<p>Old post, but I wanted to comment. Relax, people. (As a parent worried about OWN kids, it is nice to say that to someone else for a change - grin!). I went to a highly selective university (not LAC) that did not offer Business…so I was Econ. I fretted about it at the time, but it didn’t matter a whit in the end. I went on to work in an entirely unrelated field for a few years, then went back to school for an MBA. Who did the best, overall, in the MBA program? Actually, the engineering majors!!! Maybe because it was all of their math, who knows. But Econ majors did well also & who went on to truly stellar careers was more of a question, I think, of inner drive & the ‘it’ factor, rather than undergrad major. Kind of reminds me of an old joke or maybe truism of who makes the best doctor…it is someone who majors in a totally non-scientific major, works for some years, then decides later that they really want to be a doctor. It is that person that has the drive and MATURITY to really know themselves. Yes, btw, Claremont McKenna (in response to above poster) did well as prep for our grad school.</p>
<p>My dad, also a grad (84 years old) was in the new building recently, and sent me some brochures. I have not been there myself, although D2 will likely tour the campus (for another major) sometime next year. So we will probably stop in, even if our tour doesn’t go there. But in my opinion, B-schools aren’t like laboratories… you don’t need the newest, fanciest building to provide a very good education. </p>
<p>They also didn’t do the greatest job of letting alumni know about the change. I actually threw away the first alumni magazine I got from them, it said “Steven M. Ross School of Business Administration” across the top, and I thought it was an ad for some other school.</p>
<p>2kidsnoanswers: Don’t know how old your kids are, but I predict with a parent like you they will do spectacularly. Perfect answer.</p>
<p>Just my experience – I was Econ at a LAC; concurrently my cousin (year younger) went to a state University for business. By far, I had the better education, but not because I think my core program was better, instead I attribute it to my focus being better. I took a variety of courses from accounting, econ, statistics, management and marketing. My cousin took the core requirements plus the easiest classes. Had our schools been switched, I think I still would have had the better education. </p>
<p>We saw no difference in companies who recruited or internship opportunities.</p>
<p>Moral of my story: Elective courses can make a world of difference. Choose for the long term education gains, not for the class slot that fits your sleep/party schedule.</p>
<p>Best of both worlds - my son is pursuing a business degree at a university where he takes the majority of the business classes junior and senior years - so he gets a thorough liberal arts education for the first 2 years. he is also planning to minor in economics - so I think he has covered all bases. :)</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Every AACSB accredited business school has about the same curriculum, however they want you to have the impression its ‘flexible’. Oh sure there is writing and math, which can be taken outside the bschool, but its writing and math. 90% of the students take minimal outside electives beyond the 2-3 required. Most of us consider that highly restrictive, but to a business school student, well, they get a different impression. </p>
<p>I’m a professor in a business school, have been for 20 years. I dont’ know a single professor in a busienss school- of which I know many many 100s- who would think its a good idea for their kid to get an undergrad in business. Frankly, I don’t consider it an education so much as vocational and professional training. It makes so much more sense to do an undergrad in something else, work and get an MBA.</p>
<p>"I’m a professor in a business school, have been for 20 years. I dont’ know a single professor in a busienss school- of which I know many many 100s- who would think its a good idea for their kid to get an undergrad in business. Frankly, I don’t consider it an education so much as vocational and professional training. It makes so much more sense to do an undergrad in something else, work and get an MBA. "</p>
<p>John Smith is an average (or what people here on CC call “miserable”) student. He has a 3.3 GPA, maybe a couple of honors, no AP classes. He has a 24 ACT, his ECs consist of a 15-hr a week job at Burger King and video games. He’s not good enough at math and science to be an engineer. He’s not particularly handy, so no pluming or HVAC. He’s not really into academics, but wants to go to college because it provides better job prospects, and is willing to put a fair effort in. What he cares most about is what degree will get him the best job. What degree should he get?</p>
<p>By the way, that should describe a fairly large demographic.</p>
<p>^ I’d say skip college. Go into a trade. No shame in that and usually much bigger bang for the buck. Faster income too.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>This is the route my daughter is taking. I suppose it’s the better route, but it’s far more expensive. She is finishing her senior year of college right now, and she has a good job lined up, but entry-level jobs rarely pay enough to allow a student to save much money for further education. She is going to have to take out huge loans to get that MBA.</p>
<p>D1 specifically wanted go into finance since high school. She talked to many of our friends in the same business about what she should study in college, most of them told her to get a liberal arts education (econ, math) and then get a MBA after few years of work experience. Some of them even told her that MBA may not be critical if she is doing well in a particular area, but it is a good way to make a career change. In the last few years in college, she has found courses (finance) at business school to be a lot easier than her math or econ courses.</p>
<p>My S flat out likes econ better, so he will likely choose that route and maybe get an MBA later on if so inclined. I agree that another undergrad degree besides business is a better way to go, in general. Of course, I’m an engineer with an MBA. :)</p>