I am currently a marketing major and I’m taking all business basics classes (accounting, business calculus, etc) classes this semester. Here’s just a little bit about myself: I love writing, I have my own blog that I regularly post to, I am a part of my university’s newspaper, I want to own my own business (and have already started it, but it’s still very new), and I’m terrible at math.
Anyway, so far this semester I have miserably failed accounting and had to withdraw from the class, I hate all of my business classes and I haven’t gotten my grade for my first test in business calculus yet, but my bet it that I failed that too.
My family assures me once I get my business degree it’ll be worth it, I’ll be paid very well, and that a business degree is great everywhere, but my concern is that I won’t be able to even make it through the degree. It seems like I’m so far behind everyone who is like “oh this classes is so hard I only got an 80 on the last test,” while I think to myself “hey that’s 30 points higher than what I did, chill.” I’ve been putting 4+ hours a day for accounting, 3+ hours a day for calculus, and 2+ hours on some of my easier courses. The amount of work I have to put in and still fail assignments is honestly depressing and I have no time to write on my blog or go out with friends or do anything really.
Is it wrong to feel out of place and that this might not be right for me, even if business majors are paid very well and can use their degree in many ways? Should I try to stick it through even though I’m going to have to repeat many classes in my degree?
Accounting/Calc/Stats just have to be endured. If you enjoy other business-related subjects like Marketing, Operations, Org Behavior, Econ and International Business, sticking with the BBA could be worth it. You can do a lot of writing in the promotional aspects of marketing.
If that other stuff doesn’t interest you, you could switch to Communications/Journalism. At UW-Madison, the J school had tracks in Advertising and Public Relations, both of which interested me. (Advertising and PR are in the J School as opposed to the B school at UW…).
So – if the writing and creative aspects of Marketing interest you, and the other business-related topics do not, I suggest looking into Communications or Journalism as a major, with a concentration in Advertising or PR.
I ended up with a BA in Journalism. I went back to school for an MBA.
I’ve taken, micro/macro economics, 2 intro to business classes, stats, and two public speaking classes. Right now I’m taking accounting, business calc, intro to computer applications in business, and a communications class.
My high school GPA was a 3.8. I most definitely have failed classes and have come close to failing many classes in high school. they were mainly my math and science courses. In my English and history courses, I was in honors classes and didn’t score below a 90 on anything really.
My opinion: Nobody should major in something they hate solely because their parents assure them “it will be worth it.” Period. You go to college once. Major in a subject you enjoy. English majors start their own businesses too.
By the way, your parents are 100% wrong. Business majors are well-paid because it is a self-selecting group that funnels itself into high-paying careers. Do you think that business majors are the only people in the world who have financial success? Of course not.
Unfortunately English and history are not fields where you are likely to earn a good living. If you hate business and did poorly in STEM courses then what interests you that will lead to a good career?
Absolutely untrue. You can do anything you want with an English or history degree except a technical career like engineering or accounting. You can own your own business, just like you said you want to. Look on LinkedIn and see what successful people majored in. In my personal circle, I know someone, age 45, who majored in sociology at a middle-of-the-pack state school who is now very successful in venture capital. I know someone who majored in English at an Ivy League school who at age 29 owns her own business that has gotten national press. I know someone, age 32, who majored in communications at a Big 10 school who is now a top executive in business development at Google. I know someone, age 50, who majored in economics who is a top editor at the New York Times. I know someone who majored in Art History, age 31, who is a successful investment banker. I know personal anecdotes do not equal data, but I just wanted to give you examples.
People who say things like the above are not aware of the vast variety of careers that are out there and the degree to which employers evaluate who you are rather than what you studied.
@brantly Many successful business people never studied business. The OP has studied business and failed. He says that he has no interest in business subjects. He admits that he is terrible at math. Those are not good signs for a successful business person.
I hope to be able to make my blog a part-time job and maybe if it ends up being successful, a full-time job. I think it is definitely achievable because I am already making some money and it’s only been around for a couple months. I do want to own my own business and I already have made some advances in that, but I will not disclose more than that.
I would like to clarify that yes, I admit, I am quite terrible at math, but I can still do algebra and a little bit of statistics. I just work slower and I have to work with more diligence than someone with more of an aptitude for math. I am also willing to work hard for what I want too. If I have to I will put in countless hours into it. Some days of the week I put in 7+ hours into accounting (from studying on my own, reading the textbook, getting help from the TA, or going to group tutoring) because I know that’s what it’s going to take to start answering questions right on my homework. This also goes back to my original question because this is not sustainable, I can’t spend 30 hours a week on this class and another 20 hours a week on my calc class and so on. If owning a business that I truly love and brings fulfillment into my life I will put the hours in, even if it’s a grind, because I love it and that’s what I want to do with my life.
I’m strongly considering changing my major to English, get a certificate in entrepreneurship, and minor in journalism. I think this will give me the skill set that I need to grow my blog to become more profitable and eventually turn it into a passive form of income while giving me some background in small business ownership and management (which is what the certificate focuses on). I have looked into freelance, which isn’t as reliable as a desk job at an office but is something I would like to try. I’ve also talked with many professors and advisors and they said there’s no class or major called “how to start your own business” because you learn how to start a business by starting a business.
Great idea to major in English, get a certificate in entrepreneurship & minor in journalism.
There are classes & certificate programs in “how to start your own business”, just not at your school. Check out the internet. Many MBA schools offer such courses. You may catch a free MOOC (massive open online course) on how to open your own business if you diligently search on the internet or on MBA websites.
Success in life comes from doing what you enjoy and being really good at it. Regardless of your competency in some core business class areas, it sounds like you don't enjoy the topic. If that's the case. I would focus my attention on things you do enjoy (that can be leveraged into professional success). English majors are great. Plenty of them in the business world. Wish more folks could write well.
Big difference between working a business "functional" job (accounting, finance, marketing, etc.) at company X than doing the business of company X. Your blog is a good example. The business of the blog is writing. The model it sits in is a subscription based business that requires skills in creating that (whatever they are). Most business owners are fairly creative and have to figure out the business skills (marketing, sales, budgeting, strategy) on the fly until they grow to the point where they can have professional help. In that area, your professor is right. You learn by doing, failing and perfecting. That's how it worked for me and virtually every business owner I know in all sorts of industries.
The first thing you said was you like writing, you have a blog, and you’re a part of your school newspaper. And then you went on to say that you’re hating your business classes.
Have you ever considered changing your major maybe to English or journalism or creative writing? Yes, it might not be one of the most high paying majors. But if you truly are hating your classes right now, maybe you should change that.
If you don’t like it, don’t pursue it. For me, I thought business was what I wanted but those business calc classes are no joke. While I did do it, it was for sure a struggle and boring. Trying something else now. Good luck!
Any major of which the majority of courses you are failing is not the major for you. you are much better off graduating with a degree in English or journalism with a high GPA then business with a very low one. Please, change your major ASAP.