Student stories: what student ambassadors have to say about recruiting "the best & brightest".

Declaring a major is the most important decision a college student will make. A strong job market and a variety of career opportunities make an accounting degree very attractive. However, preconceived ideas about CPAs and the accounting profession often scare many good students away.

The Ohio Society of CPAs' Student Ambassador program is setting the record straight. At universities around the state, future CPAs are talking to their peers about the benefits of an accounting degree and certification. In the second of a continuing series of roundtable discussions, we ask past ambassadors about their experiences and challenges on campus.

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In your own words, what is the most important role of the Student Ambassador?

HAUSMAN: The ambassador's role is to break down the stereotypes surrounding the accounting profession. Many students enter college with the stereotypical image of accountants as people who sit behind a desk all day and don't interact with people. However, reality couldn't be further from the perception.

GERIG: Students have the mindset that accounting requires professional skills different from alternative professions; however, like most careers, one of the most important skills needed is communication. I believe the most important job for an ambassador is to enhance students' awareness of the careers available to graduates with accounting degrees.

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HAUSMAN: Ambassadors must promote the numerous career paths for graduates with a degree in accounting.

LEHMAN: Another important aspect of our job is to recruit top students to the accounting major at our university.

What did you find out regarding student attitudes about the accounting major?

LEHMAN: Most students, especially those outside the business school, only thought of accountants as number crunchers. Many students seemed to stop listening after they heard the word accounting.

HAUSMAN: Students looked at accounting as one of the most difficult majors in the business school. They know the classes take time and hard work.

LEHMAN: In a survey we conducted on campus, many of those surveyed thought students shy away from accounting due to the difficulty, long hours, seasonal demands, and the aspect of working with numbers.

GERIG: Many see the (accounting) major requiring additional effort they're not interested in putting forth. If they have the choice between accounting and another major, they'll choose the other major. The lack of accounting majors stems from a lack of information about the opportunities for accounting graduates.

What are the common misconceptions about the profession?

SPENCER: Accountants do only taxes.

GERIG: Accountants are just tax preparers or bookkeepers. I found that students think accountants lack character and communication skills.

LEHMAN: The biggest misconception students have is that accountants are simply number crunchers. They did not understand how much client interaction is involved with the profession and the need for strong people skills.

HAUSMAN: Students think accountants sit behind a desk all day working on boring mundane tasks and have no interaction with clients.

GERIG: There is a world of opportunities available to accountants besides these careers, and it's the ambassador's job to let the students know.

What other challenges have you faced on campus?

HAUSMAN: Some faculty and staff in the business school were not always welcoming and receptive people. The business office seemed to frown upon my...