<p>Hi, my son is admitted to NU McCormick's Engineering (picked IE & Mgt Sciences), Ross's BBA, and Wash U's BBS programs. Would appreciate thoughts on any overlap between these programs. As I understand McCormick's IE program has a business / operations slant to it. How do we decide on the right major? We live in Chicago, close to Northwestern. Help!!</p>
<p>Does he like math? Industrial Engineering is significantly heavier in math than typical business major degree programs.</p>
<p>Of course, net cost after non-loan financial aid should be considered.</p>
<p>Is NU decision out already?</p>
<p>How can he be “accepted” to McCormick already? And most of the Ross early admits haven’t come out as well…although, that’s possible</p>
<p>Right major would depend on plans for work. Finance/business=UMich.</p>
<p>If his math is pretty good, definitely consider Kellogg’s undergrad certificate program also.
[Certificate</a> Program for Undergraduates - Kellogg School of Management - Northwestern University](<a href=“http://www.kellogg.northwestern.edu/Certificate.aspx]Certificate”>Certificate Program for Undergraduates | Kellogg School of Management) It’s much narrower (either in finance or managerial analytics) but significantly more advanced (graduate level) than typical undergrad business programs.</p>
<p>“We” don’t decide on the major- the student does no matter what the parents think of it. Most students will change their major- if they even have one when they start college. Focus on the overall feel of the schools. Which one seems the best fit TO YOUR SON, not you. The overall feel of these schools will be very different while both have excellent academic reputations. Have him think of how he will spend his out of class time- the students he will surround himself with. Does leaving Chicago for the experience of being away appeal to him? All sorts of nonacademic factors for him to consider.</p>
<p>S: is now in the process of eliminating the choices he has. WashU is not almost eliminated - great school and campus, however the business program did not seem substantive (I know this is somewhat subjective). Currently admitted to engineering programs at MCormick and Michigan. He plans to pursure certificate course in business, if Northwestern, so consider the Ross preferred admit if Michigan. We visited these schools again. Still confused though. Michigan’s engineering school is far removed from the central campus. The cost is almost not a factor. Michigan costs are very high for OOS students - for e.g. the estimated costs at Ross this year exceed $56k. </p>
<p>It really now comes down to - engineering to build a foundation of subject matter or directly into undergraduate business (which to me without a deep foundation in some domain is somewhat less impactful).</p>
<p>Appreciate different perspectives… Thanks.</p>
<p>I would study engineering first and then get an MBA later down the line. The analytical skillset that studying engineering will provide your son will serve him well for the rest of his life.</p>
<p>I agree with goldenboy.</p>
<p>Thanks for all the comments. Any perspective on IEMS program at NU vs IOE at Michigan? S: is admitted to the engineering program at Michigan. Elected this discipline 'cos it has the greatest intersection with business and humanities/social sciences.</p>
<p>If money is not an issue I’d pick U of M for Industrial Engineering any time, being mindful of the rumors I keep hearing from friends’ kids that U of M is a bit more, ehem, intentionally harder grades wise than other schools. </p>
<p>From the analytics / business education point of view, industrial engineering with a healthy dose of business courses thrown in for good measure should be pretty good. It is a very versatile major.</p>
<p>A BBA from Michigan is top notch (I have one, and have made an excellent living with it over the years). It is a very strong program (ranked #3 in USNWR last year, some years they are at #2 – darned Wharton!), and they get a lot of great companies recruiting on campus as well. I use what I learned in that program all the time in my work, too. The quality of students is also very strong, which add to the strength of the program.</p>
<p>If he wants to be an engineer, have him study engineering. If he is really interested in a career in business, go for the Michigan BBA. By the way, I interpret some of your posts as maybe thinking he could double major or something in engineering & in the BBA program at Michigan? I think that would be hugely difficult. Turbo93 is not wrong about the grading in the engineering programs at U of M, and from what I recall there is very little room (some, but not much) to take classes outside the engineering program. You also mention the humanities/social sciences. Again… the engineering programs at U of M do not have a lot of time for outside classes. If he is trying to work in a few business courses, he is not going to have room in his schedule for Literature, Science, and Arts classes (where humanities and social sciences are taught).</p>
<p>^^^ I can think of quite a few managers I’ve run into that graduated with Industrial Engineering degrees. They’re mostly manufacturing / operation type managers (aka ‘plant rats’), not finance and other general business management types. </p>
<p>I’m looking at UMich’s IOE web and indeed, there is very little wiggle room for ‘business’ courses. There are some entertaining IOE electives like ‘Derivative Instruments’ (hmmm) but again, these are IOE courses.</p>
<p>Heading over to Northwestern’s web site the usual and similar picture (why do they need to take Thermodynamics?) but they seem to offer a double major or minor in Economics if I read it right… </p>
<p>The place I attended (Purdue IE) is not any more flexible in this regard; they do have a joint IE/MBA program, but the IE program is fairly rigid. </p>
<p>So, it’s a toss-up. Methinks it would be a worthwhile effort to visit (re-visit) both schools and sit down with an advisor to find out if what you’re trying to do is feasible. It also would depend on how flexible the semester’s worth of ‘humanities/social studies’ is. If one is good enough to get into both of these schools the least the schools could do would be to spend some time to talk and see what can be done.</p>