Commerce with Accounting

The___________

Hi all,
I was wondering if anyone on here had any experience of this course [GY207],
I'm thinking of making this my first choice next year and would appreciate any info people already on this course could give me.

NewApproach

Im doing it, what do you need to know?

In first year all subjects are the same as Commerce, except for accounting which is more advanced.

Second year you do a few of the subjects with the final year commerce class, and you have less options than normal commerce as this course is designed to give as many exemptions as possible when it comes to professional accounting exams.

The___________

Well how are you finding the course so far?
What is the overall work load in the 1st year?

NewApproach

The___________ wrote: »

Well how are you finding the course so far?
What is the overall work load in the 1st year?

Its boring enough I find to be honest, but I wouldn't be the model student by any means, like any course you get out of it what you put in.

Workload is fine in my opinion, if you go to lectures it is grand, I was able to study for the years exams in a few weeks.
Work wise its the same as the reg commerce, which is handy.

It gets tougher in second (and I presume 3rd) year.

Padkir

yeah im doin commerce (accounting) this year, in 2nd year now and i think its grand! If ya know u want to go into accounting or tax or that kinda thing its a great option.
1st year is the same as normal commerce except the accounting is a bit tougher! 2nd year is a fair step up now but if ya put some effort in ul hav no problem with it!
1st year subjects r Accounting, Business Law, Management, Marketing, Maths and Stats, MIS( Management Information Systems) and Economics. Everythin is grand, law and mis were the 2 i struggled a bit to grasp but still got on sound!
1st semester in 2nd year was Financial Acc with 3rd years, Tax with 3rd years, Management Accountin, Managerial Economics, stats and Skills for work life, which doesnt hav an exam, jus continuous assessment.
And this semester im doin more financial acc and tax, macroeconomics, business finance and info and ops management. Then ya get to choose one from financial economics, employment relations and info systems management!
All the lecturers iv come across hav been grand, very understandable and easy to approach, as is the course co-ordinator, Emer Curtis!
Id do it again if i got to make the choice now, but if ur not certain its accounting ya want then just do normal commerce, you can always pick the accounting stream in 3rd year anyway!! Enjoy!!!!:D:D

anamara86

I did Commerce and majored in accountancy, and I have to be honest - if accountancy is something you have a real 'knack' for, then definitely do it - great career prospects. I wouldn't attempt this course, unless you had an aptitute for the subject as the material can become quite difficult!

The___________

anamara86 wrote: »

I did Commerce and majored in accountancy, and I have to be honest - if accountancy is something you have a real 'knack' for, then definitely do it - great career prospects. I wouldn't attempt this course, unless you had an aptitute for the subject as the material can become quite difficult!

Accountancy is a career I have always been interested in, and I certainly have a knack for it.
I took Accounting in 4th year having not done business in the JC unlike everyone else in the class(I was nearly put of my a friend telling me how difficult it was) ,but I find it really easy and should get a A1 in the leaving cert.

Padkir

The___________ wrote: »

Accountancy is a career I have always been interested in, and I certainly have a knack for it.
I took Accounting in 4th year having not done business in the JC unlike everyone else in the class(I was nearly put of my a friend telling me how difficult it was) ,but I find it really easy and should get a A1 in the leaving cert.

You'll have no problem with it so if that's the case!! It would help too if you have done business or economics but they're not necessary really! i didnt do economics and dont have much trouble with them!!:D

The___________

I was wondering if anyone has any predictions on the points for next year?
It's 455 this year is it likely to rise with the increase in CAO numbers or will the fact that it is a finance course see it drop?

NewApproach

Do not even think about doing this course. Complete and utter waste of time, you get the same exemptions at the end of the day as regular commerce despite having to more difficult subjects.

Padkir

NewApproach wrote: »

Do not even think about doing this course. Complete and utter waste of time, you get the same exemptions at the end of the day as regular commerce despite having to more difficult subjects.

Actually there are now extra exemptions from the ACCA exams, although as of yet there's no change to the CAI exemptions!

I still think it's worth doing if you plan on doing Chartered Accountancy though, because you'll get more accounting/audit knowledge and it should really stand to you! If you don't want to go into Accounting, the question has to be asked why you did the Accounting course rather than straight Commerce...

Also, you'll get to know your classmates and lecturers (handy for a reference) when you're in a smaller class!

