<p>So I'm a recent high school graduate who was an active member of both fbla and deca. But now that high school is over, I'm sad to see both of them go. I understand that there are PBL and collegiate deca, but many of my fbla/deca friends are not continuing to those divisions because they say that its "smaller, dumb and a waste of time" (quoted by them! I am neutral)</p>
<p>So for any previous members...
1. Why did you not continue to the college divisons of the organization?
2. Why did you continue? What benefits do you see in PBL/collegiate deca? What are the differences between the high school one versus the college divison? Is it any better?</p>
<p>For any non-previous members...
1. Are business fraternities better? What do they provide? Do they have competitons like fbla/deca?
2. Do you know any organizations that provide national/international business competitions like fbla/deca?</p>
<p>For anyone...
1. What suggestions do you have for undergrad business students to maximize their college years in the business field?</p>
<p>I have no personal involvement with biz frats or biz orgs like deca. However, I know people in them and have also asked business students about what they did as extracurriculars. So you’ve been warned!</p>
<p>Business frats are mostly for networking - an opportunity to get to know people like you. Depending on the specific frat chapter, alumni from that frat may or may not be well represented at top business firms. Since many firms will make alumni from a specific school responsible for reviewing resumes from the specific school, it often helps to join a frat with a strong business alumni presence. Then again, if you want the best social life, you would probably be better off joining a social or service fraternity.</p>
<p>From what I’ve heard, competitions are typically set up by business schools or departments (if your school has a biz school). Regional or national competitions will often be set up by a specific company or organization (and you pitch to the company). I’m not sure if business frats really set up any competitions.</p>
<p>I haven’t really heard that much about FBLA/DECA in college; especially at the college I go to (Berkeley), it has never come up when I ask business students what they do. It might be a regional thing.</p>
<p>You should probably ask students at the school you are going to for more specifics.</p>
<p>My college didn’t have DECA or FBLA chapters. We did however have an investment club that managed a $100,000 portfolio. The profits went towards club activities. They hosted a finance seminar, for example, or paid for their members to attend an internship fair in NYC.</p>
<p>My graduate school has a consulting club that works real consulting cases. After a selective recruitment phase, new members are trained by representatives of established consulting firms. Then they work real cases. The profits are used to pay for training and social events. </p>
<p>If you have the option, I’d recommend that you join clubs that will give you hands-on business experience, like the two above.</p>
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