My name is David and I am currently a freshman at Dickinson College in Carlisle, PA. I have not declared a major yet (we have to wait a semester), but I am leaning toward a double-major in English and Film Studies, with a minor in Spanish (I’m nearly fluent). Of recent, I have had a huge desire to go to business school to obtain a masters in business administration. My dream is to work for a television production company (preferably HBO) because I love film and television dearly.
My question: would a degree in English and Film Studies prepare me for the admissions exam for business school? Yes, I know that it all comes down to pursuing a major in what you love, but do you honestly think these majors will prepare me for the exam, and look pleasing to employers when I start looking for jobs? Of course, I am definitely going to prepare on my own time as well.
Here at Dickinson College, we are known for a major called International Business & Management. Do you think that would be a more beneficial major in terms of preparing me for the GMAT? Although I would like to study business, I am much more interested in studying English and Film.
If anyone could offer me their “two-cents” or advice, that would be greatly appreciated. Also, completely different from this question, does anyone have any tips to terminate procrastination? Haha!
Thank you so much! I look forward to hearing from all of you.
Major in whatever you want, just make sure you take at least Calculus I & II, Microeconomic Theory, Accounting, Statistics and a course in computer programing. If you do well in these and post a good score on the GMAT / GRE, I think you will do fine, both in getting a job after you graduate as well as in b school admissions.
Thank you for your help @perazziman! I’ll be sure to take all of those classes into account! Did you, by any chance, happen to take the graduate school admission test?
My daughter and her boyfriend are Dickinson grads, and are considering getting MBAs. He was an Econ major, she was a more traditional liberal arts major. Both have had very good employment opportunities since graduating. I have an MBA as well, an honestly am not convinced they need an MBA for progression in their career areas. But it is their time and money at this point…
You do NOT need to take Calc II, but the other suggested courses above would serve you well.
I’ve known several people who worked for TV production companies in Atlanta, and more than one got their foot in their door with language skills. For example, one person could speak four languages, and she was placed in a position of working with international visitors to the TV station. Another person knew Portuguese and Spanish, and was put in the business side of Latin American productions. You might consider mastering Spanish and picking up another language while getting your bachelor’s and MBA.
Another person I know is an attorney who works in the legal department of a national TV station. Yet another one is a project manager and does project management at a TV station. Another one works in marketing. There are all kinds of jobs and departments within the large broadcasting companies. Be thinking about where you want to fit in exactly.
@intparent , I have read that the MBA programs at Wharton, Kellogg, CMU & MIT etc expect students to have 2 semesters of calculus and linear algebra to do well in their finance, industrial org. and microeconomics courses.
My kid is applying for MBA programs now, and is finding that even the top programs have no Calc requirement. A couple specifically state they want Calc I. I have an MBA, and work with many kinds of businesses as a consultant (current client is an investment bank). I honestly can’t think of a single time in the MBA program or business that even Calc I was needed or useful.
So, unless one is expecting to take a watered down version of econ and finance in grad school, it is becoming difficult to do well in these subjects without advanced math. Perhaps, the reason is that PhDs from Economics departments in schools such as Caltech and MIT are increasingly presenting their ideas using advanced math. So, it is becoming essential for those earning Masters in Business, Finance and Economics to have the ability to read and understand what they are saying.
What I am finding out is that many top programs such as Wharton will grant conditional admission, expecting candidates to take advanced math, finance, accounting and statistics over the summer.
You are right many top programs have no Calc requirement. However, many top programs also claim to not have a minimum GMAT score requirement. However, we all know there are expectations for a certain Quant and Verbal score.
It doesn’t always work that way. If you have a higher degree without the requisite experience, you won’t be competitive.
Have at least a few years’ experience and then see whether you need an MBA.
My D attended a top 5 MBA program and a year of calculus was highly recommended by that school. She worked for 4 years post college before attending business school.
Even at the undergraduate business school level, UC Berkeley Haas requires 1 full year (2 semesters) calculus for admissions. I never had to use it in my work environment. In business school, it was used to prove some complicated formula.
Many of the other competitive undergraduate business schools or business economics in the West Coast (USC, UCLA, UW) require 1 semester or 1 quarter of calculus (UCLA 2 qtrs.). The graduate business schools require the same.
It depends on what the OP wants to do at HBO (Creative, Production, Marketing, Finance, etc?). Every company at the end of the day is a business which is where an MBA can come into play. If you do a simple google search of “HBO linkedin MBA” you will find plenty of current employees with MBAs and their respective positions. Find out whether or not what you want to do at HBO falls in line with education and network you would receive by pursuing a graduate degree.
