Hello, I am an OOS student who applied in October and was accepted into McCombs in January, however I have been deferred from BHP and CSB.
I wanted to get some forum opinions on whether a business degree (at McCombs) is worth it, without BHP. I would absolutely love to go to McCombs for unspecified business (probably would end up majoring in finance or accounting or both) but my parents (and partially me) have reservations because they believe that business degrees are soft skills and therefore not very recession proof. They make strong points about how Computer Science or Engineering would be a better option at other schools. I know that McCombs is a top 5 business school and carries a lot of prestige, but I was looking to get some outside input.
For my career, I am definitely interested in working in the financial realm (maybe investment banking, private equity, or asset management) but I am not completely sure as I am only 18. However, I know I need some sort of technical background in CS or CE to be prepared for the workforce. How can I do that at UT if I went for business and did not get into CSB?
There’s actually a Stem track major in McCombs that you should consider looking at that will help with the Technology aspect. It looks like a great option especially as a double major if you go in with a lot of AP credits.
I honestly don’t know if there’s any job in the private sector that’s recession proof. I know plenty of petroleum engineers here in the Houston area were laid off when oil prices plummeted.
According to McCombs, the average full-time starting salary for graduates with that degree plan in the 2017-2018 class was $65,152. For context, the numbers for BHP graduates during the same time frame was $76,631. I’d offer one caution however when comparing salaries which is there’s a regional influence that may inflate that BHP number. Specifically, McCombs employment stats reflect that their graduates who landed jobs in the financial centers of the Northeast (Wall Street) had average starting salaries of $81,035. In comparison, McCombs graduates who attained full-time employment in Texas had average starting salaries of $64,777. I’d assume that a disproportionate number of the graduates who attained those Wall Street jobs are from BHP, but again that’s just an assumption on my part.
Yes, I think it’s worth it. S is an OOS freshman in McCombs, and while he thinks BHP is a great program, there are plenty of very successful non-BHP students who go on to great jobs. S got a BHP interview last year but didn’t get in - he made a 4.0 first semester and will try for sophomore BHP admission this spring. And S already got a great internship for this summer, without being BHP. If you decide that you want to go the business route, UT is a great choice.
@srparent15 Thank you for the advice! I am looking to double major because I should have enough credits to come in as a sophomore, so I will definitely consider it. Do you by any chance have any tips on how to get involved with CS/technology outside of majors/minors?
@johncocktoasten did you by any chance secure instate tuition for your child (through property, business etc.), Could I PM you about what I know about the process?
Additionally, how does your S (dis)like the shift to OOS, UT, and its campus?
@SwoleSoul S loves UT, is very happy. He has made lots of friends, joined a fraternity, joined a couple of business orgs, played intramurals, etc. and has enjoyed classes and made As so far. Optimistic re instate for next year. Yes feel free to pm me.
@SwoleSoul If you’re into CS stuff, you don’t need a degree to get a job in that field. If you have the diligence, you can do a lot of stuff on your own and if you have decent projects and capabilities it is just something that can complement your business degree. However, that STEM degree under McCombs to me looks great. I’ve told my daughter to look at it. Just note that you need a higher level of Math and Science than the more general Business Majors like Accounting and Finance so that may make it harder for some students to complete because you may have to take extra classes if you don’t have those AP already (like Physics C or Multivariable Calculus).
Also, we’ve researched the in state thing as well. If you have questions, feel free to pm me on that.
My son’s friend got into McCombs with BHP, in UPenn without Wharton, she declined both and went to Amherst instead. Her mom is a professor at UT and she approved as McCombs even with BHP would’ve required an MBA to do well. That can be done after Amherst as well and overall undergrad education would be top notch so no big advantage in attending a large public school for a BBA.
We know a kid that went directly from McCombs without BHP to Goldman Sachs in NYC. Getting a job out of college has more to do with what the student does when he is in college - internships, networking, experience etc. than where he goes to college.
BHP had a 100% placement the year before last, so I am not sure why her mom thinks that those students are not doing ‘well’ I am guessing she is not a professor at the business school.
Likely because Amherst also places well on big names at wall street and provides a more well rounded academic experience. UT is well more like Sams Club, Amherst Whole-foods. Both great but different people prefer different things.
@Riversider Amherst is a liberal arts school and UT is a big state school so obviously there is going to be a big difference in the experience. But to compare UT to Sam’s Club is insulting the many people who choose to attend. The BHP cohort is small so that makes the experience different even within UT.
Additionally, consider UT’s McCombs school of business is ranked #5 this year for undergraduate business programs on the US News and Report list. Not that I give much credence to those lists, but many people do, including employers.
I know many people who have attended UT over the years, coming from different departments and they believe they had a well rounded experience. Attending a college is what you make of it. There are people that get out of the Ivies that never end up doing much with themselves and there are people that go to less prestigious regional colleges that go out and do great things.
I hope that parents and students make a decision about where they choose to attend based on what is the right fit for them, what kind of day to day experience they hope to have, and what will not saddle them with crushing debt. That is the smart way to go about this college decision process. Getting caught up in the ‘prestige’ of a school is foolish - so many people in their early 30s are in unable to buy homes or save any money because of crushing student debt. They were told 15 years ago to go to the 'best’s school they could get into and not worry about the money as tuition rates spiked.
@Jennibc , what you said! Fit (academic, financial, and social) is so very important to admissions, academic success, and experiential enjoyment. The so-called prestige barometers have students and their families sometimes completely missing the boat on that.
Oh my goodness I would pick UT over Amherst any day if the week. And actually, my OOS son DID! Just UT’s alumni network is worth the price of admission. Any student fortunate enough to get admitted to UT should go.
I worked with more Williams/Amherst undergrads than McCombs in bulge IB in NYC but they’d be far fewer in Texas. Wharton was the place to go along with HYPC.
McCombs BHP is special and far less costly than Amherst if one is wealthy. Michigan Ross was a bigger Wall Street feeder out of the Publics, along with McIntyre for sure.
Well, 99.99% of top colleges doesn’t see any value in an undergrad business degree, even ones like Harvard, Chicago, Stanford etc who have their own business schools.
@srparent15@johncocktoasten My OOS daughter has been accepted to McCombs and I’m interested in the process to establish residency. I’m not able to send a PM - would either of you be willing to PM me to start a conversation?
@Riversider How about a source for your assertion? Otherwise you are just a nameless, faceless person on the internet making stuff up. And your sweeping generalizations undermine your credibility.
The truth is, graduate programs are more interested in what you do while in college, your test scores and your recommendations when letting you in. The great thing about UT is that you can double major and then if you get a marketable degree at UT (like from McCombs) you don’t have to go to graduate school to be employable.
And you keep bandying about the term “top colleges.” Top colleges for what? Are you suggesting that the only route to a decent education or for a job is through the Ivies? Or though a big name school? If so, you have been suckered. There are so many people living happy and productive lives who did not go to the Ivies. Yes, it’s true if you want to go be an academic somewhere you need to get a PhD at a prestige university. But that’s about it. Otherwise, choose a college that one can afford where one wants to study what he or she can study in a place where he or she can tolerate living for four years.
You can look up, there is a reason it’s rare for a top college even one with their own business schools to offer an undergrad degree business degree because it doesn’t add any additional value for a top student.
Your annoyance says it’s personal to you. I’m not saying there aren’t many paths to success, just stating that for a top student there is no big advantage in getting a business undergrad or attending a big public school. Obviously, if acceptance, personal preference, family issues, affordability or any other issues favors it then go for it but there are similar or better paths out there. It’s not the holy grail some insist it is.