Bs Econ/msfinance

College Majors Business Major
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<p>Okay, so the chances for me getting into UMD SMith School of business are 50/50. , so I'm assuming I am not going to get in for the time being.. I know I want to go into Finance. Econ is my backup</p>

<p>The Econ program here is pretty rigourous for a state school, CALC II required, Stat 400 required, ECON 300(math of economics), a separate Intermediate Micro/Macro then non majors that is Based on the Econ 300. and then an economic statisitic course. These are all the new requirments for 2007. </p>

<p>Department</a> of Economics | Research Centers and Programs | University of Maryland</p>

<p>Then again, the Finance here is ranked top 25. </p>

<p>SO if I major in econ (if i dont get into smith), and then get a MS In Finance from say, Northeasern or syracuse, or Buffalo, you think that's more valuable then the BS in Finance from Maryland, since the BS Is ranked so high?</p>

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<p>Do you have any idea what you want to do? What are your goals?</p>

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<p>Funny, a friend of mine had this same problem. I think he decided against the MS Finance and he will just go for a MBA, which is probably a better deal. I see the MS Finance as an alternative to the BBA in Finance, NOT as an alternative to the MBA.</p>

<p>If you have a high GPA in economics, are personable, and if you minor in business, you can go after the same entry-level financial analysis careers as finance majors.</p>

<p>Finance is a better degree for entry-level business careers but economics is probably better in the long run, ESPECIALLY with a MBA.</p>

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<p>I mean, im not looking to do like, IBanking, I know MD's not a target school. </p>

<p>I was thinking more along the lines of financial consulting or corporate finance.</p>

<p>The reason I am looking for the MS in finance otherplaces if i dont get into the undergrad business school at maryland is because MS finance programs don't all require work expereicne with exception to the top prgroams. SO this way, by the time I am 23 I will have a financial background, can get work experience in my frield, and THEN get my MBA at a decent school when im in my late 20's. </p>

<p>If I just majored in economics without the MSF, I might not have the same job oppurtunities, hence, i will not get into as good an MBA program if I had the MS. SO i'm not sure if i should transfer to a school where I can do undergrad finance (if i dont get into smith) and just go straight into the workforce like every other person; because it's hard to find info on how employers value MSF job candidates.</p>

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<p>If you have a Econ/MSFinc combination, you'll probably be at an advantage over the people with just BBAs in Finance. I understand what you are saying because a friend of mine was in the same boat. In fact, come to think of it, I was in the same boat, too. I had a choice between majoring in Economics or Finance and I chose Economics because I realized that a MBA is a lot better than a BBA and Economics is better preparation for a MBA.</p>

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If I just majored in economics without the MSF, I might not have the same job oppurtunities

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<p>Financial institutions hire Economics grads all the time. Sure, you'll have an easier chance if you have the BBA in Finance but if you have a high GPA, have good interpersonal skills, and have a strong work ethnic, you shouldn't have any problems getting a financial career out of college with an Economics degree.</p>

<p>In fact, I just looked up the results for the career survey at my school and I saw quite a few people who went into financial analysis positions as Economics majors. If your school has a good career center, you should be able to land a financial internship with an Economics degree.</p>

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I might not have the same job oppurtunities, hence, i will not get into as good an MBA program if I had the MS.

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<p>I think you'll find that the majority of Economics undergrads who pursue MBAs (and there are A LOT of them) do NOT have MS Finance degrees. They got to where they were at just from the Economics degree.</p>

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SO i'm not sure if i should transfer to a school where I can do undergrad finance

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<p>Don't do this, it's better to go to a nationally known school for Economics instead of a regional, lesser known school for Finance. I made this mistake when I was a sophomore in college. My maturity level and my work ethnic was way higher than the majority of kids I was in class with, so I hated it. I hardly had any friends because I didn't want to deal with the high school mentality that was present there. I transferred out to the Economics program at Texas A&M. I feel that my career opportunities with an Economics degree from A&M was way, way better than if I had stayed for a Finance degree at that other school.</p>

<p>The name of the school carries a lot of weight, too, sometimes even more than your actual major. I knew a girl who had an English degree from UT-Austin who ended up working in real estate development.</p>

<p>
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because it's hard to find info on how employers value MSF job candidates.

