To preface this with general information. I am currently about to graduate with my MAcc which will be completed when I am 22. Previously I got my AA in business during high school, got my BS in accounting while working (not in accounting though) and am doing very well in school. I have various programs set up that have made my education very cheap and as such, I am trying to research options and be open. I plan to start working in spring 2027 to build work experience to get my CPA. While I do that and afterwards, I thought that I might as well take advantage of my education cost advantage in ways that would be beneficial. Long term I want 1 of 3 career results in order of preference: Work in forensic accounting and financial crimes, work In some form of government agency and lastly, work an industry job which would probably either be in auditing or eventually as a controller. Any of those 3 options are my preferred result although I know that early on you work at what you can find - especially for my CPA, I expect to work in a small to mid scale public firm for quite some time.
If you read through all of that, firstly, thank you. Secondly, I would like advice. I am putting in various forms of request to my local university and community college. I am inquiring about degrees/certificates for criminal justice, forensics, secondary language and IS programs. Does anyone else - who has actually gone through various work experiences - have any other advice on topics I should inquire about? Also, if given the choice, would it be better to just start working to build experience or potentially delay/reduce my work level in order to approach a secondary degree course such as this? I would prefer an online course that I can complete parallel to working at a firm although that point is my own to research, I am just asking for topics and whatnot.
Thank you for any advice you may give.