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making decisions after graduating from college
Hello, I have just graduated college last week with a bachelor's degree in Business Administration with a major in Accounting.
My parents seem to really, really want me to take the CPA exam, but the thing is, I'm not sure if I want to.
Should I take the exam to please my parents?
Or should I go for something I want to go for?
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I don't believe it could really hurt you to take. Just because you take it doesn't mean you have to go through with that career path but if you pass you at least have a backup. :)
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You are an adult. Parents may have some idea's of their own. If you asked their advice and thats what they suggest, or prefer, that's nice but that doesn't help you to do the adult thing of weighing all the information, gathering facts, not personal choices for you, and then making your decision.
So I will try to help with providing some info to be found on the net and you can do further research on your own to decide.
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It all depends on what you think you want to do starting out. There is such a thing as a Registered Rep exam to be licensed for specifice work. Heres a link:
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And finally on CPAs vs Financial Advisors
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When my ex got out of business school, he wasn't sure where he wanted to specialize so he talked to a gal at our church who'd been a CPA for decades. the Plus's is the income, You can charge an hourly rate. To keep your license, either yearly or every couple years you must take on going training to be informed on any changes in the industry, law changes, etc. She worked with small business owners doing accounting. In that arena, which my ex was leaning towards, she said she is licensed by law and can lose her license if she doesn't report things she comes across that are incorrect or have broken laws in a persons book-keeping or finances. The unfortunate thing, many sole owner or with one employee, were trying to do their own accounting and doing something wrong not on purpose but due to lack of knowledge and she would have to report it, bound by law, vs a tax accountant or book keeper could point out the problems and suggest they do A.B. and C. to fix it. Just out of school, with no work experience, you're in no position to open your own book keeping service. You might want to work 5 years as a staff accountant with a company, or even pass tests to do income tax. My ex was a book-keeper, registered rep and tax accountant. Passing a CPA exam would guarantee more money, but coming into a business with no experience, they may still not pay you what you expect. There's no harm in getting a CPA license. If in 10 years time, you find you don't want it anymore, you might check but I think you can let it go, especially if you don't keep up with the update training. and You would no longer be able to call yourself a CPA even if you used to be one, as that would be against the law. So it depends on what you want to do in the long run and you may not really know until you get involved in one of the many job options and decide whether you really like it or want to try something different.
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First of all, congratulations on earning your bachelor's degree. I'm sure your parents as well as other relatives and friends are proud of your for achieving this important accomplishment and reaching a life milestone.
I would venture to guess that your parents are trying to look out for your best interests. But just because that is the probable intent doesn't mean they are right about what those best interests might be.
That being said, your career choice untimely has to be yours. After all, no one else is going to be doing the job you will on a daily basis for possibly several decades to come.
I wouldn't rule out taking the CPA exam at a later date because who knows, maybe you will find out that it does suit you. However, for now your apprehension about it suggests that it does not.
For the time being, I would think your best option might be to focus on your interests and figure out what you want to pursue. Besides, if you just take the CPA exam to appease your parents, that will probably make it all that much harder for them to accept you not being interested in that career path when you choose not to go that route.
Good luck.
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If you're not going to keep up with the certification why take the exam and waste the money. There is a benefit to having those initials behind your name especially while looking for work in either field of endeavor. Having those 3 initials behind you name can make the difference between you and someone else getting a particular position you may apply for.
My sister took the CPA exam right out of College and she believes it go it her the job she wanted. She does not need the title in the positions she has had as she has been promoted so she has not done the continuing education required to maintain her CPA.
Fact is whatever you decide to do you must do for yourself and no one else. You are an adult now responsible only to yourself and eventually to and for your spouse. I am a parent of an adult son and while he calls me for advice on many things. Ultimately he decides what it is he is going to do. It is the same for your parents. As much as they may want you to take the CPA exam the best they can do is offer your their advice and hope that you accept it.
Once again it is your life. You have to plan the pathway you wish to follow through life. If you plan does not include a future solely in the accounting field then A CPA may not be of benefit for you.
My advice is to first sit down and decide what you plans are for the future. For there are two types of people in this world. There are people whose plans fail and people who fail to plan. There is nothing wrong with having a plan that fails. You pick yourself up, find out why your plan failed and make new ones. But if you have no plan to begin with than you are hopefully lost from the start. Make your plan then decide where if any the CPA fits.
Good luck and Congratulations
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