What should i know before starting an accounting degree?

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There's little maths involved, unless you have a stats module/doing a BSc; then you might need to know AS Level maths

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Knowing how to use Excel is good (there is the Microsoft Office Specialist qualification you can look into), especially for the job (learning about accounting software will help tremendously)

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It's more about how to allocate and analyse costs than doing complicated maths

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Look at what sort of accounting job you want, as it will help you decide which modules to take and what sort of professional accounting qualification to go for; the modules you choose will allow you exemptions for certain modules

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You need high A Level grades and at least a 2:1 to get into most grad programs

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Try to get an internship and sign up for insight weeks when possible; deadlines are at the end December during your first year - failing this, try to work for an employer somewhere over the summer as a bookkeeper

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When applying for graduate roles, you will be competing against people who have never studied accounting before, but when to the best universities in the country with high grades

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Typical employers graduates tend to look for are the Big 4 accounting firms, and places tend to be competitive - look at the job descriptions before applying, know what they are, and try to match them up with your module options

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Most accounting degrees don't require you to do Maths A Level, but you might want to check with the individual uni and degree program

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Learn how to do double entry bookkeeping, as this will help with some of the coursework as well as work - you want to pick up a bookkeeping book that trains you from beginner all the way up to getting the equivalent of getting a professional bookkeeping Level 4 qualification e.g. AAT, IAB; there are a few YouTube videos that would be useful for this

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Most accounting degrees will teach you from the ground up, as many people are enrolled even when they don't have the same or relevant A Levels

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Understand the marking criteria at university - this is different from A Levels - read How to Write Great Essays by Peter Levin should you need to

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Work hard and don't stop working hard - your grades can suffer because of this; try to score a 1st class during your second year, so you won't have to work extremely hard in the 3rd to get the 2:1

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In all likelihood, you will be using the following books: The Principles of Macroeconomics by Gregory Mankiw, and Cost Accounting by Colin Drury (the 2 major books that I would consider buying; the others I would just use at the library)

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Read the recommended further reading where possible, as it's likely your assignments will be based on the recommended reading

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Layout of your answer will be pivotal in how you will be marked

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Do not use a Dummies book or Wikipedia as references, even though they might do a better job than most books on the subject - use whatever material you can find in the library, and use journal articles where possible, especially if there is recent research on the topic

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Reading in academia means selective reading - only read bits that are relevant to what you need to know

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You don't need an accounting degree to get into accounting as a profession

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Go through as many practice questions with good accounting books from the university library as possible as revision

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Network with accountants and people in accounting as much as possible, before, during, and after uni

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If your degree allows you to choose options outside of the accounting department, I'd try a language at beginner's level that you haven't done before. However, if you're strictly focused on getting as many exemptions as you can, then it's up to you, so long you get high grades. If you know you will be weak or won't like certain modules, then try not to do them during your degree, as it can drag down your grades.

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Accountancy Age is a free magazine subscription you can look into

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Speak to someone in accounting with hiring experience regarding your CV before sending it off to employers - it's key it doesn't give the impression that you don't know what you want and you're just applying for any job at any company

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If you have a full professional accounting qualification, you can teach accounting at university level i.e. it equates to a master's in accounting, but a master's in accounting won't equate to a full professional accounting qualification

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Quantitative Methods: For Business, Management and Finance by Louise Swift and Sally Piff (most likely your text for the quantitative methods module, but it's an easy read)

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Schaum's Outline of Statistics by Murray Spiegel, Larry Stephens (Chapter 10, and possibly Chapter 4 if you're rusty)

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Edexcel AS and A level Mathematics Statistics & Mechanics Year 1/AS Textbook by Greg Attwood, and others