<p>Hey guys, </p>
<p>I'm a rising high school junior. Just was looking into MIS. I understand what this is, but is this considered a hard major? What are the best schools for MIS? Whats the average salary? </p>
<p>I'm going into AP Comp Sci next year if that helps.</p>
<p>UT-Austin has a great program. </p>
<p>The major is not a fluff major, at good schools it could be considered harder than all other business majors (by some).</p>
<p>I have known many MIS majors who had ZERO programming knowledge. Depending on your classes that you decide to take, you can focus on the managerial side of MIS or your can delve deeper into programming. Either way, the intro MIS programming classes are much more “beginner” programming than say Comp Sci. You will go through the VERY basics over the course of your applied programming I class and of course progress to more difficult things as the semester rolls on. </p>
<p>Most schools will then offer “Applied Programming II and III” classes that go further into programming, but USUALLY they are electives.</p>
<p>The programming you WILL do is not theoretical and heavily math based like Comp Sci is, either.</p>
<p>You better get some programming experience. Managing an IT departments without programming experience would be like managing a restuarant without ever having worked with food. Technically it’s possible to do, but it’s not a good idea.</p>
<p>^^I was saying people go into the major with no programming experience. You will leave with programming experience, but how much is (usually) your choice. Every school I looked in to had a “managerial” or “programming” track in their MIS departments.</p>
<p>The average starting salary for a MIS grad from UT-Austin is around 60,000 a year. It’s the highest out of any of the majors at McCombs. </p>
<p>[Overall</a> Undergraduate Salaries 2008 - BBA - McCombs Career Services - The McCombs School of Business at The University of Texas at Austin](<a href=“http://www.mccombs.utexas.edu/career/bba/bba09_salary.asp]Overall”>http://www.mccombs.utexas.edu/career/bba/bba09_salary.asp)</p>
<p>I’m kind of surprised because the MIS programming and database classes I took at McCombs were jokes. I don’t see how they could possibly prepare anyone for a career that involves lots of programming. But apparently employers are paying. I’m guessing that a lot of people who major in MIS already have lots of programming knowledge/experience.</p>
<p>^^The careers intended for MIS majors are not program heavy. Thats not true with the experience in programming thing. MOST have none (from what i’ve seen)</p>
<p>MIS majors are intended to go into careers that bridge the gap b/w normal folk and technology. VERY FEW MIS majors go into programming careers. Its just good to know the basic languages (VB, Java) so you can talk to the tech side without sounding clueless.</p>
<p>^^let me clarify what I’m saying because it sounds like I’m saying anyone can do MIS. Many students (including myself) went into MIS with no programming experience. I, personally, got a few books and went through them before my firs programming class to understand the basics in case I got a teacher who expected people to know that (she didn’t). </p>
<p>However, every student was gifted with being able to grasp technology and various programs very fast. There were indeed people who had no computer skills whatsoever in the class and they quickly dropped the class and left the major. </p>
<p>You need to be a person who can open a computer program and understand it very quickly. If you find yourself struggling with complicated excel or access functions in the core mis classes I promise this major is not for you. </p>
<p>However, it is not required to have any programming experience because people working in management it do not usually program. I have taken 2 extra programming classes though in case I go the consulting route.</p>
<p>(can’t edit on phone) - if you don’t have experience with programming I would recommend picking up a book and messing around in VB for a few weeks just so you know your way around. It’s not neccesary in most cases but it can help.</p>
<p>Oh I see. What makes this major diffcult? The upper level tech classes or the upper level business class?</p>
<p>Also, is this major going to be outsourced alot?</p>
<p>The MIS classes are business classes. Classes get harder when you get to upper level classes. The ones who struggle are the ones who aren’t good with computers but have been seeing that MIS has high starting salaries and the number of jobs are increasing. </p>
<p>And no, don’t worry about outsourcing. MIS majors are intended for management positions. Management positions aren’t outsourced. There are technical aspects of the job but it’s the ability to manage the technical aspects that is important. Help Desk jobs were big as entry level positions but those are indeed being outsourced. However there are so many paths you can take. </p>
<p>The ones that need to worry about outsourcing are the two year tech majors.</p>
<p>EDIT: Let me explain more about outsourcing. There are a HUGE number of MIS graduates who leave school with a lot of technical skills but not interpersonal skills. The latter is by far the most important part. The most common entry level position in System Analyst which requires you to affectively communicate with coworkers about their software needs. If you don’t know how to communicate and investigate properly you will go nowhere in the field.</p>
<p>[MIS</a> major enrollment continues to decline | The Red and Black](<a href=“http://www.redandblack.com/2006/12/05/mis-major-enrollment-continues-to-decline/]MIS”>http://www.redandblack.com/2006/12/05/mis-major-enrollment-continues-to-decline/)</p>
<p>Good article describing what I mean.</p>
<p>oh alright I see. Thanks again for all your help plscatamacchia</p>
<p>One last question, do you have to go to a reputable school to get a guaranteed job? Like I’m not exactly sure if I’ll go to the top ranked schools, but I might go to my state university. </p>
<p>Where do you go? How hard is it to get into the undergraduate program at the reputable schools? Since this major isn’t that well-known to many high schoolers, what would you say the competition to get into top 10 ranked schools for MIS?</p>
<p>All you need to do is check with your schools career services. If they have good placement statistics you’ll be fine. If you do well at school and get a good internship you should be able to get a job in your schools region at the very least.</p>
<p>Since this major isn’t that well-known to many high schoolers, what would you say the competition to get into top 10 ranked schools for MIS for undergrad?</p>
<p>Since this major isn’t that well-known to many high schoolers, what would you say the competition to get into top 10 ranked schools for MIS for undergrad?</p>
<p>^^As tough as it is to get into any top 10 business program. </p>
<p>The BS programs are usually worthless.</p>
<p>Well how about a BBA? </p>
<p>Can I apply for the BBA directly from HS or do I have to wait? How long do I have to wait?</p>
<p>^^You’re asking someone to answer a question that is different for each school. Look up or contact the schools you are interested in.</p>
<p>PLEASE do not come back in here with a list of schools and ask someone to do the research for you.</p>