Opinions/Thoughts/Advice On My College Major

[hl0m4n]

on 4/3/08 we need to decide what major we will be doing. i want to do a business major but which is right for me? i know alot of you guys have business degrees let alone went through the whole process so im asking your thoughts, advice, and opinions.

i really want to make a custom car shop but its not really a safe/smart route as a first priority. def after i have a steady job and have enough $$ where i can start it and have money to back up on. below is some background info about myself.

i def want to be a business major and plan on getting MBA. my father has a private jet charter business which i will have to take over in the future. i have family in korea that are in import/export business but more importantly restaurants and if i made a restaurant with mom's cooking it would be a HUGE sucess and im not saying that. it's too hard and long to explain the korean culture and why it would do so well but it will if it happened.

so i have alot of business in the family that i will someday take over and/or help expand, etc. my current thought right now is a financial advisor. the way i see it they are the most versatile. they can do taxes, stock, and of course do the financial work.

what major should i do? business admin, management, human resources, micro economics, marketing, etc?

[batchelorc]

Unless you're doing an engineering specialty, I've found very few people actually wind up doing something related to their college major. I was an Information Systems major and I'm flying an Apache now... My buddy was a geology major and is running his own business...

I'd go with what you're interested in. Don't war game the decision too much

[TurboFan]

psht...I've got an engineering degree, and I don't do anything related to my major!

My advice? Figure out a ROUGH idea of what you would like to do, and get a somewhat general degree. For instance, I have a degree in Mechancial Engineering, which is a very general engineering degree as opposed to something like Aero, Petroleum or Welding. Electrical and Industrial Engineering are also general degrees. Granted, engineering isn't for most people. Accounting is a very valuable degree, because it will teach you how to break down and evaluate a company. You don't have to go into public accounting with an accounting degree.

If you have some sort of technical degree or professional degree, an MBA becomes much more powerful. Not to diminish the value of an undergrad degree in business, but having a degree in something useful, but not business , will make you a more well rounded candidate for companies down the road. If you do go for a business undergrad, I would go with accounting.

If I were doing it over again, I'd get my degree in Mechanical Engineering, but I'd probably have a minor in accounting or economics.

[jaiman]

B.Comm -> 2 years in the Jet business -> MBA -> Turn the family jet business into a full fledged airline -> IPO -> Golf -------> Death.

But that's just what I'd do.

The FA route in theory, would be good, but at most firms, FA's are salespeople who's goal is to sell, sell, sell. You probably wouldn't learn too much about tax planning unless you went in to the High Net Worth area. But there you would learn tax strategies that work for .5% of the population or less, so its a real niche market. stock reasearch would be handled by Analysts etc

The other option might be B.Comm -> 2 years in the Jet business -> MBA -> Investment Banking/PE/Analyst in the airline/travel/leisure area.

[J BONE]

Originally Posted by TurboFan

My advice? Figure out a ROUGH idea of what you would like to do, and get a somewhat general degree.
If you have some sort of technical degree or professional degree, an MBA becomes much more powerful. Not to diminish the value of an undergrad degree in business, but having a degree in something useful, but not business , will make you a more well rounded candidate for companies down the road. If you do go for a business undergrad, I would go with accounting.

Having a medical background, I would say that turbofan is right. You have to find something you like. If you understand and know accounting, it puts you that much ahead. Defenitly if you are going to own a business anyway!! I am not sure what a general business degree would do anyway. I think you learn most of that stuff in the real world. Accounting and law, IMO, are the two things that you will wish you had a background in. Not many weeks go by when I am not looking something up in accounting or even law. Do something you like, and be the best at it. Best of luck to you!!

[J BONE]

Originally Posted by jaiman

B.Comm -> 2 years in the Jet business -> MBA -> Turn the family jet business into a full fledged airline -> IPO -> Golf -------> Death.

[e90AW335i]

If you are going to go with a business degree then go with an accounting major.....

There are lots of jobs out there, and plenty of room for growth. Feel free to PM me if you want some info on what accounting is like. Best of luck to you and your decision....

[Expired]

Originally Posted by TurboFan

psht...I've got an engineering degree, and I don't do anything related to my major!

A lot of the time it seems to end up this way..
Some guy at work that is over my dad was bragging about his degree in engineering or something of the likes from A&M, my dad then brought up that his degree is equally as good, if not better and he received it from west texas A&M.. (Can't remember what the exact names were)
The guy continued to rant on, and my dad then asked him when the last time he used differential equations was.
The guy then replied never, and said that it wasn't part of his job.
He basically sits there all day and tells people what to do.

The guy then told my dad that what you major in doesn't really define what you do. He said that company's look at it as more of a test. If you can go so many years, struggle, and then make it out of college fine, then you passed. It basically shows the company that you are willing and capable of learning.

I also need help with my major.. I have no idea what I want to do and I have a year to decide.. Although it would have helped if I decided before I started college. I guess I will start my own thread..

-Nathan

[TurboFan]

There's a saying in engineering: "You can always hire an engineer to do a business man's job, but you can't hire a business man to do an engineer's job".

Thousands of engineers every year go into MBA programs. They'll always have that degree, and they can't take it away from you. Even at this point in my career, with over 10 years of experience and a lovely position in middle management any job I look at still wants to see that I have an engineering degree. I won't use it, but that degree means something. It's as hard or harder than any other major you can do in college.

The one thing that I see engineering college teach better than any other is problem solving. Whether it's a mechanical problem, electrical, industrial or business problem, the problem solving skills taught in engineering school will serve you through your whole life (except with women - that's a whole different story).

All of my friends that have completed med school and were engineers as undergrads, or completed law school with an undergrad in engineering agree - med school and law school have nothing on engineering school. An MBA is a joke compared to engineering school!

