What should I major in?

[Zopperoni]

Originally posted by Japher
Interesting? Contract Law?... this is why I am an engineer

Well, I like to know when and how I can fire someone

[Kuciwalker]

Originally posted by Gangerolf
Actuarial Science has got to do with calculating insurance premiums and stuff like that.

Also pension fund stuff. But that job field is slowly diminishing, so it's not a great idea to enter it.

[Kontiki]

Originally posted by Albert Speer
I do plan to go on to grad school... hopefully Wharton but, if failing that, Temple's Fox School.

so, kontiki, do you suggest going the management/major route if I'm going on to grad school?

Probably, but frankly, if you are going for an MBA it doesn't matter much. First, you ain't getting into a top MBA program right after undergrad, so you're going to have to get some good work experience under your belt. And what you do with that is going to go a long way in determining where and when you go to school. Second, AFAIK, most MBA programs start out with a broad exposure to business and then allow you to narrow your focus. So a management/major route would probably give you the widest background for what you end up studying, but not as much specific knowledge in any one area - so really, six of one and half a dozen of the other. Third, people who take business majors as undergrads tend to be quite a small minority in MBA programs. The biggest slices tend to be engineers and then a mix of arts programs. So, it's not like taking a business undergrad is even a requirement for an MBA program.

Overall, my first point is the most important. You need work experience to get into a top MBA school. So you may want to tailor your studies to that, if you think it even matters. Using myself as an example, my undergrad degree was in International Relations. I went into banking after I graduated (not exactly closely related to my degree) and got into a top MBA school on the strength of solid (but not world-beating) undergrad grades, a 95th percentile GMAT score (definitely not among the highest in my class) and four years of work experience where I moved quickly up the ladder, received individual accolades and got glowing recommendations from my superiors. I have no doubt that it's the last thing on that list that had the biggest impact.

[:) Smiley]

Originally posted by Zopperoni

Well, I like to know when and how I can fire someone

In the US, whenever you feel like it.

[Imran Siddiqui]

Ah, didn't even see:

Management/Employee Benefits

I can shed some light on this, even though I'm not a business major, because that is the field I work in (for the government though). Employee benefits can be very dull at times, with all the different fiduciary requirements to learn (as management, it's absolutely necessary to know that). However, it can be a rewarding field. Every company needs those knowledgable about Employee Benefits and those that know ERISA pretty well will be wanted.

[Imran Siddiqui]

Contract Law

Also comes in handy with creating... contracts! Believe it or not .

[Kuciwalker]

I can shed some light on this, even though I'm not a business major, because that is the field I work in (for the government though). Employee benefits can be very dull at times, with all the different fiduciary requirements to learn (as management, it's absolutely necessary to know that). However, it can be a rewarding field. Every company needs those knowledgable about Employee Benefits and those that know ERISA pretty well will be wanted.

He can do that with Actuarial Science. That's what my dad does.

[Imran Siddiqui]

Originally posted by Kuciwalker
Also pension fund stuff. But that job field is slowly diminishing, so it's not a great idea to enter it.

The pension fund part, yes, but not the insurance premium stuff. They don't need too many actuaries for pensions anymore since most plans are switching or have switched from a Defined Benefit plan to a Defined Contribution plan (ie, your 401k). In a DC plan, there is less need for actuaries because the investments are participant directed. Though someone does have to choose the diversified investment options for the employees to invest in.

Insurance premium stuff is a pretty growing field though .

[Imran Siddiqui]

Originally posted by Kuciwalker

I can shed some light on this, even though I'm not a business major, because that is the field I work in (for the government though). Employee benefits can be very dull at times, with all the different fiduciary requirements to learn (as management, it's absolutely necessary to know that). However, it can be a rewarding field. Every company needs those knowledgable about Employee Benefits and those that know ERISA pretty well will be wanted.

He can do that with Actuarial Science. That's what my dad does.

Some of it... the fiduciary liability part is a real killer (you'd be surprised how many mangers have no clue what they are liable for) and would be stressed in a Management/Employee Benefit major over an Actuarial Science one.

[Kuciwalker]

Originally posted by Imran Siddiqui
The pension fund part, yes, but not the insurance premium stuff.

That's what I meant. Pensions actuaries as opposed to insurance actuaries.

[The Mad Monk]

Originally posted by Albert Speer
healthcare? people have been touting about nursing for ten years now and now half of the females in college are nursing students! pharmacists too will be a dime a dozen in a few years i bet.

anyway, i've already decided on business. what specifically though I don't know...

Pharmacists will never be a dime a dozen . Pre-pharm is tougher than pre-med.

[The Mad Monk]

Oh, and I would keep away from "management" majors. Pick a major that you like and can give you real skills, in that order.

You won't get into management right off the bat unless you know somebody; instead, you will spend time in the trenches proving your dependability and initiative. If you do that well enough, it won't matter what major you had in school, but proving yourself will be much harder without the basic skills a non-management degree can provide (it's hard to become head of accounting without knowing accounting).

[The Mad Monk]

Also, what Japher said.

[Pekka]

take what you like the best.

[Kidlicious]

Originally posted by Albert Speer
healthcare? people have been touting about nursing for ten years now and now half of the females in college are nursing students! pharmacists too will be a dime a dozen in a few years i bet.

anyway, i've already decided on business. what specifically though I don't know...

Accounting is the only valuable business degree. Good luck if you get something else. You'll need it.