<p>Where is the best place to study business in undergrad? I hope you can give me 5 best schools and their pros and cons, that would be the most helpful! Include Wharton, Harvard, and Columbia pleasee if they are not on your top 5 list..</p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>A lot of the top schools don’t have undergrad business, even if they have graduate business programs. Harvard, Columbia, Yale, Stanford, Dartmouth, and U of Chicago are examples of such schools. They all have undergrad majors in economics, so you can at least get a taste of business.</p>
<p>Top schools with actual undergrad business programs include MIT, Michigan, Berkeley, Virginia, Notre Dame, Georgetown, Southern California, Cornell, Penn (Wharton), Carnegie Mellon.</p>
<p>^ Since when does MIT have an undergrad business program?</p>
<p>[MIT</a> Sloan School of Management Undergraduate Program](<a href=“http://mitsloan.mit.edu/undergrad/]MIT”>http://mitsloan.mit.edu/undergrad/)</p>
<p>^ I was distinguishing between management science and business. I don’t think that that program will be what most prospective business majors would be expecting, though it is certainly closer than what HYPS offer (i.e., economics).</p>
<p>The OP should also know that UPenn’s program does not technically award a degree in business; it’s a B.S. in economics, but the Wharton program itself is indeed business-oriented.</p>
<p>thank you guys! btw I always thought a degree in economics was the closest thing to business…is there a degree for business specifically?
I hear that Wharton has the best reputation amongst employers, is that true?</p>
<p>^ There are schools that offer true undergraduate business degrees. Wharton is about as close as you can get without receiving a true business degree, and the program is quite prestigious.</p>
<p>It is just called a B.S.E. The curriculum is all Business.(minus the usual college electives)</p>
<p>Other than Wharton…what are the other top-tier business schools in the US? Or schools that have a good business program…just in case I don’t get in…X.X…I heard JHU…Emory…Ross is good for business, is that true?</p>
<p>Here’s BusinessWeek’s take on the issue: [Best</a> Business Programs by Specialty - BusinessWeek](<a href=“Bloomberg - Are you a robot?”>Bloomberg - Are you a robot?)</p>
<p>UNC Chapel Hill deserves a mention. USNWR routinely ranks them pretty high, as does BusinessWeek.</p>
<p>Might study economics at schools with strong alumni networks for internships and job placement-Duke, Notre Dame, Holy Cross, Colgate, Dartmouth etc.</p>
<ol>
<li>Wharton</li>
<li>Berkeley (Haas) and MIT (Sloan)</li>
</ol>
<p>There is also NYU (Stern), UMich (Ross), and UVirginia (McIntire). These are generally regarded as the top undergraduate business programs.</p>
<p>[URL="<a href="http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges/spec-business"]source[/URL">http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges/spec-business"]source[/URL</a>]</p>
<p>These are the top undergraduate business programs in the US, according to USNews. (Btw, the rankings from Businessweek are a joke. Anything without Wharton as #1 is a joke). Rankings should not be trusted completely. The schools I listed are probably the most respected undergraduate business programs right now.</p>
<p>The education in these programs will be, for a big part, similar to what you would get in an MBA program. In fact, at MIT, I believe business undergrads take many of their classes with the graduate students.</p>
<p>Schools like Harvard, Princeton, Dartmouth, or Columbia do not have business programs for undergraduates, but the recruiting for top jobs is similar, if not superior. At those top schools without business programs, students tend to major in Economics instead. It comes out to about the same, depending on who you ask. If you’re interested in high finance / investment banking / hedge funds etc, try to go for the Ivy league.</p>
<p>Except for Wharton, you’d be better off for business by just studying Economics at Harvard, Princeton, or Dartmouth, rather than going to an actual “business program” If you can’t make those 3 Ivy Leagues, or maybe Columbia, then Sloan/Haas/Stern/Ross/McIntire might be your next best bets.</p>
<p>First you need to decide whether you want to study the academic discipline of Economics, or dive right into the actual Business knowledge. Choose the one you enjoy more, because your GPA will benefit. Also note that schools like Harvard and Dartmouth “inflate” their grades, making higher GPAs much easier to achieve. Wharton and Princeton deflate grades, making everything slightly harder.</p>
<p>Agree with caltanner. Business schools often aren’t the best schools for placement into elite jobs. Outside of wharton you’d be better off with an econ degree from a place like Dartmouth or Princeton.</p>
