get my Bachelors and then go get my MBA but I was told several times my many people that it doesn't help, it may even be negative because MBAs are mainly for people with a job in the place they want to be that want to move up. I had the same mind set as you, it can only help right? However, it all depends on the combo with two bachelors or bachelors+grad. Adding some technical experience and knowledge really can only help. They have degrees that combine accounting and information systems. AIS. That may be a good option for you.

tylerd1994 · 10-14-2012, 10:41 AM

Thanks,

I'm making a college visit to Blufton University on Tuesday so I'm going to try to find some more information about a good double major. I really do like computers, but I'm not much of a programming person. I do enjoy applications and such. Is that what CIS or AIS would fall under?