Industrial engineering or accounting?
Choosing between these two paths forces a tradeoff between the heavier coursework of engineering and the fear of picking an easier major like accounting. Limited degree options in California, such as taking business administration or economics with an accounting minor, add confusion over whether those alternative degrees are worth pursuing.
What the numbers show
Counted from the threads quoted below. How we count
- Most of it landed at once — the busiest month was September 2026, with 12 people.
What people tried
Every workaround mentioned in the threads below. We haven’t tested any of them — and nobody here is claiming they worked.
Found another way around this?
Share your steps and trade-offs so fellow engineers don't have to reinvent the wheel. No account required.
- 1Checking specific state CPA exam credit requirementsDid this help you?
- 2Pursuing a business administration degree with a concentration or minor in accountingDid this help you?
- 3Looking into specific universities like USC or UCLA that offer specialized accounting or targeted economics programsDid this help you?
- 4Switching majors in collegeDid this help you?
- 5Transitioning out of accounting into alternative careersDid this help you?
- 6Seeking advice and opinions from online forumsDid this help you?
- 7Researching professional reviews and asking people who have gone through the classes or are already working in the field.Did this help you?
- 8Choosing information systems or data analytics instead of math, statistics, or economics based on perceived job prospects.Did this help you?
- 9Getting tutoring helpDid this help you?
- 10Exploring alternative degree paths using university tracking toolsDid this help you?
- 11Consulting online forums for advice from experienced teachersDid this help you?
- 12Taking an introductory accounting course to see if you like the actual work before committing to a four-year degreeDid this help you?
- 13Talking to counselors and family members for career directionDid this help you?
- 14Considering alternative graduate programs like teaching or pharmacyDid this help you?
- 15Switching to actuarial scienceDid this help you?
- 16Deleting the reddit app and focusing on personal growth and networkingDid this help you?
- 17Ignoring online forums and continuing to study for current examsDid this help you?
- 18Asking industry peers for advice on whether portfolios and field experience matter more than degrees.Did this help you?
- 19asking academic advisors for ideasDid this help you?
- 20seeking insight and career validation from online forumsDid this help you?
- 21Continuing down an unwanted pre-med path to please parents, second-guessing career choices due to fears about AI replacing accounting jobs, or seeking reassurance from online communities before making the switch.Did this help you?
- 22Considering changing majors before entering the workforceDid this help you?
- 23Considering alternative helping professions like social workDid this help you?
- 24Majoring in English Literature or Biology first and pursuing a Master of Education (M.Ed) in graduate schoolDid this help you?
- 25Looking for upcoming winter internships in the local area to gain experience.Did this help you?
- 26Planning to narrow down specific career goals through internships and volunteeringDid this help you?
- 27Studying history to learn how to rapidly absorb information and create written argumentsDid this help you?
- 28Planning to get a masters degree later once a specific career path is chosenDid this help you?
- 29Taking communications or political science classesDid this help you?
- 30Asking professionals on forums to share their retrospective career choices and daily experiencesDid this help you?
- 31Listing personality traits, desired income, and preferred work environments to narrow down industriesDid this help you?
In their words
Unedited, grouped by where they were said, most upvoted first within each place, each linked to the thread it came from.