<p>Thank you so much everyone!</p>
<p>Caltanner,
when you say “First you need to decide whether you want to study the academic discipline of Economics, or dive right into the actual Business knowledge. Choose the one you enjoy more, because your GPA will benefit.”</p>
<p>Does that refer to studying economics at, for example, Harvard? For schools like Harvard, princeton, dartmouth and columbia, do they also let you choose a business focus, or is the focus on economics?</p>
<p>P.S. I’ve somehow heard that Cornell has a good business program, and Dartmouth has a better art and literacy program, so I’m kinda surprised to see Dartmouth here. Anyone care to elaborate?</p>
<p>Right, and below Dartmouth/Princeton, I’d argue that Ross, Haas & company are the next best bets. They are huge schools, and the size of the alumni network can equal the more concentrated networks of the ivies, if you have the energy and initiative. Many of the same opportunities are there, but they’re just “spread around” a bit, because the school is so huge.</p>
<p>EDIT: Just saw your post. Dartmouth is extremely well connected in the finance industry, and business in general. Business is all about networks, which makes Dartmouth/Princeton/Harvard better for business than any of the actual undergraduate business schools, except Wharton.</p>
<p>As far as I know, if you study economics, there is usually no “business” concentration, because the Ivies don’t believe in studying business just yet. They want you to learn something liberal-artsy first. Only you can decide if you want to study economics or business. If it’s econ, go for Harvard/Princeton/Dartmouth/Columbia/Yale… If it’s business, go for Ross/Haas/Stern/Wharton. Many people say that an actual “business education” should be left for job-training and MBA. If you don’t care (which would be strange), I would say first Wharton, then HYPMS, then the other non-Wharton top business schools.</p>
<p>And to answer your other question… Dartmouth would definitely be better for any kind of business over Cornell. Many of the most powerful business people are Dartmouth alumni, and they sometimes give the school privilege. Dartmouth is often associated with high finance, although Wharton and Harvard are definitely king.</p>
<p>If you’re wondering, most of my opinions are derived from a ton of research that I’ve done on the same subjects. Many of these opinions come from people who really know what they’re talking about, and who have been in the industry for years.</p>
<p>Is there any specific area of ‘business’ that you’re shooting for?</p>
<p>Thank you for the awesome answer caltanner! I’ve heard that Wharton undergrads often do not need to get a MBA. If that’s true, Wharton would be a better choice for business than Harvard, right? For a liberal arts education such as Harvard, is it mostly theoretical rather than the more practical education at Wharton? Let me know your thoughts on that : ).</p>
<p>Wharton vs Harvard, if you’re interested in business… well, I don’t know. Wharton is basically a one-way ticket to anything in the elite business world. On the other hand, Harvard’s prestige can apply to other things, not just business. And in my opinion, it’s better to learn something first, before business ‘training’. And if you decide to study something else, Harvard would surely be the better option. Few freshmen stick with their intended majors, and Wharton is business-only. First, I would say get into both schools ;)</p>
<p>Right now I actually have no idea what specific area I want to go into…although entrepreneurship has always been sort of a focus. It’s kind of embarrassing when people ask me and I so easily reply “business”, without a specific thing in mind. The business world has always appealed to me, and has been the one interest that’s long-lasting. Although I wavered for a while between science and business, two subjects that seem completely different. I decided that although I enjoy learning about science as well, I can’t really see myself being an engineer or scientist. So I don’t really see another choice for myself other than business in that aspect. Just thought I’d share that. It’s obviously a big decision to make, and as you said few freshmen stick with their intended majors, I always have that hint of doubt about Wharton (ED).</p>
<p>Ahh! XD Just thought about this, can wharton students transfer to the college??</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Not really.</p>
<p>[Business</a> Week’s Top Undergraduate Business Programs 2010](<a href=“Bloomberg - Are you a robot?”>Bloomberg - Are you a robot?)</p>
<p>Cornell University’s AEM Undergraduate Business Program is currently ranked 5th in the nation.</p>