[Scared-cpa]

As I’m wrapping up my MBA this year with plans to work full-time afterward, I’ve really considered getting my Ph.D. one day and teach accounting. How silly/crazy/stupid/useless does this sound? Does anyone have any experience with it?

Before I was an accounting major, I was an education major. Specifically, I was going to be an elementary school teacher. Then, a semester or two into my college career, I thought to myself, “Why the heck am I doing this? I don’t even like kids!” So here I am, and I think I took the better option for several reasons. But I’ve always (since college) enjoyed presentations and discussing topics (like accounting) and educating others. This has made me consider going the Ph.D. route, but it’s off-putting given the amount of time and money it takes.

Thoughts, suggestions? Should I just stick with my original dream of being a senior cost accountant for a large company? 🙂

[Anonymous]

I too, am looking at the Ph.D route myself. Doubt I wan't to do too much research though.

It's a toss up between Law School and a PhD..I'm gonna do both it is just a matter of sequence.

One thing a professor told me, was that you should look at the age of the PhD committee and if they are close to retiring. Your mentor, I forgot the correct term holds the granting of the doctorate in their hands. And if they retire before you finish, then that could delay your progress..

[SeattleCPA]

Lots of soon-to-graduate accounting students get, basically, the butterflies… and then decide to stay in school because they're comfortable with staying put. If one already has a masters, that decision to stay in school becomes a decision to start a Ph.D. program. (I think a buddy and I in business school 35 years ago spent a few weeks thinking about this…)

But you should try public accounting or industry. Don't jump into a Ph.D. program as a way to avoid leaving the university environment.

For one thing, you're super close and there are tons of good jobs available that'll pay well and that provide for a variety of work-life balances…

For another thing, if you do later decide that you really don't like working in public accounting or industry and you return to school and get a Ph.D. and start doing teaching and research, you'll have far more context to use in your research and teaching with some real experience.

A final thought: I haven't taught or done research (though I did do the adjunct professor thing in Golden Gate University's masters in tax program)… but my brother is the dean of the engineering and computer science school at a big university. So I hear lots of stories and have some inside info… and Ph.D. programs and university jobs are not a way to coast along and make a great salary with little or no stress. They are high-pressure, big workload jobs in complex political environment where you've got all sorts of stakeholders.

P.S. You'll also make more money in industry or public accounting if that's important.

[Author]

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