What's it Like to Study Accounting?

Are you curious about how difficult accounting school is? And is it really all math, all the time? To get the scoop, we went straight to the source. Aaron, a fourth-year accounting student at Washington State University in Pullman, Wash., answered some questions about his experiences, including how hard the classes are and what it takes to graduate.

Weed-Out Classes

Obviously, accounting involves a lot of math. Accounting classes, however, cover much more than just learning how to enter numbers into a ledger and add them together. According to Aaron (who requested his last name be withheld for privacy reasons), you shouldn't stress about having to learn a million accounting concepts in one class. Accounting classes typically cover one specific aspect of accounting, such as tax law or cost accounting, Aaron explains. And these specific classes come after you've already learned all the basics.

“Each topic builds on a couple of foundation classes that are required before the intermediate and elective classes can be taken,” Aaron says. Foundation classes are taken early on in the accounting student's college career. They often take a year to complete and are referred to as Introduction to Accounting courses.

An Introduction to Accounting course, Aaron explains, lays the foundation for learning more complex accounting ideas. It teaches students the “language” of accounting, so they understand the vocabulary and technical terms of more advanced accounting subjects.

A word of caution: Don't let the name of these classes fool you. Aaron says his Introduction to Accounting courses were difficult. In fact, the first two courses were weed-out courses for the College of Business. Aaron also points out that as you advance in your major, the class work might get harder, but it also becomes more rewarding. When you're learning about something you're interested in, the work doesn't feel tedious at all.

Debunking the Accountant Stereotype

The stereotype of accountants, and especially accounting professors, is that they are boring and dry. Aaron says this is not the case at all. He feels his professors are “knowledgeable, approachable, and very helpful overall.”

A good professor can make a difficult subject more interesting, Aaron says. They can also guide you through material and answer questions. Ultimately, however, success depends on your hard work and determination.

The keys to success in accounting school, Aaron says, are time and task management. His personal trick for staying on task is “having some sort of calendar, planner, or tracking system. It is vital to making sure you are doing the correct task at the correct time. Personally, I use the Outlook calendar. That way I can invite classmates to study groups, homework assignments, and have pop-up alarms to remind myself to submit assignments.” He advises other students: “Whether you prefer digital, pencil and paper, or sticky notes, you have to create some system that makes sense to you.”

Does Accounting Fit Your Personality?

Being organized is part of being an accountant, and a major key to being a successful accounting student. Aaron describes himself as organized and analytical. In other words, he chose a major that fits his personality, and he couldn't be happier. “I like tracking processes and workflows; everything tells a story,” Aaron says. “I'm also great with people, so I hope I can provide a more friendly and approachable attitude that companies will seek out.”

Once Aaron graduates with his four-year degree in accounting from Washington State University's College of Business, he wants to “work for one of the Big Four companies. I am young and like to travel, so I would love to be able to get into a consulting role.”

Aaron's goal is to use his accounting degree to see the world—not a side of accounting that most people know about. The field can be extremely exciting, and involve a lot of travel. Remember, not all accounting students become Certified Public Accountants. There are many other opportunities, including supervisory positions or freelance work.

Aaron's advice for prospective accounting students is to “keep your mind open, keep your life organized, and seek out mentors. Whether your mentors are older students, teaching assistants, or professors, it pays to have someone to ask questions and offer advice.”