How to Get into College

With the variety of careers in accounting out there nowadays, it is logical to consider working in this profession. As long as long as you have a decent understanding of mathematics, you should be able to work as a CPA in the future. In order to do that though, there is a training process that you have to go through. It does not take long, and it will get you into the career in no time. Here is a look at what you will have to do in order to become a certified public accountant.

Step 1 – Get an Education

The first step to becoming a CPA is getting an education related to finances, economics, and mathematics. There are several degrees to choose from, and they could all lead to a job as an accountant in the future. Possible degree programs to pursue include:

• Bachelor of Accountancy
• Bachelor of Arts in Economics
• Bachelor of Business in Accounting
• Bachelor of Business Administration
• Bachelor of Science in Accountancy
• Bachelor of Science in Finance
• Master of Accounting
• Master of Business Administration in Accounting
• Master of Business Administration in Business Administration
• Master of Business Administration in Finance
• Master of Professional Accountancy
• Master of Science in Accounting
• Master of Science in Taxation

Within your degree program, you will take courses to give you the skills you need to work in accounting. Possible courses may include:

• Accounting Ethics and Professional Relations
• Accounting for Decision Making
• Accounting Information Systems
• Auditing
• Business Statistics
• Corporate Taxation, Individual/Estate Taxation
• Cost Accounting
• Financial Accounting Transaction Analysis
• Government and Non-Profit Accounting
• Principles of Accounting

With your education out of the way, you should be able to shift into your career without much hesitation.

Step 2 – Get Certified

In order to officially call yourself a CPA, you have to get a certification of some sort. There are many out there to choose from, so you might want to see what the requirements are for your state. You might have to get an entirely different certification than someone else. Here is a look at some of the certification programs you may go through before becoming a CPA:

• Certified Public Accountant
• Business Certificate
• Certified Fraud Examiner
• Enrolled Agent
• Certified Management Accountant
• Certified Valuation Analyst
• Certified Internal Auditor
• Certified Financial Planner
• Accredited in Business Valuation
• Certified Information Technology Professional

Step 3 – Find a Job as a CPA

Once you have your certification, you should have nothing else to worry about beyond finding a job. Look for open positions in your area and see what happens for you. Note that you will make different amounts of money with different jobs, so it is important to find the one that is going to provide the best income for you. The lists below show just how much your salary may range based on various circumstances.

Salary by Experience

• Less than 1 year of experience: $30,439 – $60,237 per year
• 1-4 years of experience: $37,772 – $65,158 per year
• 5-9 years of experience: $43,935 – $83,392 per year
• 10-19 years of experience: $48,143 – $109,241 per year
• 20 years or more of experience: $48,588 – $148,740 per year

Salary by Company Size

• 1-9 staff members: $38,123 – $90,485 per year
• 10-49 staff members: $40,477 – $95,949 per year
• 50-199 staff members: $41,698 – $89,621 per year
• 200-599 staff members: $44,040 – $100,257 per year
• 600-1999 staff members: $44,078 – $97,982 per year
• 2000-4999 staff members: $45,587 – $85,992 per year
• 5000-19999 staff members: $44,378 – $94,480 per year
• 20000-49999 staff members: $48,942 – $93,126 per year
• 50000+ staff members: $45,969 – $106,432 per year

You now know how to become a certified public accountant. All you have to do is put the steps into action. Take the advice listed above to heart, and you could be on your way to a career in no time.

When it comes time to get your FBI education or college degree in general, you will need to have more than just good grades to back your application. A lot of people assume that having straight A’s in high school is all they need to do for college, but that is not necessarily the case. Most colleges want to see more on an application than grades alone. They want students to be well rounded, which means you may have to get involved in some extracurricular activities. Listed below are some of the best activities you can get involved with if you want to stand out among other applicants.

Volunteering

Volunteering is one of the easiest ways to get into college because it shows that you care about your community. If you have a chapter of Key Club in your school, this could provide you with an array of exciting ways to volunteer. I got to work with Habitat for Humanity, Ronald McDonald House, Read to Lead, the Children’s Miracle Network, St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital, and the Salvation Army when I was in Key Club, and I was only in it my senior year. Experiences like that could make you the perfect candidate for any school you apply to.

Leadership

Any organization that you can be a leadership in will be a good extracurricular activity for a college application. If you are a good athlete, you may consider becoming the captain of a sports team. If you are really smart, you may want to become the president of the National Honor Society. Not to toot my own horn, but I happened to be that president, as well as Vice President of Crime Stoppers, Children’s Learning Coordinator for Key Club, Past Honored Queen for Job’s Daughters, and the director/screenwriter for a play in drama club. Needless to say, I got around. All of those leadership positions helped me get into college right after high school, so I would encourage you to find one you can fill if at all possible.

Variety

Try not to focus on one type of extracurricular activity if you can. On top of all the clubs I mentioned above, I was also a member of the Quiz Bowl team, Model UN, Econ Challenge, Student Council, and some history thing that I can’t even remember the name of anymore. I strove to be versatile from the moment I entered high school, and I think I succeeded in doing that. Now it is your turn to do the same. I didn’t really have a life aside from my activities, so I’m not suggesting you go to this extreme. Just find a couple of clubs that show how well-rounded you are and make the most of them.

Academics

Even though extracurricular activities are supposed to exist outside of school, there is nothing wrong with being involved with academic organizations. These will show the college that you are smart, on top of being a great athlete or a good volunteer. At the very least, try to join the National Honor Society. That looks great on college applications, and it will also give you access to special scholarships you may not find anywhere else. Just keep that in mind when you start planning out your future.