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<p>I think for the most part they see it as a specialized degree on the same level as the BBA. Sometimes you can use it in lieu of a MBA IF you have a lot of work experience and if you're working for a large corporation, but not usually. It's a specialist degree more than anything.</p>

<p>So yes, you could get a MS Finance on top of the Economics degree but I think that you will find the Economics degree is a very good degree in itself and you probably won't need the MS Finance to go after the careers you want. It's an excellent degree to get a MBA with.</p>

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<p>BTW, here's the career survey for my school:</p>

<p>College</a> of Liberal Arts - TAMU Career Center</p>

<p>Just click on the graduation dates and scroll down to the Economics section of each to see what kind of careers they are getting.</p>

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<p>
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Economics is better preparation for a MBA.

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</p>

<p>This is not true.</p>

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<p>Top MBA programs prefer non-business undergrads for their MBA programs, Vector. Do some research and check some stats yourself. If you're going to make a claim like that you better be willing to back it up.</p>

<p>The original purpose of the MBA was to teach business to NON-business majors.</p>

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<p>
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Top MBA programs prefer non-business undergrads for their MBA programs,

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<p>Not true. It is often an advantage to take a non-traditional career path, especially if you will be able to express how you can leverage that into a non-traditional post-MBA career.</p>

<p>However, economics is no more non-traditional than finance or engineering in regards to business school admittance.</p>

<p>
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Vector. Do some research and check some stats yourself

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<p>I don't need to do anymore research. I am already in. I have contacts at HBS, Wharton, Darden, Stanford, Johnson, Kellogg, USC and a host of other top 20 MBA schools. I know what you are saying is just plain BS. Schools do not have a preference between finance and economics in regards to admissions. </p>

<p>However, once admitted, experience in finance will be invaluable and will open doors that are not open to most of your fellow MBA students.</p>

<p>
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The original purpose of the MBA was to teach business to NON-business majors.

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</p>

<p>I recommend that you go back in time then.</p>

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<p>MS in finance can be very helpful...cheaper than an MBA...little no work experience required or even expected....it occupies a niche market that is in great demand, especially for the math intensive programs, but even the MS in finance programs that revolve around the fundamentals instead of math place very well. Examples are Boston College, LBS, etc. The math orientated programs place very well. Even for schools such as Tulsa and North Carolina State place well, but again it is a niche market. Career progress will take a lot of time on your part and many school are focused on certain markets. For example, research Oklahoma and Tulsa and find out what they are focused on. The better programs will be the more quantitative programs (in my opinion) since you would be a rarer commodity than you run of the mill finance student. </p>

<p>Really want to go this direction, go for it. They are a wide variety of programs, so you need to do a lot of research.</p>

<p>And a MS will not hamper your progression or admission to an MBA, they are 2 totally different degrees.</p>

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<p>
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Not true.

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<p>I'm positive that if you do some searches for corporate officers with MBAs you'll find that more than a few of them have economics degrees.</p>

<p>By the way, tell us again how not seeing any black students at a school which is less than 5% black automatically means that we are purposely not hanging out with black students. I want to hear that one again, hahaha.</p>

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However, economics is no more non-traditional than finance or engineering in regards to business school admittance.

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</p>

<p>Finance is non-traditional? What the hell are you talking about?</p>

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I don't need to do anymore research.

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<p>Oooohh, wow, Mr. Eight Ball here knows all the answers.</p>

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I am already in.

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<p>In over your head when it comes to life.</p>

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I know what you are saying is just plain BS. Schools do not have a preference between finance and economics in regards to admissions.

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</p>

<p>So explain to me how someone who's supposedly in a top 20 MBA program has enough time to post 400+ times on this message board.</p>

<p>True, MBA programs admit finance undergrads but they aren't going to pass up economics majors for more finance majors. In fact, it's the other way around. Higher end MBA programs want to attract non-business majors because THEY want to be the ones to teach the student business.</p>

<p>You're not at a disadvantage at all if you're an economics major pursuing a MBA. In fact, in my opinion, it looks better on a resume to have an Econ/MBA than a BBA/MBA. For one thing, it doesn't look very well-rounded.</p>

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However, once admitted, experience in finance will be invaluable and will open doors that are not open to most of your fellow MBA students.

