<p>Hi
I live in Canada and I am applying to few Canadian University right now.
Top of the list of course is U of Toronto for its prestige.</p>
<p>My question is about what to study in university.</p>
<p>I am good in math and science but I also like Business, Political Science and International Relations. In the case of UofT (and other university also), I am thinking of taking Commerce or Engineering.</p>
<p>On one hand, in Commerce I can take many interesting courses that I want to take and got ready for the business world. </p>
<p>On the other hand, taking Engineering, I would get a solid technology education which my family wants me to have, but I would be stuck doing math all day long.</p>
<p>My family thinks that business at undergrad. level is kind of useless.</p>
<p>Is my assumption above correct? What should I take? What is easier to find a job?</p>
<p>I would not recommend engineering unless you want to be an engineer. Since you have diverse and eclectic interests I would suggest majoring in Math (Applied Math) and taking all the electives in business and social science you are interested in. </p>
<p>Top MBA programs are very interested in work experience, not so much what your undergrad major was.</p>
<p>with that said, Math majors are in demand by Investment banks, management consulting, insurance companies, actuaries, and other business that have a quantative focus.</p>
<p>I would recommend getting a BS in engineering and then an MBA later for many reasons</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Engineers make up a highly disproportionate number of business school students.</p></li>
<li><p>For good jobs in business, MBA's beat out undergrad business degrees by a wide margin. Many of the top schools in the U.S. do not even offer undergrad business degrees.</p></li>
<li><p>If you aren't successful in business, engineering is an excellent back-up career.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>
[quote]
I would not recommend engineering unless you want to be an engineer. Since you have diverse and eclectic interests I would suggest majoring in Math (Applied Math) and taking all the electives in business and social science you are interested in. </p>
<p>Top MBA programs are very interested in work experience, not so much what your undergrad major was.</p>
<p>with that said, Math majors are in demand by Investment banks, management consulting, insurance companies, actuaries, and other business that have a quantative focus.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>The problem with that is that you have no assurance that you will get one of these schools. Engineering/CS isn't perfect, but if nothing else, can at the very least get you an engineering/CS job as a backup career. I know plenty of engineering/CS graduates who have never worked as engineers a day in their lives, instead working as bankers or consultants. In fact, at a school like MIT, it's become something of a running joke that many of the best engineering students will never work as engineers, but will instead prefer to work for McKinsey or Goldman Sachs.</p>
<p>I'm guessing either Computer or Electrical. I think jobs in those fields are growing very rapidly, and computer engineering could help in today's e-commerce environment.</p>
<p>If you go to a very prestigeous college, you can major in whatever floats your boat because the name and recruiting will help you get a job. If you go to some random college, major in engineering because it is your best bet for getting a job right out of college. If you do not like math/not good at it, then do not do engineering because you will get bad grades and hate it. Do what you like, but keep in mind that it is nice to have a job and income. If you can afford to go, apply to Penn's M+T program that combines engineering and business. Best of both worlds. </p>
<p>Also, business at an undergrad level is not necessary because you should go back for an MBA at some point, there are countless Ivy grads without business degrees who get great jobs, and you have no work expereince anyway, so why is a business degree better than an econ degree or history degree.</p>