With the right activities on your application, there is no reason why you would be denied entry into a college of your choice. You just have to make sure that the activities you choose are worth the effort you have to put into them. With a little searching, you should be able to find the perfect enhancement to your educational pursuits.

If you have been weighing out your options for school, you may be thinking about whether or not to go through with a master’s degree program. Even online master’s degree programs take two to four years to complete, which is a lot of time when you really need to make money. A lot of your earning potential will depend on the kind of job you have, but there are other factors that play into it as well. The information below highlights the average earnings for master’s degree graduates based on different elements in their careers.

Salary by Years of Experience

The experience you have in your career may be just as important as your occupation itself. Here is a look at how your salary may change based on your experience level:

• Less than 1 year: $45,000 per year
• 1-4 years: $50,628 per year
• 5-9 years: $58,843 per year
• 10-19 years: $67,783 per year
• 20 years or more: $76,613 per year

Salary by Employer Type

Some employers are willing to pay extra money to have someone with a master’s degree working for them. Others will treat you the same as anyone else who has a general idea of what to do, no matter the degree he or she holds. Here is a look at how your salary may change based on your employer:

• College or University: $52,133 per year
• Company: $62,216 per year
• Contract: $47,600 per year
• Federal Government: $61,500 per year
• Fellowship: $35,000 per year
• Hospital: $75,543 per year
• Non-Profit Organization: $52,874 per year
• Private Practice: $53,981 per year
• School District: $50,829 per year
• Self-Employed: $45,000 per year
• State & Local Government: $64,094 per year

Salary by Specialty

Choosing to specialize in your master’s degree program may prove beneficial for you, depending on your line of work. Here is a look at how your salary may change based on your specialty:

• AutoCAD: $51,000 per year
• HTML: $61,179 per year
• Java: $65,000 per year
• Microsoft Excel: $59,500 per year
• Microsoft Office: $65,000 per year
• Microsoft Windows General Use: $54,380 per year
• Microsoft Word: $61,224 per year
• Organizational Development: $50,000 per year
• Project Management: $78,000 per year
• SQL: $72,920 per year

Salary by Location

Your location will have a lot to do with how much money you can make. That will impact how much money your employers have to pay for your services. Here is a look at how your salary may change based on your location:

• California: $59,072 per year
• District of Columbia: $75,000 per year
• Florida: $76,471 per year
• New York: $59,994 per year
• Ohio: $50,000 per year
• Pennsylvania: $55,000 per year
• Texas: $58,958 per year

Salary by Company Size

You don’t have to work for a big company to get a well-paying job. Nevertheless, you may find more money this way on average than you would otherwise. Here is a look at how your salary may change based on your company’s size:

• 1-9: $39,308 per year
• 10-49: $51,667 per year
• 50-199: $52,252 per year
• 200-599: $69,902 per year
• 600-1999: $69,500 per year
• 2000-4999: $60,984 per year
• 5000-19999: $82,470 per year
• 20000-49999: $78,700 per year
• 50000+: $61,250 per year

In most careers, master’s degrees do in fact lead to higher paying positions. This is not always the case, so you may want to do more research specifically related to your career. If you think that a master’s degree is going to suit your plans for the future, start looking for grad schools that can help you reach your dreams.

If you are trying to get into college, you will most likely have to write a college entrance essay. This is a short essay that explains who you are, why you want to go to college, what your goals are in life, etc. Most people dread this part of the application process, but it is something that you just have to get through. If you want to hold one of the top careers in the world, you need to be able to express yourself effectively. Lucky for you, I have written countless essays in the past and have gotten the process down to a science. Here are some quick tips I have learned along the way.

Read the Prompt Over and Over and Over and Over…

One of the first things you have to do for any entrance essay is read the prompt. You need to make sure that you read it carefully, as subtle word changes could transform the requirements entirely. I am really bad about writing a full essay and then going back to read the prompt, which usually forces me to rewrite the whole thing from the start. If you want to avoid a similar fate, you need to read the prompt several times over to make sure you know what you’re supposed to be writing about.

Have a Plan for What You’re Writing

You don’t have to jot down a full outline for your college entrance essay, but you should at least have an idea of what you will be writing about. I always try to come up with a story I want to tell or a big point I want to make, and then I formulate my essays to fit my goals. This will give you a way to tie all of your information together without having to worry about fluidity. It will come about naturally.

Make It Personal

No matter how drab an entrance essay prompt may be, you have to try connecting it with your life. You can always impress the people you are writing for by connecting with the prompt because it shows that you truly care about what you are writing about. If you just tell them that you make good grades and deserve a shot at college, you won’t make as much of an impression. If you are applying to a competitive college, you’re going to need all the help you can get to make sure your application is noticed.

Write Everything at Once

When you have an idea of what you will be writing about, get all of your thoughts on paper at once. Don’t concern yourself with the typos and the grammar mistakes you’re making along the way. You can fix those later. You just need to slap the words on the page and see what happens. That way you get everything out at one time and all of it flows together nicely. I do this with my articles, and it makes them significantly easier to read. Once you have the words out, then you can go back to nitpick at them.

Take a Break and Edit

Do not edit your essay right after you write it, unless you think of something that you need to add back in. instead, take a break and then come back to it in a little bit. This will give you a fresh pair of eyes to put to the paper so you can see the essay as the admissions board would. You will be able to pick up on your mistakes at that point, rather than skimming over them because your brain corrects them along the way. With the right amount of editing, you should be able to submit a successful entrance essay to get into college.