How College Accounting Classes Apply in Real Life

If you plan to pursue a business or finance degree, you will be required to take accounting classes in college. But business majors are not the only ones that can benefit from accounting classes. Many students who plan to go into law, medicine, and even architecture find that the skills taught in accounting classes can be very valuable in those careers. Don't automatically reject accounting classes just because your major doesn't require them. Accounting skills can be beneficial in numerous types of careers, and when it's time to find a job after graduation, your accounting skills can set you apart from other job candidates.

Careers that Benefit from Accounting Skills

Obviously, accountants benefit from accounting skills, as do other business majors, but so do the following career choices:

Government
Non-profit agency careers
Teaching administration
Private law practice
Private medical practice
The truth is, knowing how to account for the flow of money is a critical skill in many career choices, and job candidates with accounting skills often have an edge over candidates without them.

Accounting and Non-Work Life

In some ways, running a family is similar to running a business. You need to make sure that your family's income is used wisely so that you can save for extras like vacations. With accounting skills you gain from college-level accounting classes, you will have an easier time accounting for where your money goes, and you'll have an easier time interpreting the fine print on things like credit card and loan offers. Your accounting skills will help you at tax time too. The discipline you learn in accounting carries over into family life and helps you keep your personal finances on track.

What to Expect from College Accounting Classes

In your accounting courses, you'll learn about debits and credits, and which things fit into each category. You'll learn to keep track of financial assets to ensure that income is balanced by money spent. You will learn about assets, equity, and liabilities, and you'll learn about transactions, ledgers, and balance sheets. Having a good grasp of numbers helps, and in general if you have taken math classes through second year algebra, you should be able to do well in your accounting classes.

How to Succeed in College Accounting Courses

Success in accounting classes depends on a number of factors. For example, if you're good in math, you'll have an easier time. But if you are not so good at math, you're not necessarily doomed when you take accounting. If you consider yourself math-challenged, start with a disciplined study plan beginning on the day of the very first class. Do not allow yourself to fall behind, and ask for help if you're having trouble. Your instructor or a campus tutoring center should be able to help you make sense of your accounting assignments. Never miss a class unless you have a good excuse, like illness, and be sure to turn in all your assignments. Instructor feedback on your assignments helps you learn where your weak and strong skills are and helps you determine exactly the areas where you need help.