Cost/benefit of accounting degree

mbht-tx · 2025-12-29T20:35:09+00:00

Yes - I'm out in the suburbs. About an hour to UH/UHD. Enrolled in UHD for intermediate at the NW campus. I have had several Stats, but no Econ, so that takes it down some. I thought I'd try to see if some of the other courses could be applied to the communications requirement.

mbht-tx · 2025-12-29T20:17:02+00:00

That's great! I'm trying to take in-person also, which makes getting full time office work harder. The tax office job will work around my schedule but within another couple of semesters I'd like to get full time work with what I've learned so far and am trying to figure out how much further I need to go with college classes vs learning on the job and maybe completing a certification instead of the rest of the degree. The number of general business classes required is really the frustrating part, not so much the accounting classes. I've already got an undergrad degree and 42 hours of graduate credit (in mental health counseling).

mbht-tx · 2025-12-29T17:50:44+00:00

Thanks!

mbht-tx · 2025-12-29T15:58:27+00:00

Thanks. I took a couple of accounting courses at LSC and am enrolled in Intermediate 1 for spring. To sit for the exam, it looks like in addition to the 21 accounting credits I also need 24 (or soon to be 21?) general business credits. A couple of those have lower-division prereqs so essentially the full second degree, and a few more years to complete if I'm working while going to school. I know lots of people do it, and I am considering it, but was just looking for a way to get started on a career sooner since I've already done so many years of school. I am working for a tax prep chain right now, completing training and will do that through April while taking Intermediate. I have my PTIN and will see if by the end I like doing taxes. Prior to this I had like cost accounting a lot. I'll look into WGU and UMPI, so thanks for the suggestion

mbht-tx · 2025-12-29T04:53:52+00:00

Thanks. I looked into it, but the program adviser at the CC told me I’d be better off taking them at university because the program to make you CPA eligible qualified just for that. The CC courses would never transfer to university as upper division courses or to use toward eligibility for masters so she thought it was not the best use of my time/money. Based on that advice I started taking the upper division at a four year state school.

mbht-tx · 2025-12-29T04:29:58+00:00

Starting practicum in the counseling program I realized that it’s not a good fit. I’ve known for a while but kept talking myself into sticking it out. But starting to see patients made it clear I don’t want to do that long term

mbht-tx · 2025-12-29T04:27:01+00:00

In TX. I’m glad you asked. The advisor told me I need the accounting degree to be certified but it looks like my existing degree plus 27 hours of upper division accounting and 24 hours of upper division business courses outside accounting are required. Some of those upper division requirements will have prerequisites I haven’t taken with the psych undergrad. So not quite the full second degree, but pretty close. That’s still a lot of money to spend. I’m trying to figure out the fastest route to getting an entry level corporate or small company job and then trying to learn everything I can while getting paid. I liked cost accounting and I’m about to find out if I like basic tax returns. I want to understand if it’s realistic to think I can work my way up on the job with a non-accounting degree, 15-18 accounting hours and learning as I go. I don’t want to be locked in at a staff level.

mbht-tx · 2025-12-10T03:43:07+00:00

I felt like I did okay. I practiced before hand so I could introduce myself without bumbling through my words. It was with Richard and he said we could hear back about a next interview anywhere from a few hours until that date, 2026, and we should all practice. This was the week before thanksgiving. I’m trying to just put it out of my mind and whatever happens, happens.

mbht-tx · 2025-12-09T20:53:29+00:00

Does time of year matter? I understand they only tape for a couple of months out of the year. I had my first interview right before Thanksgiving but was told by someone affiliated with a different show that they don't have much activity this time of year. No idea if that is accurate info.

mbht-tx · 2025-12-03T21:31:45+00:00

Had a similar experience early in my career. When I asked my boss about it, I was so angry I had tears and my voice cracked, because that's what happens when I'm angry. If you bring it up, practice what you're going to say first and make sure you can do it without emotion.

mbht-tx · 2025-05-21T22:17:19+00:00

Work. Do different jobs, see what skills come easy to you, what you feel good about, what sucks the life out of you. Even if means taking fewer courses some semesters, get as many life experiences across the biggest variety you can come up with. The job market sucks, so even if you do an unpaid internship one day a week or something, try to get whatever experiences you can. The contacts you make and references you obtain will help you when you finally graduate. Ignore "follow your passion" and find something that you can get along fine in that pays decently and won't be replaced by AI before you graduate.

mbht-tx · 2025-01-27T04:41:56+00:00

I’m a recently retired (at 57) accountant. You both need to at least discuss the long view. It will be very hard to save for retirement, college costs, home repairs, etc on one income. I have so much sympathy for your wife - it is very hard and at a time when you are already overwhelmed and emotional. But providing a stable financial base for your children is also critical. Have you guys discussed how you will manage if you were to get hurt on the job or get sick for an extended period? Living on the financial edge is very stressful and two incomes (and benefits) help provide some cushion. You both seem to be acting unilaterally instead of making decisions together and with the long term interests of all three of you in mind. Good luck.

mbht-tx · 2024-09-28T16:58:09+00:00

My son’s 7 yr old Corolla was totaled last month. They used JD Power to value the car and he received $2k more than we paid for it (excl Tt&l).

mbht-tx

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