Biology major looking at Accounting PhD.

[sle3pyguii]

Hey guys, I just found these forums recently. I've been looking around a lot trying to learn about a PhD Accounting.

I was wondering what would be the best path to a PhD program would be for me?

- senior at a private Christian University. Biology major. GPA < 2.3
- schedule of classes for the rest of my college career is pretty tight, but I can fit in a few more classes.
- Already going to graduate a semester later and want to get out of school asap due to financial constraints.
- Only math class I've taken is Calc II, (D first time around, C second time). Never studied for this class because I didn't think I would need it for my intended grad schools (health).

I'm interested in teaching accounting at the university level once I finish everything...but I don't mind research.

I'm also looking at Masters programs to gain a Math/Accounting background.

So given my background, what should I do to have a chance at a Masters/PhD program?

[young&ambitious]

What makes you interested in accounting? Have you taken an accounting course before?

[applicant12]

same question... biology to acct is a huge switch

[vega]

Again, same question. You really need to answer the why accounting question. Answer that, and you'll start to get an idea of what you need to do. Moreover, if you want to get out of school ASAP, even if it is for financial reasons, why don't you just start working when you graduate. Seeing that you're running a semester late, already means that you'll be out of work and out of school for nearly 9 months by the time a PhD program begins, which would obviously be extra financial burden, and even then, stipend during grad school isn't really luxurious, but at least you likely won't have tuition costs.

Things to do:

1. Illustrate your passion for accounting through coursework.
2. Look into the requirements of many accounting PhD programs and make sure that you have sufficient background.
3. Really try to boost your GPA. Sompe PhD programs require a minimum of a 3.0. Even if they don't have the requirement, chances are you'll essentially need that kind of GPA unless you have a very good story explaining your GPA.
4. Absolutely nail the GRE/GMAT. You're going to need a behemouth of a score to compensate for your GPA.
5. Get some research experience
6. Get absolutely amazing references - much like your GRE/GMAT, you'll need very good references to make up for your GPA.
7. Get some very good grades in calc and stats classes - critical to illustate that you can actually do it.

I'll just be blunt, you have a very uphill battle to get into any kind of respectable, or even marginal, program unless there is something you're not telling us.

[longshot]

What kind of scale does your school use for GPA?

[sle3pyguii]

Thanks for the answers.

Well, during my college years, I changed majors a lot. I was actually a business major at one point and registered in some introductory courses like econ, accounting, and the like. During that time, my parents were pretty against anything outside of a science degree (donno why), so I ended up changing my major back to Biology...which meant that I had to drop my business schedule and take science courses instead.

I know it seems dumb, but during the first weeks of the courses, I actually learned things that I felt was...interesting.

I have a lot of friends who are business and accounting majors. As nerdy as it is, I actually looked over some of the stuff they were learning and it was by far more interesting than my biology courses. It might be a "grass is greener" mentality...but yeah. I guess I can't really say much other than having a few random business/accounting course sit-ins, and learning from my friends' books.

[taxPhD]

It will be very tough to get into a PhD program with a biology background without having a high GPA, high GMAT, and more math in your background.

I would look into a masters of accountancy program. There are actually masters of accountancy programs out there that are designed for students that have no accounting background, I know UNC is one of them. Get a nice GPA in your masters degree, some good recs from accounting profs, and a good GMAT and you are going to be a much more attractive applicant.