Number Cruncher - couldn't agree more. Means to an end is all it is.
Rich49 - if you are discounting it due to the stigma attached to the term "accountant" then be careful as it has changed a lot over the past 10 years or so. I got out of the traditional "bean counting" as soon as I could and moved into the consultancy side of things with roles in corporate finance and suchlike. Much more interesting, pays better and you use your basic accounting nouse to advise people on a range of issues without having to get into too much detail (which I really hate). At the end of the day I have always viewed it as a means to an end! When the milk rounds come around your university have a chat with the big firms and you will see that there is a variety of roles on offer - funnily enough most will have nothing to do with bean counting.