I just want to give you an update on my progress and would like to get some feedback. I know in earlier posts I had requested updates on finding a good accounting/ms/mba program, but even so deep inside I still didn't know if I was ready to make a big career change. Even though I mentioned I wanted to change careers, I still mentioned I would love to teach. I thought about studying for the GMAT in order to enroll at Sac State for the MS Accountancy and take the CPA exam to get into auditing. I only mentioned doing CPU only to show I have the aptitude, but didn't want to really do accounting, but more so on auditing, quality assurance, and still teach business courses at the local colleges with aspirations to become a full-time professor at a university. Well, I had a long talk with someone who was already in the accounting field and was in the same situation as myself. He was in accounting for 14 years and hated his job, but also wanted to become a professor. He mentioned his other family members are programmers and they tried to push him into that field. He decided to sit down and work on a program to gain additional certifications and learning everything he could on the field of accounting. Not to work accounting, but to use his resources and background to become a professor in accounting and other business courses. I guess what I'm saying is that after I spoke with my friend, he threw this question at me. Do I want to become an accountant or a professor for the next 20+ years. Why spend all my resources to become an accountant for a few years only to teach. What do I truly enjoy doing and what does my heart say. Not the money, but what do I enjoy. I guess over the past few years, I kept focusing only on the money, and not enough on what I enjoy and look at what I have done in the past and gain the additional knowledge based on my past experiences to get me a teaching job. Over the past 18 years, I have been handling all types of insurance claims from small auto accidents to large general liability claims in excess of 7 million dollars. During this time, I have done small projects where I had to teach claims handling to microsoft office products and really enjoyed it. That's when he said, why waste so much time on other resources in accounting if I already have a solid background in insurance. Just build upon this and get my graduate degree and teach courses within my comfort zone and from there, I can springboard into different subjects. Meaning, teach risk management, insurance and other courses I am familiar with, and start adding other subjects. I must say, the more I thought about it, the more sense it made to me. I also noticed after researching several schools like Salve Regina University, Boston University, and few others will accept 8 to 12 graduate credits for CPCU toward an MBA/MS Management degrees. I also contacted Liberty University and it appears they might consider up to 12 credits toward their MBA. I already have my SCLA designation, and think if I stay focused, I can get the remaining 7 CPCU courses done in the next 12 to 14 months then work on my graduate degree. Not sure if anyone here has done their CPCU and curious if they have finished it in less than 12 months. Sorry about the long post. I just completed my BS in General Business at Excelsior this past week and my brain has been spinning around lately. lol. Joe
I was always told to get the best job you can get and work there forever. What is this follow your heart crap? Chase the cash!
Congratulations! Joel66, congratulations on your degree...the first step to your goal. If you use your current skills to springboard toward a teaching position, I think you will have a good chance for success and it might shorten the journey. As someone who shares your passion for teaching, I wish you good luck.
Congrats on your achievements! Go with your heart... but do it so you go where the cash is, too. If you have family, or a certain lifestyle quota you must meet, then this is the best advice around. Good luck
I totally agree about where the cash is too. When I was looking for a career change, I did google searches to see what jobs paid the most money and tried to work up a plan from there. Over the past week after chatting with my friend, I decided to brainstorm and come up with ideas to put my current career to the next level by completing my CPCU and MBA. Both CPCU/MBA will provide more exposure for me to get into different depts within my company, and can start teaching CPCU and other insurance courses within my company and teaching part-time at a CC while continuing to build experience, and possible options of going for a DBA. I feel by staying focus on this route will provide more $$$$ because I will not have to start over again in a new field. Also, some of the best instructors I had were in the field for quite awhile and would be able to give some really good life experiences into their lectures. Matter of fact, last semester I was pretty excited to find out that one of my instructors have an undergraduate degree from Excelsior and graduate degree from another school online. Joe
Hey, one should go where the cash is whether or not one has a family or a certain lifestyle quota to meet.
DL sometimes offers opportunities to go to great schools we couldn't relocate to. Of the schools you mentioned, BU will likely be of significantly more use to you whether you pursue an academic position or a simply a better paying job for now. Best wishes on your plans!
