I've grown up very poor and was never into academia enough to heavily pursue STEM initially. Got into a UNI heavily recruited by the Big 4 and figured it was very solid career choice. Looking back at it I don't really regret anything I suppose. (I'm only a rising junior)

Kind of wish I had the passion to pursue something like Math early on. Math gives you such strong employment opportunities at almost anywhere. But again no regrets, I believe I'm on a good path.

I figure I could spend 5 or so years working at a big 4 then pursue a MBA for a career shift into MBB consulting if I work hard enough. I don't plan on raising my own family so traveling and longish hours don't seem bad to me!

Outside of all the Big 4 Kool-Aid that's pointed out on here, public accounting I think is a really legit way to build a foundation for a lot of different career. It gives you a pretty decent salary to live on in your early 20s with good benefits at most places.

Accounting is nothing special at all but if you want change your career down the road it's very doable.