Business vs. Economics?

<p>Some of my schools didn't have business majors so I applied under an Econ major. Now that I'm accepted into some of them, I'm wondering if I should even consider the schools that don't have a business program. I've heard from some older friends out of college that they are completely different fields with different skills and job opportunities. Any advice?</p>

<p>Well typically, doing an Econ major at a top school (Harvard, Berkeley, etc.) will be MUCH better than doing it at a weaker school. Some people may say that it's pointless to do Econ at a school that's not top rated (I don't know much about it to confirm this)
What schools are you considering? and what fields (management, finance, etc) in business interest you anyway? Does Econ interest you? You do realize that if you attend a school that only has an Econ program and you end up disliking the subject that you will be stuck?</p>

<p>For Economics, you have a wide range of possibilities as far as what kind of job you can get. It's so broad!</p>

<p>I got accepted into UCSD for an Econ major and I'm still waiting to hear back from UCLA and UCI, the two schools that I applied under Business for. I was planning to go into finance, accounting, that type of field. Econ is probably my favorite class this year, so yes, it does interest me. However, I'm not completely submerged in the economic world as some of my classmates are. I'm still learning the ropes and would love to learn more.</p>

<p>Hmm, that's true. If I ended up not liking Econ, I was going to switch my major to something else and then go into business grad school after I graduate.</p>

<p>Yeah, I'm mostly scared about the job opportunities with the way things are going. What kind of jobs can you get with an Econ major that differ from Business?</p>

<p>Well I don't think you have to worry about the current job market since you will be graduating in 4 years. For an econ major, you can end up getting a phd and become a professor or become an economist, all obvious answers. Other than that I am not sure if there is much difference. Economics majors can end up in the financial industry if they wanted to (as analysts, bankers, etc)! If you wanted to go into accounting, you would definitely have to pursue a masters in accounting directly after getting your Econ degree</p>

<p>As far as business grad school is concerned, I assume you mean an MBA? You would need good work experience for that after graduating with your bachelors.</p>

<p>So if you can do all that with an Econ degree, there's really not much difference with business and econ, right?</p>

<p>Yeah, I obviously still have some research to do on this topic. Haha.</p>

<p>Sure but the quality of the school matters. UCLA is your best bet for Economics (I think)</p>

<p>I applied under business for UCLA. It's my top choice right now, if I get in.</p>

<p>Hmm.. I thought UCLA only offer Business Economics major for under. And freshmen applicants are admitted as pre-major status</p>

<p>Business Economics is different with Business Admin.</p>

<p>Ehh, something like that. I haven't looked at my application since I sent it in. It had business in it's name, so I clicked it.</p>

<p>how are the core econ classes different from just standard business classes? harder math i assume. I'm asking this to try to get a bigger distinction between the two majors. I hear all these "economist" on T.V. and i always wonder what they are actually doing. Seams like they kinda act as journalists.</p>

<p>Economics is a social science (how people cope with limited resources for their unlimited wants). Business is how to do one particular task very well for a firm. They are completely different. </p>

<p>When economists are on the television they are (usually) talking about how consumer preferences are shifting or how a new tax will affect different markets. They observe and predict what will happen in the future. They look at the big picture. Business people take that information and apply it (i.e. how much supply to produce, what stocks to own for the long/short term, etc.). They look at the little picture.</p>

<p>Majoring in economics will not help you operate a database or read an income statement. Majoring in business will not help you predict the effects of the decreasing honey bee population on peanut butter sales.</p>

<p>I'm in the same boat.
Applied for an Economics/Business major wherever available.</p>

<p>So far, I've gotten into USC's Marshall School of Business for Business Admin, UCSD for Economics, and UCI for Business (Paul Merage).</p>

<p>However, UCLA's still my top choice! (Even though results don't come out till tomrrow). & even though it is a pre-business major (economics).
Between all my choices, which would be a better one?</p>

<p>USC - Marshall but I bet it is more expensive than the rest if you are from California. Not sure if cost is a factor in your decision.</p>

<p>Other than if you want to be an accountant, for the top business jobs, go to the best schools you can get into and major in anything you like. Some of the most elite employers out there hire as many English and philosophy majors as they do econ and business majors.</p>

<p>^ if you go to an Ivy League school. However, if you don't go to a top school, your major certainly does matter. Most Art History, Philosophy, and English majors will end up working at Starbucks.</p>

<p>The OP was talking about UC's. Personally I'd go to UCLA or SD which don't offer business over Irvine because they are better schools.</p>