This blog post outlines the essential elements you must include when structuring your accounting major academic plan. It provides a detailed writing strategy to naturally connect your motivation for applying, major competencies, and career goals.
Writing About Academic Experience and Reflections
“It’s not about solving a problem once and moving on; it’s about solving it until you truly understand it.”
When studying, it was crucial not to solve a problem just once and move on, but to keep solving it until I truly understood it. I realized this because changing my study methods led to improved grades. The reason I changed my approach was that my grades weren’t improving, and I came to understand that this was due to my own persistence. I used to think that friends who did well in school were just born that way. But often, the opposite was true. The high-achieving friends simply possessed the tenacity and endurance to welcome unfamiliar problems, persistently tackling them until they understood.
I realized this by observing these friends up close. My closest friend excelled academically, yet we played, talked, and attended the same cram school. Despite this, their grades were significantly higher than mine. Observing them closely, I noticed they studied more diligently when encountering unfamiliar problems, while I easily gave up on them. After this realization, I began studying with the goal of solving and organizing problems until I understood them.
Studying this way definitely reduced the amount I covered. Before, I could solve 30 problems a day casually, but once I started striving for thorough understanding, I often struggled to finish even 5 problems daily. That meant my foundation was severely lacking. It was frustrating, but I saw it as a consequence of my own past neglect of fundamentals and worked diligently. As a result, my grades began to improve. It was surprising that my grades rose even while solving fewer problems, but this made me realize that solving one problem thoroughly matters more than solving many problems. So even now, I focus intensely on each problem and strive to cultivate the perseverance to keep solving until I understand.
Major School Activities and Reflections
“A Science Student with a Passion for History”
Despite being a science student, I had a deep interest in history. This was because the meanings embedded in history and past events often provided me with profound insights. Hearing the stories of past kings, in particular, frequently moved me deeply. Seeing how kings, always confined by their circumstances, strived to protect those they loved and to become virtuous rulers, I resolved to live a life of constant effort, just like those Joseon kings. Or, witnessing shameful historical events, I wanted to become a person with mature civic awareness to ensure such things never repeated. So, whenever there were hearings or presentations by National Assembly members in my neighborhood, I made sure to attend and listen. Though I didn’t fully grasp everything discussed, I still wanted to listen as much as possible and seize opportunities to engage in conversation. Even without the right to vote yet, I desired to cultivate a more mature consciousness as a citizen of the Republic of Korea.
And the perfect fit for my temperament was the ‘History Club Bae-eum’. Our history club attracts not only friends who love history, but also many who are interested in history and eager to learn anything and everything, and they participate very actively. When this month’s topic is announced—whether it’s ‘King Seongjong’ or ‘King Munjong’—everyone enthusiastically researches related materials and prepares presentations without fail. True to the club’s name ‘Learning,’ we also come prepared with points to learn from these historical figures, lessons to take as cautionary tales, or truly admirable qualities to emulate. Sharing those facts and opinions, discussing them together, was incredibly meaningful time for me. We weren’t a club that made things, gave presentations, or showed explosive results like other clubs, but we cautiously and passionately learned many things slowly. Through that, I believe we learned a lot and grew from that learning.
“Managing the Club as a Meticulous Secretary”
Since we were friends who loved history, most members were humanities students. This naturally led to the assumption—not quite a prejudice, but a common perception—that science students were good with numbers, which became the basis for me taking on the role of club secretary. The phrase I heard most often while serving as secretary was “meticulous.” From a young age, I received meticulous financial education. Both my parents ran their own businesses, so they personally demonstrated how saving even 50 or 100 won could add up to significant savings later. Through this, I understood its importance from a young age. Therefore, for any money coming in or out of the club, I recorded even 10 won without fail. I organized it in an Excel file, analyzed it, and shared it with my friends. I constantly thought about where savings could be made and meticulously checked everything. Through this work, I discovered that I’m not someone who gets stressed when organizing things; rather, I find it enjoyable. For the first time in my life, I realized this might actually suit me.
Examples of Consideration, Sharing, and Cooperation, and My Reflections
“Running around to procure supplies to help the class”
I often served as treasurer for my class as well. I believed I was good at it, so even though it was a small role without any awards, I wanted to take responsibility and handle it well. And when I ran around to get something done, bringing benefits to my friends, I felt an unparalleled joy. I’d like to share one particularly rewarding example.
One summer, our class was meticulously preparing for a choir competition. While we were diligently rehearsing, we completely forgot to order our class T-shirts. When the competition was suddenly moved up, we realized we hadn’t prepared any costumes at all. That’s when we snapped to attention and started preparing the T-shirts. The problem was that not only our school, but other schools were also ordering class T-shirts. Since other vendors were already fully booked, finding an available one was difficult. What’s more, the few vendors we did find quoted ridiculously high prices, making it nearly impossible for us students to afford. We were stuck in a dilemma. As the treasurer, I too was racking my brain for a solution. Then, by chance, I heard that while not exactly class T-shirts, you could buy beautiful T-shirts cheaply in bulk if you went to Dongdaemun. I immediately got permission from our teacher, skipped night self-study, and roamed Dongdaemun with my mother until dawn. After about six hours of legwork, we managed to secure great class T-shirts. Rather than simply adding text, I sought something far more unique, allowing us to hold a distinctive choir competition.
Though no one forced me to endure this hardship, it remains a proud and joyful memory for me. It was a turning point where I realized how fulfilling it is to step up for friends, doing even small things one by one to create even better memories.
Efforts and Preparation Related to Motivation and Career Plans
“I want to enroll in a department where I can utilize my personality, talents, and strengths.”
When I decided I had to go to college, many thoughts came to mind. Before that, my only thought was that I had to study hard no matter what to get into a prestigious-looking university. So, I took private lessons, attended cram schools, and was constantly stressed by studying. There were also frequent nights when I couldn’t sleep because I felt I had to study. But the crucial thing was, I wasn’t someone with a natural aptitude for studying.
It’s not that I lacked aptitude; it’s more accurate to say I didn’t put in the effort early on. Looking at friends who did well in school, most of them had worked hard since they were young. They all had solid foundations, enjoyed studying, and actually found it fun. Compared to them, I started late. While my grades did improve, I couldn’t break into the top ranks. This situation only made me think more deeply. Then it suddenly occurred to me: rather than focusing solely on the university itself, I needed to choose my major wisely. I decided I had to make a principled choice for a university with a well-structured curriculum for my major, one where I could invest in my future. That’s when I thought of the Accounting Department at ○○○ University.
First, ○○○ University had an exceptionally well-established scholarship system. The campus I saw during the school’s information session was also incredibly beautiful. The beauty of the university spread across its vast grounds captivated me. Furthermore, ○○○ University had very active programs for entrepreneurship and student development, such as English studies. Because of this, I felt that if I entered ○○○ University, it would be like enrolling in a school that guarantees me many opportunities.
I chose the Accounting Department because I believed it would best utilize my strengths. When I calmly and objectively considered what I excel at, I realized I am meticulous at organizing information, analyzing it, and making decisions that conserve funds. I wanted to cultivate and grow this aptitude of mine.
