Why do debits and credits make no sense?
Introductory accounting classes introduce overwhelming concepts like debits and credits right away, which makes beginners feel instantly lost and question whether they are cut out for the field. This early confusion triggers self-doubt about pursuing internships and a career in accounting, leaving students wondering if they should just give up.
What people tried
Every workaround mentioned in the threads below. We haven’t tested any of them — and nobody here is claiming they worked.
- 1considering giving up on the course
- 2Watching supplementary resources on YouTube such as notepirate
- 3Studying with peers and utilizing campus one-on-one peer tutoring resources
- 4Taking it one day at a time and putting in extra time to grind through the material
- 5Using AI to complete coursework
- 6Asking AI to teach concepts instead of just giving answers
- 7Watching Dr. Farhat on YouTube
- 8Farhat Lectures
- 9Doing plenty of practice problems
- 10Emailing professors for help when stuck
- 11Watching educational YouTube channels like Tony Bell, Edspira, and Farhat Lectures
- 12Feeding practice problems to AI to generate more problems
- 13Spending three hours minimum each weekday after class studying and doing homework
- 14Doing practice cases in spare time
- 15Extensively debriefing cases to learn from mistakes
- 16Practicing technicals and reviewing weak areas
- 17Using Knotia to search the ITA and find formulas
In their words
Unedited, most upvoted first, each linked to the thread it came from.
“I just had my first accounting class earlier today. I'm in my sophomore year at a community college hoping to transfer to a 4 year with accounting as my major.”source ↗
“But now im just in my head about heading into the field and applying for internships.”source ↗
“I had my first exam for Intermediate Financial I, and got a 91 on the multiple choice part, then later got a 69 on the open-ended.”source ↗
“And now I’m studying for my upcoming Managerial Cost Accounting class and I’m having a rough time with this stuff, I can’t seem to grasp a lot of it.”source ↗
“I feel discouraged cause I spend like three hours minimum each weekday after class to go over this stuff and do my homework.”source ↗
“Not to mention that I have three other classes that I need to devote my attention to, and a part-time job where I work 28 hours per week.”source ↗
“Im an accounting major who just started intermediate accounting, its the third week and im already overwhelmed!”source ↗
“Ive been studying as much as I can but im finding it hard since some of the material im a little rusty with.”source ↗
“Hi guys, I’m a freshman in college and have been struggling with accounting.”source ↗
“I just can’t seem to grasp accounting or learn it. It feels soooo confusing.”source ↗
“Its the beginning and im already confused by debits and credits.... do i give up?”source ↗
“i’m currently doing the GDIP and i feel like im cooked. I’m not recognizing certain AOs and I mess up on the technical parts too.”source ↗
“I understand the how but not the why of accounting concept which is leaving me confused.”source ↗
“Im in my first accounting class as well. This information is SUPER overwhelming... at first.”source ↗
“i can’t even complete journals or income or balance statements completely i use ai to help i feel like ill fail when i enter the workforce”source ↗
“I am in an online school taking an intro to accounting class, I am really struggling to keep up with the workload and understanding the material.”source ↗
“Yea, I was told this was the hardest class so im already stressting mad hard.”source ↗
“The debriefs do help a lot, but when it’s a new concept, that’s when i feel cooked”source ↗
Where this came up
People with this problem also raised
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