I go to a HS in Ontario, and want to apply to either an Ontario Uni, or BC Uni as I have family in both regions. The problem I face is that I have absolutely no idea which major I should apply to. Basically, after University I want to work for my dad in his company where they build houses. I don’t want to go into engineering because my sciences were weak throughout HS, but my Math and English were both solid. I do want to major in business, so I decided to look into a management degree for my undergrad. A family friend who works as an accountant advised me out of this degree because he said it was a “fluff degree where you don’t learn a particular set of skills, like you would in accounting”, and that the best path for me was to take accounting for my undergrad and do an MBA later on with a focus on management. This all makes sense to me, but I would like a second opinion on whether this is the best route to take for my specific situation where I will most probably hold a management position in a growing business. A final note is that I would prefer to stay away from accounting because I have met many accounting graduates who fantastically loathed the profession and the time they spent studying it (but if that is the only way to not screw up my dads hopes for me, I wouldn’t mind going this way). Thanks in advanced!
A business degree makes sense if you have a job lined up. If you don’t want accounting, don’t do it. The BCom at UBC Sauder offers 10 specializations (incl. real estate). They also offer business + comp sci, which is a nice hedge for you against a future downturn in Cdn real estate. Queen’s Commerce is also good. You could hold off on an MBA for years.
I really did read all you wrote…but maybe you could start your own business? Like become an entrepreneur. Just a thought. Or you could study real estate since you prefer not to do accounting. And also since you want to work for your dad (whose company build houses), I think studying real estate would be a good idea.
Business degree then MBA later
Deep breaths. You don’t have to decided today or this summer or this year or next. You’re 17 years old; you don’t have to have your entire future mapped out. The fact that you have an idea of a direction puts you miles ahead of lots of other 17 year olds.
Go in as a business major, and dabble. See whether you prefer management or marketing or some other form of business.
What your dad “hopes for you” is that you’ll find a career where you can provide for yourself and your family, and where you can be happy. You’re going to be working for decades; you want to find a career where you’ll be happy. But you don’t have to find it at 17.