“I live in california so there aren’t much schools that have a designated accounting degree here. It’s either business administration with a minor in accounting or economics with a minor in accounting.”source ↗
“I’ve heard business admin degrees are basically useless, would it be better to pursue an economics degree?”source ↗
“I am a college freshman looking to pick a major for myself- and I'm torn between accouning and nursing.”source ↗
“I'm looking to transition out of Accounting into something else (idk what it is yet) but definitely something more fulfilling”source ↗
“I'm kinda lost right now in terms of what I want to do career wise.”source ↗
“I am attending community college as a freshman for free with intent to transfer to a four year. I'm just scared of making another mistake like that and wasting more money, and much more importantly time.”source ↗
“i’m asian so it’s been really pushed onto me to go into the med field and do great things for the world but i really don’t see myself enjoying anything in the medical field, nor do i feel like i have the intelligence for it.”source ↗
“i found an interest in business and accounting, but my parents are telling me to think it over because AI has the high possibility to take over many accounting jobs… i’m not really sure what to do… my frontal lobe isn’t even fully developed and i’m stuck having to lay out my entire future 😭”source ↗
“Hello, I'm planning on going into my first year of college. I have no clue what I'm actually going to major in but I've been bomarbed with a bunch of information about accounting.”source ↗
“The idea sounds like it's not terrible but I have heard many, many mixed reviews. So many people say it's decent money and then others say it's not worth it.”source ↗
“Along with a Accounting major what do u think would be better for jobs/salary A stat/math minor or a Business info systems double major”source ↗
“Okay thank you, or would you say econ?”source ↗
“As of right now, I am a 21-year-old Canadian studying at UofC in my 3rd year of a BSc, majoring in natural sciences, with concentrations in chemistry and biology. To date, my GPA is 2.03 (yes, I'm aware this is a very poor performance).”source ↗
“I'm really putting thought into transferring into SAIT ( a college) for its fall intake and doing a BBA majoring in accounting.”source ↗
“I'm reaching out wondering how the job market is, whether it's worth the hassle, and how hard the courses are.”source ↗
“Hi, im a first year accounting student, and I have been reading in this thread with people saying how accounting is getting outsourced to both AI and indians, so I am terrified and most people are saying "DONT DO ACCOUNTING".”source ↗
“So if i dont do accounting, what degree am I supposed to pivot to? Most degrees dont take my first year pre reqs, if i tried to do smth like engineering it'd add 2 extra years while i'd finish all the pre reqs”source ↗
“i am so insanely stressed cus im literally studying for my exams and then i check this subreddit and suddenly all the studying im doing is useless what the fuck!!!”source ↗
“I’m a junior and I’m struggling deciding what to major in.”source ↗
“How do I know if this career is right for me?”source ↗
“Should I do industrial engineering or accounting?”source ↗
“I am also wanting to choose accounting because of the light coursework, but I don’t wanna make it so that I am choosing an easy way out engineering scares me a lot because of all the classes I will be having to take”source ↗
“I am in my first year of college majoring in accounting, should I change my major before AI might potentially take over this field?”source ↗
“I’m trying to figure out what I want to major in college, and I’d really appreciate some advice from people who have experience in different fields.”source ↗
“I’m at a point where I have several interests, but I haven’t found one particular career that I know I want to pursue.”source ↗
“Consider i have no interest in any what's better overall pls answer (my qualifications 12th passed pcm dropper)pls answer like for future what will be better”source ↗
“Thinking about going back to school to level up my career, but I want to know what's actually worth the investment.”source ↗
“I am undecided about my other two areas and would like to decide soon so I can decide what classes to take at my CC.”source ↗
“Career wise I do not have a specific desired position, I just want to help people and communities.”source ↗
“I’m wondering if anyone here has recommendations for my other two concentrations. What would be beneficial?”source ↗
“I'm currently weeks behind in all but one class because I simply can't get through the assignments fast enough and struggle understanding the lectures.”source ↗
“So now I'm wondering... should I switch? Is it too late to switch?”source ↗
“I don't want to just turn tail because it got hard but at the same time I don't feel confident in my ability to get up to level.”source ↗
“Now I'm currently a high school senior, and I'm wondering...what the hell do I go into for college?”source ↗
Where this came up
People with this problem also raised
- 4Is it too late to change my major?
- 23Should I get an accounting certificate or degree while working?
- 2Is it worth paying more for an out-of-state college?
- 12Accounts receivable vs bank teller for a finance degree?
- 12Can I get an accounting job with an unrelated degree?
- 2How to choose a career when you have no passion