@brantly thanks for your input! I would like to go on to earn an MBA, whether that’s through the one year Masters program mentioned above or somehow in some other form. Regarding my career though I would hope to be able to work in a sports firm/agency or one of the four major leagues (NBA, NHL, NFL, MLB). That was why I brought up communications as a possibility because I thought I could potentially be a useful major to have out of college.
I think Ross and the Sport Management major through the School of Kinesiology are your best bets.
@yikesyikesyikes hmm, not sure I want to go into Kines though. couldn’t I just go LSA and then get an MBA through Ross?
Yup - kines might be pidgeonholing yourself to an extent. Remember though, an MBA is usually done after several years of work experience (and usually more valuable this way).
If you want an MBA, you should not get an undergrad business degree. First of all, top MBA programs do not like undergrad business degrees. Second, you wouldn’t be gaining very much.
I suppose you want to work on the business end of the pro sports industry. For that, the number-one qualification will be INTERNSHIPS. And more internships. What you did and whom you know will be way more important than what you studied. Get a job on campus as manager of one of the college teams. It doesn’t have to be football or basketball. It can be a small sport at first, then you can work you way up to ice hockey or something like that. Figure out how to get summer internships in sports management. Spend more time thinking about how you are going to get a boat-load of experience, rather than whether you should go to Ross.
Take sports management classes or major in sports management. Another good major for you would be Organizational Studies. You apply for it at the end of sophomore year. Org Studies with sports management would be a good combo.
No, don’t do Sport Management.
Mark Cuban says don’t do it because they are just gimicky degrees. Just go with a general business degree because all business including sports need to deal with Finance. Management, Accounting, Administration, and Marketing. If you do a Sport Management degree, you will reduce your chances with regular business because they don’t want you because your true interests lie elsewhere. Ross and LSA Econ are better than Sport Management. Otherwise, you will need to go “all in” for those Sports Business which are extremely competitive for. More realistically, you will need to work out a couple companies early in your career you may not be interested before you even have a chance for those Sports teams.
http://www.businessinsider.com/mark-cubans-advice-for-people-who-want-to-work-in-sports-dont-2012-3
@brantly Haha well I was rejected by Ross so an undergrad business degree wasn’t part of consideration as I mentioned in the OP :). I don’t think I would major in sports management based on the fact that I wouldn’t want to go into Kinesiology. But based on what you mentioned, would an econ + organizational studies double major + tons of internships and experience be useful?
@yikesyikesyikes thank you!
Looking for some advice - my daughter just admitted from waitlist. She also applied to Ross, but I assume chances of that now very low. She is direct admit to UWisconsin business school. She loves Michigan(originally her first choice) but concerned about whether it is better to be LSA student at Michigan or business student at Wisconsin. any help greatly appreciated!
Welcome to CC - I would suggest making your own thread and also describing your situation in more detail: finances, fit, and what career area in business (if any right now) your daughter is interested in.
Just for reference, I was accepted to CMU Tepper which is one of the premier business schools in the US, and even then I chose Umich LSA over it.
Obviously our situations are probably very different, but just like your daughter I was also very high on Michigan from the start, and at the end I went with my gut instinct and what I felt was right for me in terms of a good balance between a college experience and a good education. Really I’d just suggest going with the option you’d regret the least if you went with the other one, if that makes sense, and if she really loves Mich, that is what I’d suggest.
If she is absolutely set on a business education then you may want to rethink it a couple more times, but a top end liberal arts education is never shabby, and she can always get her MBA later. But then again as the poster above mentioned it all depends on your situation.
Ross is a good school but at the end of the day you are doing a BBA. If you enjoy taking classes on excel and accounting, maybe it is for you. Studying economics is more academic; it teaches you to think critically and you may actually enjoy your learning. That said, Ross’ recruiting, facilities, brand, and nice grading (hello 4.4 for an A+) are a legitimate reason to go that route. The econ program pales in comparison.