I'm currently studying accounting / working in an entry-level accounting role, and lately I've been questioning what direction I actually want to go in. At first I thought public accounting was the "best" route because everyone talks about Big 4, CPA, exit opportunities, etc. But the more I read posts here, the more confused I get. Some people say industry is way better for work-life balance, others say public is worth the grind early on. A few things I'm wondering about: Is getting a CPA still worth it in 2026? For people who left public accounting, was it actually better afterward? How stressful is accounting long term compared to finance or tech? If you could restart your career, would you still choose accounting? I'd honestly appreciate real experiences instead of the usual "it depends" answers. Trying to figure things out before I fully commit to one path. submitted by /u/ComprehensiveYam7857 [link] [comments]