Econ vs. Business Major

<p>Hey guys,
So I guess I'm just really confused on majors right now. I know what all the good business programs are- UPenn, Michigan, Cornell, UCB, USC, UVA, NYU etc.
But I was wondering if I'd be at a disadvantage for getting recruited out of college/MBA if I were to major in econ somewhere like UPenn, Chicago, Northwestern, Duke, etc. I'm not exactly sure what I want to do yet, but management/marketing is more likely than finance- is majoring in economics not an option?</p>

<p>First, have you taken economic classes?</p>

<p>If your goal is truly only management/ marketing, I don’t think economic major will help you. If you can, take one or two INTERMEDIATE classes, to help you understand what economics is all about. It is very abstract, and more theoretical. There are times when you will be like… Isn’t that common sense? Why do I have to learn how to derive something which is common sense. This is what an advisor said about economic majors (those who major in economics because they think it is the closest thing to business are the ones who don’t get much satisfaction from the major). Economics is not equal to business. </p>

<p>Well, I will say take a one or two classes, if you feel that this is for you, great! If not, flee. Those above mentioned business schools/ economics schools are good enough that if you perform well, you will do fine either way.</p>

<p>Taking psychology might help in marketing too… after all that’s what half of marketing is about : understanding your customers’ thinking.</p>

<p>I will be taking AP macro and micro econ senior year so maybe a month of that will give me a good feel. I guess I know that business is what I’d like to do and at least that puts me ahead of undecided at this point, but after reading around on the business major forum and how different each school can be, I am so confused and I think that even going to the wrong business school can hinder a career.
Am I even applying to the right schools? here is what I plan to apply to:</p>

<p>Privates: UPenn (ED), Cornell, Duke, Chicago, USC, NYU
Publics: U Washington, Michigan, UC Berkeley, UCLA, UVA</p>

<p>some of these will be EA’s as well. Am I missing some top business programs?</p>

<p>Can you even get into the top schools?</p>

<p>Goosebumps you always manage to make me laugh! Ooo.</p>

<p>lol goose does have a point. Before getting any thoughts about what school has the best program you should really consider if you can get accepted to each one. Why don’t you you major in business econ or do a econ major and business minor?</p>

<p>Go to a school where it is relatively easy to transfer in/out of the business school because you clearly don’t know what is entailed in business. Also, as mentioned before, your list of schools would be one similar to someone with 5+ APs, 3.8-4.0 GPA Unweighted, strong ECs with leadership, at least a couple academic awards, and a 2200+ SAT. Washington and USC are the only schools exempt from the above resume.</p>

<p>trizz, that pretty much exactly matches what I’ll have for when I’m applying. Several academic awards including state awards in DECA, 6 AP’s by the end of this year (junior year) 3.87 GPA, strong EC’s w/ leadership, and a 2200+ (I will get that on my next SAT for sure). I know it’ll be especially tough to get into Penn, Duke, Chicago, Cornell, but I think they’re at least realistic. Is it usually harder to get into the business program at the college than getting into the college itself?</p>

<p>Your school selections are awesome by the way, well I will say look at the schools website, and see their program… some programs are good, but you may not like it, and hence, not worth going</p>

<p>some offers unique program for the top students too:)</p>

<p>“Is it usually harder to get into the business program at the college than getting into the college itself?”</p>

<p>Yes. Schools that separate the major disciplines (business, A&S, engineering) into “colleges” tend to have varying difficulties of getting in. Business tends to be one of the hardest when you look at Ross (Michigan), Wharton (UPenn), or Stern (NYU). Wharton’s selectivity is pretty obvious. Anything below a 1400 largely shuts you out from Stern or Ross whereas A&S prospects for those schools are strong candidates for acceptance.</p>

<p>Im not biased or anything… But you should consider unc chapel hill for undergrad business. Great program!</p>

<p>Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using CC App</p>

<p>If your college has a business program, you will have a noticeable advantage against econ students when recruiting starts (eg occasionally there will be jobs fairs for Stern/Ross/McIntyre/etc students only). If your school has no UG business program (Duke, NW) then econ would be fine</p>

<p>I can’t comment on the US, but at least in Canada, job postings for most positions with major firms read ‘Bachelor’s degree in Business, Finance, Economics or other quantitative discipline required.’ Business/finance and economics are not the same, but there is often sufficient overlap; I don’t know a single economics student that doesn’t know how to value an asset.</p>