<p>As a 50 yr old businesswoman, with a simple BS in Business Admin. from a decent but not top tier university, who runs three businesses of my own and has a junior in college and one in HS; it always cracks me up to read these threads where mostly inexperienced HS & college students post definitive opinions on how to get employed AFTER college. </p>
<p>There is no guaranteed formula to get you to your goals - but in my experience, it is a pretty good bet that if you study something strictly because of where you think it will get you career-wise, you will probably do poorly or be unhappy. </p>
<p>Furthermore, some of the advice that IB only works undergrad if you go someplace like Wharton is simply false. CURRENT case in point:
a college junior I know, currently majoring in IB at a Big Ten State U. This student studies constantly and while he has zero ECs, he keeps his eyes and ears open for opportunities that give him experience in International Business (seminars, workshops, internships). By doing so he has already had two internships, one in Germany over Christmas break, another in England this semester, and this summer will have his third in Brazil. He took Spanish in HS. He has developed strong relationships with his professors (which led to two of the three internships) and they tell him that they often throw leads out to the classes they teach but only a few students take an interest and investigate the opportunities let alone actually pursue applying. I guess it’s a lot easier to sit in class, stay on campus nights and weekends, deluding oneself that on campus ECs and the “right” major, from the “right” school will land you the dream job post grad. Or is that when Grad School will be required? More prolonging reality, at least until one discovers that many good MBA programs require several years of work experience before entrance. </p>
<p>Bottomline to OP: Study what you are interested in, at a school that fits you, AND that you can afford (better learn that business principle first); then take advantage of or at least investigate every career related opportunity that comes your way. </p>
<p>Oh, and ask yourself this question when seeking advice:
Why is this person qualified or credible to advise me? (if they haven’t accomplished what you want themselves, or helped someone else to, ask someone who has-you wouldn’t ask a dishwasher at a restaurant where you worked how to be a chef, when you could ask the chef)</p>
<p>Hope you follow your passion and enjoy the process.</p>
<p>And what are these “international business” internships this junior is getting due to his International Business focused academics? Forget about some kind of “entry barrier” to international business for students, where is this “international business” career at all, even for experienced professionals? No one here has even been able to define it - so how is this major going to lead to a career that seemingly does not even exist?</p>
<p>Also to believersmom, I didn’t read your entire response so forgive me if I’m wrong, but you said you own your own businesses? That hasn’t the slightest thing to do with getting a degree and hunting for a job. I applaud you for having 3 successful businesses, but that has nothing to do with your degree. That has to do with your entrepreneurial abilities, location, and timing. Obviously if the OP was looking to start his own business, your “pursue what you want” advice applies. But “studying what you love” doesn’t pay the bills. The OP is wanting to find a career and the bottom line is that international business has no path to a career.</p>
<p>Listen to me if you want to succeed as I have. To sum it up, certain majors have better employment odds after graduation. International business is rubbish. believersmom got nothing on me.</p>
<p>LittleG,
I am an International Business/Political Science double Major, with minors in Economics, History, and Foreign Studies-and I am graduating with this. While I agree that IB is a more generic major that some other Bus ones, if you pair it right, it can really help. I am looking jobs with business consultant firms and at internships with NATO or INTERPOL in their business divisions. Relax, there are options with this degree. </p>
<p>One school I know that is good is the University of Miami in FL. My adviser used to be the director at their Int. Center there and he now flies all around the world weekly teaching International Mgt. and Finance (I cannot talk to him on Fridays b/c he is in France, lol). So there is hope.</p>
<p>The one problem with an IB degree is that most jobs require you to get an MBA and experience also. That is where I am now, but I have had plenty of job offers in other aspects of business in the meantime. </p>
<p>In no way is that necessary. It would have been more efficient to focus in one area and graduate a year or two early. Then, attend a masters program in that area rather than spend time achieving a second undergraduate degree in a field that is still qualitative in nature.</p>
<p>With all due respect to believersmom, I completely disagree. If we are to use personal references as quality sources in this discussion, then I would say 75% of the entrepreneurs I know didn’t even receive a college degree. The fact that you have a BAdmin degree and are a successful entrepreneur means absolutely nothing in this discussion.</p>
<p>Also, getting IB “internships” does not mean he or she is going to land an “IB job.” Like domrom stated, such a field hardly exists for out-of-college job seekers. Someone mentioned getting a job with INTERPOL or NATO. Do you not realize how hard jobs are to come by in those organizations or ones like them? Also of note is the fact that “IB internships” can be sought through nearly any study abroad program. Doing a business related internship abroad is, you guessed it, an IB internship technically.</p>
<p>Because it means that you can’t “double major/joint-major”. You have to complete all of the requirements for each degree as if they were separate. When you graduate you get 2 degrees, not just one with a double major.</p>
<p>jramos, that would be a good course of study. Having IB alone, however, is when you run into problems. IB is nothing more than a glorified management degree.</p>