So I was accepted into UCLA and UCSD. At UCLA I’d major in Econ and UCSD I’d major in Poli Sci and minor in Business.
I had my heart set on going to UCSD, but lately I’ve been getting criticism about my choice of major.
My ultimate goal is to work in the business sector, which I think, with some experience added, is realistic
for a Political Science major with a minor in Business.
However, many don’t think this is possible, which has made me second guess my decision.
Now I’m considering UCLA for Economics, which is often seen as a solid degree. But I’m worried about the difficulty of UCLA and especially its Economics departments considering that I’m transferring from a Community College. And if I want to go to grad school at any point in my life, don’t I need to get a good GPA at whichever college I choose?
So, my question is simple: Do I stick to my gut and pursue a path with Political Science (and a minor in Business) at UCSD or do I pick UCLA with an Economics degree, which is bound to get me employment opportunities?
I just don’t want to seem like a flip-flop and I need to make a decision asap. UCSD has been my dream, but do I need to choose the more pragmatic UCLA for the next two years?
Please, please help me out.
Sincerely,
Dazed and Confused
Well first of all, if you want to go to graduate school in economics, you’re going to need a heavy load of math with it. Calculus 1-3, Linear Algebra, Real Analysis at the minimum, and nowadays most schools need to see Complex and a few statistics courses, so keep all that in mind. Secondly, yeah you do need a “good GPA”, but above all, you need research interests that fit with the institutions you apply to, and you need good Letters of Recommendation (which hold a good deal of weight coming from UCLA economists).
Anyway, whenever a student is confused about their major, the best way to help is to work backwards, basically what you did. Pick a career then find a major that works. Political Science and Economics are pretty different fields in terms of employment opportunities and a Business minor doesn’t hold as much weight as would a very coveted Economics degree from UCLA. Getting an MBA later on in life could also be on your horizon as well.
At the end of the day, sure, both of these degrees could definitely lead you down the path you want, but if you’re asking which one is a more direct line, UCLA no doubt. Now…you just need to ask yourself which you’d be okay studying for the next two years? You don’t want your 2nd half of college to be miserable!
I second some of these points ^. It depends on what you want to go to graduate school for, too. If you want to do anything with Econ for grad school, you’re gonna need to take a LOT of math courses, as nagregian said. However, if you’re interested in pursuing an MBA, they’re a lot more flexible with undergraduate majors. (also with Poli Sci and a business minor definitely look into corporate law!)
At the end of the day, you gotta do what’s best for you. If you’ve had your heart set on UCSD for a while I say go for it. If you know you’ll be happier and enjoy what you’re studying, that’s worth more than prestige. You can’t put a price tag on your happiness. Best of luck.
None of this is accurate. What evidence makes you think UCLA “is bound to get me employment opportunities?” Would it surprise you to learn the UCLA Career center reports that in 2014 28% of the graduating seniors had not yet found a job?
A liberal-arts degree plus $2 gets you a cup of coffee. Economics is a social science, so is Poli Sci. Neither leads directly to a job, nor are they intended to. (Business Econ is a different animal, it can lead directly to jobs in accounting, but you weren’t accepted for that and therefore can’t switch).
And for that matter, here’s your 1st business decision. How did the “many don’t think this is possible” come to that conclusion? Why do you believe them? Are they experienced managers in business that have seen kids with that background struggle to get started? Trained career counselors? Or are they your friends just making stuff up?
What gets someone with a liberal-arts degree a job is good grades, internships, and to a degree the reputation of their college. Kids at Stanford and Yale will be interviewing with companies that won’t send reps to UCLA. What you’ll need to do, with either degree, is quickly develop an idea of what area(s) of business you’d like to go into (ideally you would have been doing that your 1st 2 years in college) and then take part in campus groups, networking opportunities, workshops at the career center, etc. in order to land an internship in that area. The minor in business could help you be a more attractive candidate since it (hopefully) gives you some marketable direct skills.
My D has decided on UCSD with a Communication major and a Business minor. She got into SDSU and UCR for Business and UCSC for Business Econ. She completed 8 lower division business classes to transfer and will complete another 7 as a business minor at UCSD. That’s a pretty good number of business classes. Also in the Communication major there are some marketing classes which she will take as electives. She also really wanted to attend UCSD and feels that having the Comm major and Business minor will help her get a job. Her ultimate goal is a job in marketing somewhere in the fashion industry. She plans to get an MBA after working a couple years.
@showmom858 , that sounds like a good plan. My daughter is media studies at Berkeley. I wish they had a minor in business. The minors are really slim pickings at Cal. She decided to go for Applied Language minor, but it seems like 2/3 of the required course list haven’t been offered for three terms. I do think this is a flaw with Berkeley - it’s minors are so limited. Good luck to your daughter. UCSD comm dept is a great dept!
lindyk8 - thanks for the kind words. D loved everything she found out last Saturday at UCSD transfer day. I wish I could convince her to live on campus for the first year as the transfer dorms are so nice. Especially if you get a single with an ocean view! She loved the professor from the Comm department that spoke and also the people she talked to from the Rady School of Business. She also liked everyone she has met so far at Warren College. Sorry that your D has not had as much to choose from for minors. UCSD is adding a third business minor in entrepreneurship for this fall. They already have accounting and general business minors.
Wow, that’s great that they’re adding a THIRD business minor. (A bit jealous, lol.) Yes, your daughter should definitely dorm. If she is planning to live at home, she’s still close enough to visit all the time. They only have two years there so they need to make the most of it, social activity-wise.
Wow at first glance I would think UCLA Econ is a better option but after reading post #3, I suggest you check out the career survey of each school. It gives a better picture of employment at each school for specific major.