TL;DR: I am trying to decide between Business Marketing and Communications with a Business Foundations Certificate. My goal is to get a financially stable job out of college (regardless of the specific degree or career) so that I can pursue my passion for writing, explore hobbies, and build a life without financial stress. Which should I choose?
Hey guys,
So I’m stuck right now. I’m transferring in to UT Austin this coming semester as a sophomore, but I’m stuck between two majors—Business Marketing or Communications (Advertising or PR, perhaps) with a Business Foundations Certificate.
I need some outsider (or insider) opinions on what would be best for me. Here are the factors I’m considering:
Passions/Goals
–My passion is for writing novels and short stories. However, the shaky cutthroat publishing industry has driven me away from a writing-related major and more towards a practical or lucrative major.
–I do not have a burning passion for Business Marketing or Communications, but I see these majors as the most beneficial to me. Not only will they help with the business side of publishing novels, they are practical.
–My endgame is to come out of college with a degree that will land me a decent job while pursuing writing and publication on the side. I don’t need to be making millions of dollars of year, nor do I need to absolutely fall in love with my job, but I want to be able to live comfortably without financial stress. This will in turn allow me to write better (less stress = more focus on writing) and enjoy the things I do love better.
–I want to avoid the starving artist lifestyle at all costs. I want to have the financial stability to explore hobbies, travel and inspire my writing, and allow my future spouse and kids to live comfortably.
Pros of Business Marketing
–I’ve heard nothing but excellent things about the Business school; one of the top in the nation.
From what I’ve heard and researched, business degrees can be used in a variety of different fields.
–Many people have told me that you’re very likely to find a stable job somewhere and (if you’re smart and good at what you do) work your way up from there.
–Business Marketing, from what I’ve gathered, will also prepare me for the business side of writing.
Cons of Business Marketing
–I’m missing a few prerequisites to apply to UT Austin’s Business School: Calculus I, Calculus II, Microeconomics, and Macroeconomics. I have to have these courses completed to declare a Business major by junior year.
I’m familiar with calculus, so I may be able to CLEP out of it. At the very least, if I go Business, I will be forced to take Micro in Fall 2015, Macro in Spring 2016, with Calculus II somewhere in Fall or Spring—in addition to core classes. The workload of this worries me.
–Math can be difficult for me at times, but with enough practice and time I can learn the concepts (in my experience so far. UT Austin’s math sounds like a different kind of beast.)
The big kicker is that internal transfer Business students have a 55% acceptance rate and an average of 3.8 GPA, so there is risk and pressure to get As involved. My freshman GPA is a 4.0, but obviously UT Austin’s courses will be much more rigorous.
Pros of Communications with a Business Foundation Certificate
–There are only two courses I need to take as a prerequisite to applying to Communications: Statistics and Advertisting. The workloads of these courses seem to be far less than the Economics/Calculus combo.
–The Business Foundation Certificate, as described by UT advising, is “more than a minor but not quite a major”. I’ll be able to get some Business education without all the big, difficult math courses, and it will look good on my resume.
–I feel that as long as I keep up my current progress, I will feel confident that I will be accepted into the Communications school.
Cons of Communications with Business Certificate
–I am unsure of the job prospects and salaries with a Communications degree.
–I’m unsure how well a Communications degree will complement my writing progress and pursuits, and how I can apply what I learn towards my goal of publication.
So, after reading all of that, can you offer any advice on what I should choose? I’m looking for a realistic perspective, as I’m about to drop $60k+ for this education. Any and all information helps. Thank you!