<p>I am in the School of Arts and Sciences and have narrowed my options for my major down to these two. I hope to go into consulting or some similar business field after graduation. If I completed an International Relations major/Chinese minor with a 3.7 gpa vs. an Economics major with a 3.4 gpa, which would make more marketable or attractive to employers? My internships, extracurriculars, and experience would be similar with both options. Currently, I am leaning towards IR/Chinese minor because I would have to complete Calculus 104/114 for an economics major. And, I know those classes would definitely leave me with a final lower gpa.</p>
<p>Note: These are estimated final gpas. My first year was horrible, so, obviously, my gpa will end up not being too terrific.</p>
<p>Dude, it only will be my second year at Penn. I have not given much thought yet to all of these specifics. I just know I hope to land a business relevant job. I guess I hope the posters that answer my question will view it from a broad, general speaking perspective.</p>
<p>To be a “consultant,” you need to have some experience in whatever field you’re in. For example, my husband waited 13 years after getting his master’s degree to start his own consulting engineering firm. It took that long to develop technical skills and a network of potential clients.</p>
<p>If you are talking about management consulting (the business-side branch of consulting), you might have some issues not being in Wharton as MBB (the top three management consulting firms) recruit from specific programs. Additionally, top tier management consulting requires lofty GPA scores to even get the interview, so I would look elsewhere if you are not willing to suffice for lower-tier management consulting firms.</p>
<p>PS: If you think business and econ are interchangeable, then you are mistaken. Have you taken a business course?</p>