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</p>

<p>Hahahahaha!</p>

<p>Why don't you tell that to the engineers and the economics majors with MBAs who are making $100,000+ a year?</p>

<p>You make it sound like you HAVE to have a BBA in order to be successful with a MBA. What a joke.</p>

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<p>From what I've discovered, I really do not think MBA programs care much about Finance vs Econ. I would highly doubt there is a preference towards economics majors. Of course there are many successful Economics majors with MBAs. There are tons of Economics majors in MBA programs, but there are also tons of Finance majors. I think this is a disagreement that is not going to be settled... and to be honest its quite silly. If there was a difference, it would be extremely small in either direction.</p>

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<p>
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I'm positive that if you do some searches for corporate officers with MBAs you'll find that more than a few of them have economics degrees.

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</p>

<p>Most CEOs come from an operations background. Who gives a crap?</p>

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Finance is non-traditional? What the hell are you talking about?

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<p>You might want to work on your reading comprehension prior to taking the GMAT.</p>

<p>
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Oooohh, wow, Mr. Eight Ball here knows all the answers.

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</p>

<p>Yes, because I have already done far more research than you have.</p>

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So explain to me how someone who's supposedly in a top 20 MBA program has enough time to post 400+ times on this message board.

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<p>I don't know..how do my buddies at Columbia have time to go out drinking in the middle of the week all the time? The world may never know...</p>

<p>
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True, MBA programs admit finance undergrads but they aren't going to pass up economics majors for more finance majors.

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<p>I never said they would.</p>

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Higher end MBA programs want to attract non-business majors because THEY want to be the ones to teach the student business.

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<p>That has nothing to do with why they want to attract students from non-traditional backgrounds. BTW, you continue to harp on undergrad education. However, on average, students in top MBA programs are about 5 years removed from their undergrad education. Its importance is not that significant.</p>

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In fact, in my opinion, it looks better on a resume to have an Econ/MBA than a BBA/MBA.

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<p>BBA is next to pointless once you have an MBA. The average MBA at a top school will be 7 years removed from undergrad. </p>

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For one thing, it doesn't look very well-rounded.

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<p>In most fields, specializing is the easiest path to monetary success.</p>

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Why don't you tell that to the engineers and the economics majors with MBAs who are making $100,000+ a year?

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</p>

<p>First off, I never said finance majors. I said those with finance backgrounds, which I assume could be economics majors or engineers that go into a field like investment banking after undergrad. </p>

<p>If you are happy with 100+k a year that is fine. However, those without finance backgrounds have a very difficult time landing a job in an area like Private Equity.</p>

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<h2>From what I know, econ is good for MBA not in terms of admittance, etc, but the skills you develop to help you learn how to be successfull at the MBA. MBA also requires X amount of Econ credits at most schools. --</h2>

<p>The reason i am stressed is because the smith school of business has such a high job placement percentage and high salaries. Money isnt a problem for tuition, but I still ahve to reimburse my pops.</p>

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<p>Melon has a very good point; economics teaches you how to think and it allows you to develop strong analytical skills that carry well into the business world. That's why I chose it instead of finance as an undergrad; to me, economics felt more like it could improve me as a person and I could learn business skills later. The same could be said with engineering.</p>

<p>I just don't really see the point of having a BBA if your goal is to get a MBA and you have enough work ethnic to get into a good MBA program. If you have that much work ethnic, there are plenty of opportunities for you with an Economics/Engineering/Math undergrad; you won't need the BBA to get entry-level careers.</p>

<p>Why learn business on top of business when you have the opportunity to learn two subjects? A good MBA will teach you what you need to know about business.</p>

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Most CEOs come from an operations background. Who gives a crap?

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<p>Because they make a lot of money, that's why.</p>

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<p>
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Because they make a lot of money, that's why.

