Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It will depend on the school. At roughly 4000 colleges, definitely do econ. Business Administration is a very soft major that generally doesn't get a lot of respect.

However, if you are talking Penn, Michigan, Notre Dame, NYU, Berkeley, Cornell, USC, WashU, Georgetown, MIT, CMU, or Indiana that's going to be different. Those business programs are highly regarded.

DC will indeed be attending one of the above named schools and is considering a double major in business with a liberal arts major that interests him

This is my question every time I see someone with a “business major:” why? Like accounting I 100% understand, and finance sure ig, but everything else? What is that major going to serve him that other majors can’t?

Anonymous wrote:It will depend on the school. At roughly 4000 colleges, definitely do econ. Business Administration is a very soft major that generally doesn't get a lot of respect.

However, if you are talking Penn, Michigan, Notre Dame, NYU, Berkeley, Cornell, USC, WashU, Georgetown, MIT, CMU, or Indiana that's going to be different. Those business programs are highly regarded.

DC will indeed be attending one of the above named schools and is considering a double major in business with a liberal arts major that interests him

Anonymous wrote:Which business major? I’m not a fan of General business, management, marketing (especially if lacking math) for undergrad. Accounting and finance can be ok, depending on the school. On the Econ major, depends if the student wants a liberal arts education. And Econ at the top schools is much better than at most schools. Look for programs where calculus is required for the Econ major.

I desperately wish Econ programs would cement themselves into the liberal arts and prepare their students more towards graduate education than the workforce. I know it’s unrealistic, but most economics graduates do not have anywhere close to enough math.

There are a few Econ phd programs that take more applicants from math and physics departments than Econ ones. Linear+Calc 1-3 should be the minimum.

Econ. Business is a less-respected newcomer at the undergrad level

It will depend on the school. At roughly 4000 colleges, definitely do econ. Business Administration is a very soft major that generally doesn't get a lot of respect.

However, if you are talking Penn, Michigan, Notre Dame, NYU, Berkeley, Cornell, USC, WashU, Georgetown, MIT, CMU, or Indiana that's going to be different. Those business programs are highly regarded.

If choosing econ, and the school also offers business, see if a business minor or intro courses are available, such as intro to accounting, intro to finance, etc. Learning a little context from intro business courses can be handy when one ends up in an internship, if only to have some faint clue what people are talking about when they use certain terms in an office setting.

Which business major? I’m not a fan of General business, management, marketing (especially if lacking math) for undergrad. Accounting and finance can be ok, depending on the school. On the Econ major, depends if the student wants a liberal arts education. And Econ at the top schools is much better than at most schools. Look for programs where calculus is required for the Econ major.

My DC is 2nd year doing a Business and Economics program. Matriculated into Business school (honors, undeclared) and takes Econ through the liberal arts college. DC likes having two different academic settings and student populations.

There's a separate Business Economics major that's just in the b-school, but that's just quant. Not his thing.

Econ. Why? I got a PhD in it.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Curious if people have opinions here

It's better to do one or the other. Or vice versa.

+2

Anonymous wrote:The same opinion I have on Physics vs Math: whatever you find more interesting.

Same - let your kid choose based on interest. Why are you polling random internet strangers on DCUM&D?

The same opinion I have on Physics vs Math: whatever you find more interesting.

Econ is more versatile. And I have seen no evidence of different outcomes with a business major va even a psychology major if they go through recruiting sophomore year of college.

Anonymous wrote:Curious if people have opinions here

It's better to do one or the other. Or vice versa.

Curious if people have opinions here