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ORIGINAL: defiantbadgirl

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ORIGINAL: TheFireWithinMe

Geez even when you're upset on someone else's behalf it's someone else is to blame that things aren't the way you thought it should be. Why didn't you guys check thing out before he decided? It's always good to know things like that ahead of time isn't it.

Actually, I DO blame myself. When I looked up degree possibilities for people good at math, I thought accounting looked like the best one. Had I looked in the right place, I might have found out accounting required the ability to understand complex computer programs.

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If being an accountant takes a computer genius and not just basic knowledge of office programs, why isn't that fact more well known?

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ORIGINAL: defiantbadgirl

It appears almost all posters here think giving up a solid degree like accounting over not being able to understand the computer programs is a mistake. I agree. I think he's giving up too easily. I'll try to find out specifically which accounting software program he was having difficulty with because at this point I have no idea. I do know he's well liked at work. Management has expressed interest in him advancing, but he told him he couldn't at this time because of  college. Perhaps he should go for getting experience at work as a department manager and only take a couple of accounting classes at a time so he'd have more time to study? Maybe a combination of management experience and a CPA would land him a decent paying job despite his shyness? I don't want to give him the wrong advice.

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* Of course that's not exactly the way she worded it, hers usually begins "there's a whole fucking cellar-full of unwashed greasy-haired uber geeky little fuckers...", but the meaning is the essentially the same.

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ORIGINAL: defiantbadgirl

It appears almost all posters here think giving up a solid degree like accounting over not being able to understand the computer programs is a mistake. I agree. I think he's giving up too easily. I'll try to find out specifically which accounting software program he was having difficulty with because at this point I have no idea. I do know he's well liked at work. Management has expressed interest in him advancing, but he told him he couldn't at this time because of  college. Perhaps he should go for getting experience at work as a department manager and only take a couple of accounting classes at a time so he'd have more time to study? Maybe a combination of management experience and a CPA would land him a decent paying job despite his shyness? I don't want to give him the wrong advice.

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ORIGINAL: barelynangel

The thing is -- accountants aren't necessarily a concept of being good at math, they need to be good at solving puzzles also, and enjoy doing same.

Maybe he has a problem with both software and solving puzzles. Honestly, I have no clue.


Hell if he was going for math, if you had any sense lol you would have told him to go into engineering -- that is a great career for people with good math skills.  He could have gone into economics, he could have gone into vocational engineering i think its called, he could have looked into being an actuary, any career in statistics.  Why the hell did he ask you what a good career for math people is?  Not to be mean but he should have gone to the career center at his school and spoke to them about his strengths and what he is looking for.  Hell if he is going to change again, tell him to take his happy ass to his schools career center and talk to them, hell he can even go to the Dean of the Accounting department and ask him or her what their thoughts are.

Actually, I did think of engineering.  He claimed he's not mechanically inclined and has no interest in that.

Sorry DFB but you did this guy a major disservice using the internet to try and pick a career for him when you have no experience with choosing a career much less understand the vast realm of careers that involve utilizing a strong mathematics knowledge.  being in school for 3-4 years, he is an idiot for going to you and asking you to help him figure this out.

I think the advice for him to switch to business administration (which there are too many people with degrees in) and minor in accounting came from an academic adviser. I once told a college adviser I wanted to earn certifications from a trade school in two different areas before getting a bachelor's degree. I thought having three different skill sets would give me an advantage in this tough economy. I was advised against doing that and told I should concentrate on one thing. I couldn't help wondering if that advice was based on my best interests or the school's profits.

Second, he has a professor yes, if his peers can't help him, there isn't a tutor, i know most professors have hours wherein they allow students to come talk to them and get help if they need it --- so he needs to buck up and tell his professor how lost he is.  Also, there are usually upper classmen who are TA's which would also help him.

When he complained he was having problems, I advised him to tell his professor. He didn't want to do that because he thought it would make him look stupid. Joining a study group to get help was his idea.

There are a vast number of careers that utilize strong math background -- a lot many people wouldn't believe was based on liking math and having a strong math background, he needs to ask the people who know about same regarding his choices, not you who has no clue. 
angel

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I thought students in study groups all helped each other out for free.

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ORIGINAL: defiantbadgirl



I wish he wasn't so shy about asking questions.

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ORIGINAL: defiantbadgirl

When he complained he was having problems, I advised him to tell his professor. He didn't want to do that because he thought it would make him look stupid. Joining a study group to get help was his idea.

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ORIGINAL: defiantbadgirl

I just talked to him. They were using Peach Tree. The problem was tracking where everything goes in and comes out whatever that means. He said he was good at an accounting class he took in high school and if he had known it changed so much, he never would've chosen that major. He's going for the business administration degree because auditing isn't a required course.