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<p>There are lots of ways to make a ton of money and NONE of them require an economics degree. Well, I guess you could always be the Fed Chairman and make a whopping 180k a year. (perhaps u can shed some light as to what you have done with your economics degree)</p>

<p>
[quote]
I just don't really see the point of having a BBA if your goal is to get a MBA and you have enough work ethnic to get into a good MBA program. If you have that much work ethnic, there are plenty of opportunities for you with an Economics/Engineering/Math undergrad; you won't need the BBA to get entry-level careers.

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<p>Perhaps the student really enjoys business. Perhaps the student doesn't enjoy economics or engineering. Perhaps the student wants to go for a CFA designation and also wants to land an investment banking job or corporate finance job out of undergrad and feels that a degree in finance will best prepare him for that. Perhaps the students end goal is to be successful in business with or without an MBA. There are a lot of reasons why one would major in business for undergrad.</p>

<p>As for your continued assertion that employers give a crap about undergrad degrees of MBA students...it's just nonsense.</p>

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<p>
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From what I know, econ is good for MBA not in terms of admittance, etc, but the skills you develop to help you learn how to be successfull at the MBA. MBA also requires X amount of Econ credits at most schools. --

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<p>First off, I agree that Econ is a perfectly acceptable major and can provide opportunities which will allow someone to go to a top business school. However, MBA students do not take a lot of econ classes. I believe most top schools require 1 Econ course (perhaps 2 at the most). IMO, the best way to be prepared for the MBA coursework is to have a finance background or better yet a combination finance/accounting background. BTW, if you work in finance after graduating with an economics degree, then you would have a finance background.</p>

<p>Without this type of background it is near impossible to get into something like Private Equity. It is still possible to get into IBanking or management consulting. However, those require high GPAs, which are easier to attain if you already have a finance background.</p>

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<p>
[quote]
IMO, the best way to be prepared for the MBA coursework is to have a finance background or better yet a combination finance/accounting background. BTW, if you work in finance after graduating with an economics degree, then you would have a finance background.

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</p>

<p>Then we're on the same page, but I don't think it would be very difficult for engineering majors to pick up finance and accounting at all.</p>

<p>I don't want this to turn into a debate over which undergrad is better; I just wanted to say that for a MBA, you can't go wrong with the ones we talked about.</p>

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<p>Where did you get those requirements from?!?!</p>

<p>I just declared Econ as my major & are also from UMD. You don't need Cal II. Only Elementary Cal or regular Cal. Also you can choose between ECON321 Economic Statistics or STAT400 Applied Probability and Statistics. </p>

<p>This is from UMD for Econ majors: </p>

<p>Minimum of 38 credits via a combination of foundation and elective courses in Economics and Math as listed below. Economics majors must also complete a minimum of 15 credits in supporting courses.</p>

<p>Foundation Courses
ECON200 Principles of Micro-Economics
ECON201 Principles of Macro-Economics
MATH220 Elementary Calculus I or MATH140 Calculus I
ECON300* Methods & Tools for Economic Analysis
ECON321 Economic Statistics or STAT400 Applied Probability and Statistics
ECON326 Intermediate Macroeconomic Theory & Policy
ECON325 Intermediate Microeconomic Theory</p>

<p>Economics Electives Courses</p>

<p>One from**
ECON310 European Economic History
ECON311 American Economic History Before the Civil War
ECON312 American Economic History After the Civil War
ECON314 Economic History, Development and Policy
ECON315 Economic Development of Underdeveloped Areas
ECON416 Theory of Economic Development</p>

<p>One from**
ECON402 Economic Models and Forecasting
ECON422 Econometrics I
ECON424 Computer Methods in Economics
ECON425 Mathematical Economics</p>

<p>Three from
ECON4xx Any 400 level Economics courses</p>

<p>Supporting Courses:
Support - Upper level courses - 15 credits</p>

<p>Additional mathematics courses beyond the required mathematics course (MATH 220 or 140) may be counted as fulfilling the Additional Support Course Requirement.</p>

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<p>Yeah , my bad, the new requirments arent on the website so i havent been to tydings yet. Did you apply to smith and what was your GPA?</p>

<p>p.s. im still gonna get the 220/221 seqquence, and if i do well just gonna take the 140/141 for non credit over the summer so i can take finance for mathematics</p>