Why don’t top schools have business majors

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Because a Business major is not as academic or intellectually curious as Economics or Mathematics. Top schools want scholars. There is a reason Business is so popular. Bc it is easier and less of an academic haul than an academic field of study.

I dont think business is popular because it's easier. Business is popular because it provudes a pathway to careers with strong financial return. Similar to the past when the smart kids flocked to premed and prelaw undergrad programs. Those days are over. Also, in my day liberal arts kids walked into investment banking without knowing anything. Today, interviews require more technical info. Anyone can prep, but top bschool kids are well positioned. Top schools may say they want scholars, but those kids are just as preprofessional and prepping and networking for job interviews from day 1. Just my observation from having kids who did both paths....

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Because a Business major is not as academic or intellectually curious as Economics or Mathematics. Top schools want scholars. There is a reason Business is so popular. Bc it is easier and less of an academic haul than an academic field of study.

Not sure why Math is being offered up as some alternative. Kids majoring in Math want to major in Math.

Honestly, most kids at these other schools if given the choice would in fact major in finance or something more practical. They aren’t picking Econ because they have a love for Econ…it’s just the closest degree offered.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Because a Business major is not as academic or intellectually curious as Economics or Mathematics. Top schools want scholars. There is a reason Business is so popular. Bc it is easier and less of an academic haul than an academic field of study.

Not sure why Math is being offered up as some alternative. Kids majoring in Math want to major in Math.

Honestly, most kids at these other schools if given the choice would in fact major in finance or something more practical. They aren’t picking Econ because they have a love for Econ…it’s just the closest degree offered.

In most schools where both Econ and Business are offered, most Econ kids are the ones who could NOT get in the business school….

[Anonymous]

Lots of top schools have business majors. You just gave a few examples.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For an undergraduate education, a business major is completely useless. I don't know why people waste time with a degree in business.

to make big bucks - i know someone went to Wharton and got really nice internship and later a nice paying jobs.

Wow, what a waste. I bet studying ethics, strategy, communications, management, accounting and all the other stuff that goes with a business degree will never be useful in any organization that person is a part of. /s

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For an undergraduate education, a business major is completely useless. I don't know why people waste time with a degree in business.

to make big bucks - i know someone went to Wharton and got really nice internship and later a nice paying jobs.

Wow, what a waste. I bet studying ethics, strategy, communications, management, accounting and all the other stuff that goes with a business degree will never be useful in any organization that person is a part of. /s

All of that can be covered in 2 books, so why the hell is it a major?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just want to add that some of the top liberal arts schools have added business as a minor. Columbia, Hopkins, Vandy, etc. These schools need to evolve and respond to customer demand. Many top kids want to study business vs pure econ or math. Business is one of the most competitive majors at top flagships and admission to top undergrad business programs is very desirable and super competitive. I was an ivy liberal arts/humanities nerd but my kid wanted business and is heading to wharton. They had no interest in top schools without business program. Second, an MBA is no longer necessary for this generation. There are different pathways to success vs our generation.

This is not true

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Business major is best for students at middling schools who need social mobility. If you're already at the top, there's no reason to major in something your parents could teach you one night at family dinner.

It's also for unmotivated rich students who need a holding pen before stepping into a parent's business, though.

I'm a high school teacher, and have worked in private schools in several states and countries. Consistently, the kids who aim to major in Business for undergrad are...not the smartest and not the kids with (any) intellectual curiosity. College is a tick-box place holder for them, and a place to have fun before being given an office in the family business.

It's not for kids who are smart, driven, or hungry for knowledge and growth.

But it serves a purpose.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For an undergraduate education, a business major is completely useless. I don't know why people waste time with a degree in business.

to make big bucks - i know someone went to Wharton and got really nice internship and later a nice paying jobs.

Wow, what a waste. I bet studying ethics, strategy, communications, management, accounting and all the other stuff that goes with a business degree will never be useful in any organization that person is a part of. /s

Lol. The "ethics", "strategy", "communications", "accounting", etc presented in a Business degree is the most watered-down, barebones outline of those concepts possible. Sort of like the way all kids take "math" in high school, but we know there is a big difference between the "math" presented in AP Calculus BC and some kind of general track 12th grade math.

[Anonymous]

Old timers should stop posting.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Business major is best for students at middling schools who need social mobility. If you're already at the top, there's no reason to major in something your parents could teach you one night at family dinner.

It's also for unmotivated rich students who need a holding pen before stepping into a parent's business, though.

I'm a high school teacher, and have worked in private schools in several states and countries. Consistently, the kids who aim to major in Business for undergrad are...not the smartest and not the kids with (any) intellectual curiosity. College is a tick-box place holder for them, and a place to have fun before being given an office in the family business.

It's not for kids who are smart, driven, or hungry for knowledge and growth.

But it serves a purpose.

You have clearly never met a kid at a top 20 undergrad business school. Do you think kids are Wharton or Ross or Stern are not “smart, driven, or hungry?” That they are “not the smartest?” Such a weird take.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Penn
Brown
Rice
Notre Dame
Emory
Michigan
All have undergrad business schools
Are these not top enough for you?

Brown does not have a business school.

Brown does have a finance concentration/major…not sure it matters if they have a business school.

No it doesn’t: https://bulletin.brown.edu/the-college/concentrations/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Old timers should stop posting.

+1 no one is interested in the pre-21st century rationales for why undergrad business is inferior.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Penn
Brown
Rice
Notre Dame
Emory
Michigan
All have undergrad business schools
Are these not top enough for you?

Brown does not have a business school.

Brown does have a finance concentration/major…not sure it matters if they have a business school.

No it doesn’t: https://bulletin.brown.edu/the-college/concentrations/

It’s in the Econ department…nearly a dozen straight finance classes.

Just google search Brown finance.

They are very popular classes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Penn
Brown
Rice
Notre Dame
Emory
Michigan
All have undergrad business schools
Are these not top enough for you?

Brown does not have a business school.

Brown does have a finance concentration/major…not sure it matters if they have a business school.

No it doesn’t: https://bulletin.brown.edu/the-college/concentrations/

It’s in the Econ department…nearly a dozen straight finance classes.

Just google search Brown finance.

They are very popular classes.

It’s considered a Business Economics degree.