Best Quantitative Major to Pair with Business

College Majors Business Major
1

Hi,
I am currently a student in a consensus top-5 business undergraduate program pursuing a business major with concentrations in finance and management. I want to pair my business major up with another major that is highly quantitative major that I can exploit in conjunction with business both now and in the professional world. Currently, I have narrowed down my options to economics, applied statistics, and computer information systems. My thoughts on each:

  1. Economics: I know economic theories can be very applicable in a variety of business situations but its not really a field I want to work in

  2. Applied Stats (econometrics/business stats): I absolutely love this course/content and I know that using statistical methods can help me analyze data and business environments better; however, I am not sure of the advancement opportunities that come with being a business statistician or analyst. My end goal is to have an executive role in a company and I’m not sure if stats will help me in that regard

  3. CIS: not really interested in the subject but I know how valuable this knowledge is in today’s world

Specifically, I want to go into the business strategy world where I can help make intelligent business decisions and develop successful business strategies. I know this is a broad field but I am interesting in management consulting or business analysis (non-IT, possibly financial) in particular.

I would appreciate any feedback about which major would best compliment my business pursuits.

Thanks!

2

One could make a case for any of those choices. I have seen many executives in my day with all kinds of degrees. Your job performance regardless of major will be the major determinant of your success. Having said that, you don’t really care for econ or CIS, so go applied stat.

3

If you love stats, then go for it! Other options are Business Analytics or Financial Engineering/Quantitative Finance.

4

My overall goal is to exit into an executive role at a company after many years of consulting. Would a business/stats major help in that department?