After reading through most of this thread- I think I need to read a book or check out online source that explains how to choose a major properly. I am saying this very genuinely. As a STEM professional who graduated 25 yrs ago and immigrated here, there is so much I need to learn so that I can guide my DC with the most current knowledge of majors.

Do public high schools have talks/ discussions for their students about how to choose a major? Of course, we all know about the big and obvious majors, but there are so many other ways ( more creative or more efficient) to explore and get to where you want to be.

Any recommendations for a good read/ browse is appreciated.

Anonymous wrote:https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/school?166027-Harvard-University&fos_code=2301&fos_credential=3

https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/school?164924-Boston-College&fos_code=5202&fos_credential=3

Harvard English = $64,155

Boston College Business = $103,937

We have data in the 21st century.

Boston College Economics = $112,774

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Business majors may get ok jobs out of school but have foregone the opportunity to develop the analytical thinking skills that other, more critically focused, courses foster--which leads to worse career options down the road. Non-business majors (in English, Philosophy, Anthropology--just about anything) are favored for higher level business jobs for just this reason.

That's only true with the following constraints, which I've added in all caps:

"Non-business majors FROM THE VERY TOP SCHOOLS (in English, Philosophy, Anthropology--just about anything) are favored for higher level business jobs AT THE TOP FIRMS IN CONSULTING AND MAYBE A FEW RELATED FIELDS for just this reason."

Not at a tippy top school? You're better in business. Can't get the tippy top grades required for McKinsey? You're better off in business.

Not really.
At the top schools without business majors, majors like econ, applied math, CS are preferred by the top companies.

Econ is basically the substitute.

MBB consulting firms like to keep a few e.g. History majors around for their soft skills and writing ability. But you have to be the absolute top. Otherwise you're better off with something more marketable.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Business majors may get ok jobs out of school but have foregone the opportunity to develop the analytical thinking skills that other, more critically focused, courses foster--which leads to worse career options down the road. Non-business majors (in English, Philosophy, Anthropology--just about anything) are favored for higher level business jobs for just this reason.

The most popular major of CEOs by far is a business major. It's usually Finance or Accounting...not generic Business Administration which I agree is worthless.

I believe it's over 60% of all CEOs.

Business Administration is still better than things like English, communications, anthropology, sociology, etc.

Is it though? You can't major in Business Administration at any top 50 undergraduate business school.

You may receive a BBA, but you have to actually have a real major/concentration.

Many T50 schools have it. Just little different names.

https://www.commerce.virginia.edu/bs-commerce/academics/concentrations

For example, UVA has ''Management'

Those and marketing are weaker majors/concentration than finance, accounting, analytics, MIS.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Business majors may get ok jobs out of school but have foregone the opportunity to develop the analytical thinking skills that other, more critically focused, courses foster--which leads to worse career options down the road. Non-business majors (in English, Philosophy, Anthropology--just about anything) are favored for higher level business jobs for just this reason.

The most popular major of CEOs by far is a business major. It's usually Finance or Accounting...not generic Business Administration which I agree is worthless.

I believe it's over 60% of all CEOs.

Business Administration is still better than things like English, communications, anthropology, sociology, etc.

Is it though? You can't major in Business Administration at any top 50 undergraduate business school.

You may receive a BBA, but you have to actually have a real major/concentration.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Business majors may get ok jobs out of school but have foregone the opportunity to develop the analytical thinking skills that other, more critically focused, courses foster--which leads to worse career options down the road. Non-business majors (in English, Philosophy, Anthropology--just about anything) are favored for higher level business jobs for just this reason.

The most popular major of CEOs by far is a business major. It's usually Finance or Accounting...not generic Business Administration which I agree is worthless.

I believe it's over 60% of all CEOs.

Business Administration is still better than things like English, communications, anthropology, sociology, etc.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Business majors may get ok jobs out of school but have foregone the opportunity to develop the analytical thinking skills that other, more critically focused, courses foster--which leads to worse career options down the road. Non-business majors (in English, Philosophy, Anthropology--just about anything) are favored for higher level business jobs for just this reason.