[Greeney]

<---- Pilot in need of a job!

[hl0m4n]

Originally Posted by Greeney

<---- Pilot in need of a job!

your a pilot? thats cool. where are you working right now if i may ask.

[holson]

Originally Posted by J BONE

.... Accounting and law, IMO, are the two things that you will wish you had a background in. Not many weeks go by when I am not looking something up in accounting or even law. ...

You're not the first person to say that! I keep hearing it.

Thanks for reiterating - it's a reminder for me to get off my as$ and learn...

[TurboFan]

Originally Posted by J BONE

...Not many weeks go by when I am not looking something up in accounting or even law....

+1 to that. My law training is all OJT, but I've had some great coursework on contract law. Enough to fend off the initial BS that most lawyers send out in my line of work. I'm considering taking a few courses in accounting - free tuition through the wife!

[nissan]

Law is BS nowadays IMO. Unless you goto a T14, you'll be seriously struggling to find a job (unless you're top 10% in class...extremely difficult to achieve). I know some ppl that graduated w/me in May that had decent grades but still can't find a job. Most of the time, they have to settle for contract/temp. positions clicking the box all day w/no potential for growth. All the isht you see on TV and hear about re: lawyers isn't achievable by most. Even if you do make it in biglaw and bust your ass for 7-8 yrs, there's still no guarantee of making partner. The market is extremely saturated right now and will continue to be considering the ABA doesn't do a damn thing to limit supply.

For ugrad, I think you should get a finance and accounting double degree/major. A lot of the accounting credits will apply to your finance deg., so it's not hard to get both on the standard 4 yr plan (assuming you do 1 summer session). I actually got both degrees in 3 years (yes, I was in a rush to get outta uni.). It will open up a ton of options and most firms love it. Ntm. it will help immensely in running your own business. It's great to not have to rely on an accountant or fin. planner. MBA later on will also be easy as hell.

[Greeney]

Originally Posted by hl0m4n

your a pilot? thats cool. where are you working right now if i may ask.

Im just working on my Commercial Rating now haha.

[Revlis]

Originally Posted by batchelorc

Unless you're doing an engineering specialty, I've found very few people actually wind up doing something related to their college major. I was an Information Systems major and I'm flying an Apache now... My buddy was a geology major and is running his own business...

I'd go with what you're interested in. Don't war game the decision too much

Yup... Bachelors is not so important unless you are aiming for a specific Technical/Medical/Engineering Masters, PHD as batchelor said...

A BS of some sort would be just fine, a BA is a little trickier. I have a BFA which has proven useful and opened plenty of doors, but I am far from Sculpting for a living.

Besides from the sounds of it your are going to be working with/in the family anyway so your degree is going to be useful for little more than personal growth. Otherwise, a Math or Physics major can take you all sorts of places. FWIW

[TurboFan]

Originally Posted by nissan

Law is BS nowadays IMO. Unless you goto a T14, you'll be seriously struggling to find a job (unless you're top 10% in class...extremely difficult to achieve). I know some ppl that graduated w/me in May that had decent grades but still can't find a job. Most of the time, they have to settle for contract/temp. positions clicking the box all day w/no potential for growth. All the isht you see on TV and hear about re: lawyers isn't achievable by most. Even if you do make it in biglaw and bust your ass for 7-8 yrs, there's still no guarantee of making partner. The market is extremely saturated right now and will continue to be considering the ABA doesn't do a damn thing to limit supply.

For ugrad, I think you should get a finance and accounting double degree/major. A lot of the accounting credits will apply to your finance deg., so it's not hard to get both on the standard 4 yr plan (assuming you do 1 summer session). I actually got both degrees in 3 years (yes, I was in a rush to get outta uni.). It will open up a ton of options and most firms love it. Ntm. it will help immensely in running your own business. It's great to not have to rely on an accountant or fin. planner. MBA later on will also be easy as hell.

I'm with you on law school. I have a few friends in practice, and they struggle. I think some undergrad courses in law, such as business or contract law, are very helpful, and help you to know what you can do on your own (read) and when to seek professional help (heavy negotiation), court).

[aznshrek88]

Your major doesn't matter...do what you love and the money will eventually come. You have to understand that people like jobs thinks/believes his job is actually play and fun, so since he loves doing it, he's the best....

Majorwise look to pick up skills that you think will help you with your car shop...but after you graduate it really won't matter.

I'm still a senior but from talking to a lot of people this is how I see things now.

[J BONE]

Originally Posted by TurboFan

I'm with you on law school. I have a few friends in practice, and they struggle. I think some undergrad courses in law, such as business or contract law, are very helpful, and help you to know what you can do on your own (read) and when to seek professional help (heavy negotiation), court).

+100000000 Listen to this guy, he knows what he is talking about!! If I had to do it all over again, I would have taken some classes in these subjects. Don't get me wrong, I love medicine, but these classes will help you a lot. I own some real estate and everytime I need an answer, I have to call the lawyer. Which means...$$$$$. So, do what you like and be the best at it. There will be many people that are smarter than you, have more than you BUT... NOBODY SHOULD WORK HARDER THAN YOU! Best of luck to you. The fact that you are even asking this question, shows your maturity. Enjoy yourself too!!

[grumpybear]

a degree in underwater basket weaving is always a good choice. Especially since Al Gore thinks all the polar ice caps will be gone in the last 7 days and the world will be flooded. You'll still be able to work!!

[FirstClass]

Don't get a business undergrad degree if you plan on getting an MBA, it's a total waste because the MBA basically just re-iterates a lot of what you'll already have learned. Get something totally unrelated undergrad than get the MBA, that's what I'm doing at least.

[!Xoible]

Originally Posted by Greeney

<---- Pilot in need of a job!

just coz u fly a m5 and a m6 doesnt mean ur a pilot