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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]My history major son is in the financial sector in NYC and making enough money for an apartment in Soho - no roommates. Younger son, an English major, is in the financial sector in this area. He graduated last year. I think they've been able to land jobs because they work hard, they believe in themselves and developed excellent writing and critical thinking skills through the liberal arts. And part of them believing in themselves is that their parents do too.

I feel sorry for OPs son. Having parents who don't believe in you is a real strike against you.[/quote]

Good for your sons, but if someone wanted to work in the finance sector, why not just major in finance?  That seems like much less of a gamble than majoring in Dnglish/History and expecting to work in the finance sector.  I mean, if someone wants to work in the fields of history or English then great, major in history or English, but why major in them if you don't?  Not sure I understand the point of your point.[/quote]

Because finance can be learned on the job, or you can have the company pay for your MBA, which is how the investment banks have been doing it for years.  They want sharp, educated people who can appreciate the world, the arts, sciences and literature, not just one-dimensional number crunchers.  [/quote]
This is not true unless you went to an IVY or a very high ranked school.  And it's usually only true for Investment Banking which is overwhelmingly a sales job and has very little to do with actual finance work.

The majority of corporate finance/accounting jobs require a finance/accounting degree.  My company specifies that an ideal candidate has a finance or accounting degree and three years as an analyst. [/quote]

PP here.  Yes, I was thinking more of investment banking and as a business major I know that for other finance and particularly accounting jobs, companies are looking for business degrees.

That said, if business isn't your kid's passion, a business major isn't going to serve them well even if they do get a job right out of college.  I was a business because it was practical major and have spent the rest of my adult life getting a real education in other disciplines -- history, language, arts and sciences.  [/quote]

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