The most popular major of CEOs by far is a business major. It's usually Finance or Accounting...not generic Business Administration which I agree is worthless.

I believe it's over 60% of all CEOs.

The business major is not worthless in itself what is worthless is what you do with it.

https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/school?166027-Harvard-University&fos_code=2301&fos_credential=3

https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/school?164924-Boston-College&fos_code=5202&fos_credential=3

Harvard English = $64,155

Boston College Business = $103,937

We have data in the 21st century.

Anonymous wrote:Business majors may get ok jobs out of school but have foregone the opportunity to develop the analytical thinking skills that other, more critically focused, courses foster--which leads to worse career options down the road. Non-business majors (in English, Philosophy, Anthropology--just about anything) are favored for higher level business jobs for just this reason.

The most popular major of CEOs by far is a business major. It's usually Finance or Accounting...not generic Business Administration which I agree is worthless.

I believe it's over 60% of all CEOs.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Business majors may get ok jobs out of school but have foregone the opportunity to develop the analytical thinking skills that other, more critically focused, courses foster--which leads to worse career options down the road. Non-business majors (in English, Philosophy, Anthropology--just about anything) are favored for higher level business jobs for just this reason.

That's only true with the following constraints, which I've added in all caps:

"Non-business majors FROM THE VERY TOP SCHOOLS (in English, Philosophy, Anthropology--just about anything) are favored for higher level business jobs AT THE TOP FIRMS IN CONSULTING AND MAYBE A FEW RELATED FIELDS for just this reason."

Not at a tippy top school? You're better in business. Can't get the tippy top grades required for McKinsey? You're better off in business.

Not really.
At the top schools without business majors, majors like econ, applied math, CS are preferred by the top companies.

Econ is basically the substitute.

Interesting thread. It doesn't align with my experience.

At the school I work at, the business school has a reputation of being "boujee". It's a large, selective university in the Midwest, with a substantial coastal population (read: wealthy) and those students -- and the in-staters from monied parts of the state -- are disproportionately represented in the undergrad business school. There've been substantial efforts over the years to diversify the UG business population, especially within the socioeconomic realm, but there continues to be a divide.

Meanwhile, college of liberal arts (arts and science, arts and letters, whatever your preferred term is) is far and away more economically diverse, with most first generation/low income (FGLI) students choosing majors in this school.

For my DS who has switched interest from Engineering to Business, during this application season.

I have highly encouraged him to target either Finance or Accounting, and/or for the schools that don't offer Finance or Accounting or those majors are in the elite business school at a particular university, to consider Economics, in those cases...

As opposed pursuing a generic Business degree.

Anonymous wrote:Business majors may get ok jobs out of school but have foregone the opportunity to develop the analytical thinking skills that other, more critically focused, courses foster--which leads to worse career options down the road. Non-business majors (in English, Philosophy, Anthropology--just about anything) are favored for higher level business jobs for just this reason.

That's only true with the following constraints, which I've added in all caps:

"Non-business majors FROM THE VERY TOP SCHOOLS (in English, Philosophy, Anthropology--just about anything) are favored for higher level business jobs AT THE TOP FIRMS IN CONSULTING AND MAYBE A FEW RELATED FIELDS for just this reason."

Not at a tippy top school? You're better in business. Can't get the tippy top grades required for McKinsey? You're better off in business.

Anonymous wrote:Business majors may get ok jobs out of school but have foregone the opportunity to develop the analytical thinking skills that other, more critically focused, courses foster--which leads to worse career options down the road. Non-business majors (in English, Philosophy, Anthropology--just about anything) are favored for higher level business jobs for just this reason.

lol, wrong. I can assure you finance and accounting firms aren't hiring an Anthropology major.

Anonymous wrote:Business majors may get ok jobs out of school but have foregone the opportunity to develop the analytical thinking skills that other, more critically focused, courses foster--which leads to worse career options down the road. Non-business majors (in English, Philosophy, Anthropology--just about anything) are favored for higher level business jobs for just this reason.

Granny, business major kids develop tbetter analytical and criticall thinking skills than easier humanities majors. Thats why employers like them better.