<p>Hi everybody,</p>
<p>I have to declare my major soon and I can't decide between finance and economics. The finance degree is in the business school, whereas, the Econ degree is in the college of the liberal arts. Which major at penn state would be better to pursue?</p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>It all depends: are you in-state or out-of state? I honestly think it wouldn’t really matter if you are in-state. However, on the other hand, if you are out-of-state, please don’t choose either of them. While they are great majors, ROI is so bad for out-of-state students because the cost of attendance for them is ridiculously ■■■■■■■■.</p>
<p>If you can’t decide between these two majors, why don’t you consider enrolling into Division of Undergraduate Studies? It is for students whose majors are undecided. They will help you explore and navigate options while you make progress toward a degree.</p>
<p>A business degree from Smeal will open more doors than a liberal arts degree. I am presuming that your are in
your ETM semester – a sophomore – and have taken both Econ and Finance classes. The ETM requirements are pretty tough for Finance – if you meet the criteria, great job! I would suggest you talk to someone in Career Services. They should be able to tell you about the employment prospects for each of your options. </p>
<p>Very different answer if you are asking as an applicant. </p>
<p>I am in-state. And I’m a sophomore already at Penn State so I don’t think DUS is an option at this point.</p>
<p>Yes, you are correct…I am a sophomore. </p>
<p>I would have the ETM requirements for both majors moving forward. </p>
<p>I think I would enjoy learning econ more than the finance classes though. Looking over the degree audit for both majors, I would need a total of 27 classes over the next 5 semesters for the finance and only 20 required classes for the econ because the econ audit used more classes from my previous school that I transferred from. This would mean I would most likely need an extra semester to finish the finance degree. </p>
<p>Would the fact that I would get a BS in econ and not the BA make a difference? I could take some finance classes with my extra electives that I have for econ degree. Or is Smeal just that good for recruiting?</p>
<p>Thanks</p>
<p>BTW cowman,</p>
<p>I not even sure I would want a finance job</p>
<p>Would econ be a more versatile degree?</p>
<p>Smeal has a very good reputation, and a business degree vs a LA degree will probably make a difference with recruiters. I really suggest you go to Career Services and ask about prospects for an econ degree. And make an appointment (now) with your advisor to discuss the questions that you posed above, and to review your options. The job market for econ majors might be great, or you may be able to choose a different Smeal major with an econ minor. It doesn’t need to be finance. It’s time to use these resources – they are there for you for this purpose (and your are paying for them).</p>
<p>You have invested ALOT to get this far – make sure now that the direction you choose fits with your goals and your interests. </p>
<p>Although Cowman made an interesting point, I have to disagree with him/her. I don’t really think “a business degree vs Liberal Arts degree will probably make a difference with recruiters”. Whatever you pick is not really important at all. They will most likely land you the same types of jobs in the end. </p>
<p>Please don’t buy into this whole “Smeal has a very good reputation”. I know many recent Smeal graduates who are struggling to get jobs right now. This is because the job market for the financial/service sector is hyper-competitive. Unless you graduated from an Ivy school or other prestigious universities, your college reputation does not really matter (especially in the financial sector). </p>
<p>Utimately, what matters is:</p>
<ol>
<li>Have a strong resume + GPA</li>
<li>Internship (#1 important, in my opinion) / work experiences</li>
<li>No criminal records (Banks & Large financial companies will not hire you if you have any criminal background.)</li>
</ol>
<p>TL;DR : Whatever you pick is not really important. As long as you have a strong resume + GPA + intership, you should be okay.</p>
<p>Cowman: Thanks for you input. I was considering the econ minor paired with one of the business majors. I have an appointment with my adviser tomorrow.</p>
<p>jss402: I understand where you are coming from. Thanks for answering!</p>
<p>Question for you both…What is your opinion on receiving my degree from the Penn State Harrisburg campus? I would save money by being able to live at home and commute, but I don’t want less opportunity than I would get at UP. </p>
<p>Hmm… I am not 100% sure if PSU Harrisburg offers B.S. in either Finance or Economics. Please ask your adviser if Harrisburg campus offers the kinds of majors you would like to pursue. Generally, the ETM (entrance-to-major) requirements for branch campuses are more relaxed and easier than the ones in UP. Also, classes are less rigorous and tuition is much cheaper. If this sounds appealing to me, then why not go for it? </p>
<p>Like I said in the earlier post, it doesn’t really matter what you picked as your major. B.S. in Economics or Finance will land you the same types of jobs in the financial/service sector. As long as your resume and GPA are okay, you will be okay… </p>
<p>Good luck</p>