LAVADUDE

I did regular commerce and specalised in accounting in third year, this year the people who did the accounting course got more of the jobs with the Big 4 accounting firms than those who did regular commerce and specailsed in 3rd year.
So its a good course to do and the lecturers in the accounting department are among the best in the university

Padkir

LAVADUDE wrote: »

I did regular commerce and specalised in accounting in third year, this year the people who did the accounting course got more of the jobs with the Big 4 accounting firms than those who did regular commerce and specailsed in 3rd year.
So its a good course to do and the lecturers in the accounting department are among the best in the university

Exactly, when I was being interviewed they were all very interested to hear about the Accounting course, and seemed impressed about some of the different modules we had! Plus, almost all of our class who went for Big 4 places got them! But maybe that's just because we're way more clever...:P;)

LAVADUDE

Padkir wrote: »

, almost all of our class who went for Big 4 places got them! But maybe that's just because we're way more clever...:P;)

I doubt it, even some people who got scholarships didn't get a job. But back to the point, to give you an idea of how much more likely you'll get a job with the Big 4 well over 20 of the 30 people in the B.Comm accounting got jobs, for people who did regular commerce and specalised in third year it was less than 20 out of the 90+ people who did the course

reap-a-rat

LAVADUDE wrote: »

I doubt it, even some people who got scholarships didn't get a job. But back to the point, to give you an idea of how much more likely you'll get a job with the Big 4 well over 20 of the 30 people in the B.Comm accounting got jobs, for people who did regular commerce and specalised in third year it was less than 20 out of the 90+ people who did the course

From what I was reading, Padkir IS doing BComm Accounting

Padkir

LAVADUDE wrote: »

I doubt it, even some people who got scholarships didn't get a job. But back to the point, to give you an idea of how much more likely you'll get a job with the Big 4 well over 20 of the 30 people in the B.Comm accounting got jobs, for people who did regular commerce and specalised in third year it was less than 20 out of the 90+ people who did the course

Yup, think you misunderstood, I was talking about B. Comm Accounting! The majority of the class have jobs sorted, while those who don't weren't interested in going into practice anyway; some are looking to go into teaching!

yesman2000

Just wondering how easy it is to get into Big4 from this course. I just completed first year. What exam results/experience are required on CV's. Do first year results carry much significance ?

LAVADUDE

yesman2000 wrote: »

Just wondering how easy it is to get into Big4 from this course. I just completed first year. What exam results/experience are required on CV's. Do first year results carry much significance ?

As long as your first year results are half-decent you should be fine, your second year results are the most important as they're the ones that will be get you the interview and will be talked about.
From this year class most have got jobs and/or the master course they applied to,in regular commerce only about a quarter got jobs
the Big 4 love to see extra-circular activity and
They will accept any work experience but of course experience in an accounting office would be preferable.

The___________

Just finished first year! would recommend it-the course isn't overly hard(at least in 1st year) you have a good amount of leisure time plus not that many projects during the year

Vivagora

Thats strange what people are saying on this. I did B.comm International with French and everyone I know in Commerce got an Accounting job which would be over 30 people so I dont understand why people have posted here how great the B. Comm Accounting is. They have exactly the same exemptions as a Commerce Accounting student as but they have to work harder in a smaller more competitive class. Id never do B.Comm Accounting its like saying goodbye to your college life. I did a tax project in final Commerce last year with three B. Comm Accounting students and they had no social life whatsoever with plans to study during rag week.

Just do Commerce much more fun way more "normal" not swots and have same qualifications as the above advocates of B. Comm Accounting!

Ficheall

Vivagora wrote: »

Thats strange what people are saying on this. I did B.comm International with French and everyone I know in Commerce got an Accounting job which would be over 30 people so I dont understand why people have posted here how great the B. Comm Accounting is. They have exactly the same exemptions as a Commerce Accounting student as but they have to work harder in a smaller more competitive class. Id never do B.Comm Accounting its like saying goodbye to your college life. I did a tax project in final Commerce last year with three B. Comm Accounting students and they had no social life whatsoever with plans to study during rag week.

Just do Commerce much more fun way more "normal" not swots and have same qualifications as the above advocates of B. Comm Accounting!

Is your French as good as your English?

Vivagora

I didn't realise elaborate English was a pre requisite for Accountancy. At least I have a foreign language so I can work in more places than you. Didn't Geraldine Robbins and emer Curtis have to set a requirement for H C1 in accounting from this year on? Sounds like the existing students didn't meet the standard Ficheall

Ficheall

You think I'm studying Commerce?
Ew.

Vivagora wrote: »

At least I have a foreign language so I can work in more places than you.

I have French and German (and Irish - woo!) but I wouldn't be too sure that they'll be of any use as far as actually getting a job is concerned.

Padkir

Vivagora wrote: »

Thats strange what people are saying on this. I did B.comm International with French and everyone I know in Commerce got an Accounting job which would be over 30 people so I dont understand why people have posted here how great the B. Comm Accounting is. They have exactly the same exemptions as a Commerce Accounting student as but they have to work harder in a smaller more competitive class. Id never do B.Comm Accounting its like saying goodbye to your college life. I did a tax project in final Commerce last year with three B. Comm Accounting students and they had no social life whatsoever with plans to study during rag week.

Just do Commerce much more fun way more "normal" not swots and have same qualifications as the above advocates of B. Comm Accounting!

You get nerds/swots, whatever you want to call them, in every class! I can guarantee you that in my Commerce Accounting class, we (nearly) all had a social life!:D