Opinions

<p>haha. I will say that my history degree from WM was probably more helpful than a business degree would have been in giving me the research skills necessary for what I’m doing now as a second year law student. :-)</p>

<p>Also, I’ve known people who majored in things like Anthropology and English from W&M and obtained positions in fortune 500 companies while Business majors are still searching for jobs. They just happened to have better interpersonal skills. So I wouldn’t be so quick to jump to conclusions.</p>

<p>Third point in relation to the attack on my degree - there are many, many, many undergrad business programs in the U.S. There is one WM and 35 top 35 schools where WM sits. There is at least close to 1000 MBA programs available in the U.S. There are less than 200 ABA approved law schools in the U.S. I would prefer my resume to a business degree from a mediocre program. In fact, I would take my B.A. from WM by itself over a business degree from another program for the mere fact that I have likely developed a much deeper understanding of the world with my liberal arts education :-). Many of the greatest business people in American history did not obtain a business degree :-).</p>

<p>NervousParent has a BBA and an MBA from U/Miami, which probably accounts for his thinking that it’s better to have a business degree from a mediocre school than a liberal arts degree from a good one. Personally, I’d never pay for a mediocre private school regardless of major. Guess we’re all different.</p>

<p>""Would you pay for your kid’s College if they wanted to be a high school teacher? “”</p>

<p>I said teaching was OK in my previous post. You missed it.</p>

<p>""What if I they don’t know what they are going to major in as they enter college? “”</p>

<p>That’s fine. My daughter is a freshman at Virginia Tech. No idea what she wants to do. Certain majors that we her parents won’t pay for when she does decide. We as parents will guide her as we see fit and you will with your kids. College is very expensive and we want value and a good outcome for our money.</p>

<p>““haha. I will say that my history degree from WM was probably more helpful than a business degree would have been in giving me the research skills necessary for what I’m doing now as a second year law student.””</p>

<p>Which tells me that the job market for history majors isn’t very good so you decided to go to law school instead? </p>

<p>""Also, I’ve known people who majored in things like Anthropology and English from W&M and obtained positions in fortune 500 companies while Business majors are still searching for jobs. “”</p>

<p>Anecdotal evidence. I would certainly think that the statistics of the general college population would be the opposite.</p>

<p>""I would prefer my resume to a business degree from a mediocre program. In fact, I would take my B.A. from WM by itself over a business degree from another program for the mere fact that I have likely developed a much deeper understanding of the world with my liberal arts education :-). “”</p>

<p>Understanding of the world won’t help you much when it comes to applying for a position in the…science, med school, nursing, teaching, architecture, any kind of business position. (as I previously listed.) You have to have previous training in these areas. Of course, a history degree will help you get a job in teaching college history, but that’s about it. You’re better off getting a education degree (with a teacher certificate) which will open up more job opportunities for you.</p>

<p>""Many of the greatest business people in American history did not obtain a business degree :-). “”</p>

<p>Many more did, though. And it certainly helps to have one.</p>

<p>Whatever. Parents can be so weird.</p>

<p>Well i guess the good thing about the US of A is that we are all entitled to our opinions (for the most part) and this messageboard is one avenue to provide them. I’m not one who finds it paramount to have the last word so I don’t intend to play that game, but I would like to respond to your comment NervousParent about the market not being good for history majors. The statement you made that a teaching position is all I would be offered is extremely ignorant. I actually didn’t even attempt to test the market, because I knew a law degree would serve me better in the long run for what I intended to do career-wise. If I had, I would have found a decent position somewhere. Not trying to come across as big-headed, but I was in the top 25% of my graduating class at WM. This is by no means meant to be a jab at you -but maybe at the undergrad school you graduated from that wouldn’t matter to employers in terms of a non-business degree candidate seeking a business position, but at WM it does. I just wanted to do something different than business. That’s something to be proud of if you have an business degree and MBA as parent2009 suggests, i’m not saying it isn’t. And you are right that specialized fields often require some sort of specialization in today’s day and age. Anyone who wanted to major in engineering would of course set out on that program from the beginning. There are many areas of today’s market, though, that necessitate a broad range of skills and I don’t think the argument holds that one area of specialization in undergrad will ever prepare you for a wide range of things you will be exposed to post-graduation. Many smart employers know that. Finance, accounting, engineering… those types of things sure you need some sort of specialty. But there are many, many areas even in the realm of marketing that a marketing degree will not prepare you for and won’t make you an automatically better candidate. A business degree and MBA does not guarantee success and happiness just as a history and law degree do not. They are great achievements, but my message to the soon-to-be-college-freshmen is to major in what suits you. I know many people who have done great things in business without business degrees. There are also positions where a business degree is highly useful and necessary. With respect, I must refuse to buy the argument that a business degree is the be all and end all for ensured future success. Practical, sure! I never said the degree wasn’t practical. But I must hold steadfast in my position. That’s enough of that topic :-)</p>

<p>One last tip I would give to college students no matter where they end up attending or what they major in - it really is important to be pro-active. If you have an idea of what sort of work you would like to do when you get out, try to take an internship with a company in that area of interest or put yourself in some sort of position that will facilitate networking opportunities. I’ve known all sorts of people who ended up being offered employment, because they took some opportunities either during school or in the summer and the employers got a chance to get to know them. Even if you realize it’s the sort of area you don’t want to do, at least you will know so that you can try out something else!</p>

<p>I am a partner in an investment firm and I would hire a history major over a business major any day of the week. I need critical thinking, research and communication skills which I feel a liberal arts major would have developed more than a B-school major. Liberal arts BA and MBA combo would be wonderful preparation for the business world.</p>

<p>My point remains that my wife and I are spending 150K for an education. That’s a ton of money. We don’t qualify for FinAid. We want to spend it carefully and insure the best odds for our kid’s success in landing a job after college. Therefore, we want to buy training in a specific marketable skill, of which the choices are many. In our opinion, the aformentioned majors we listed are not as conducive to acquiring these skills, hence our stance.</p>

<p>swish14 said…“I am a partner in an investment firm and I would hire a history major over a business major any day of the week. I need critical thinking, research and communication skills which I feel a liberal arts major would have developed more than a B-school major. Liberal arts BA and MBA combo would be wonderful preparation for the business world.”"</p>

<p>Interesting. I am also a financial portfolio manager and I think the opposite. I would much rather hire an entry level financial analyst that has had hands-on portfolio management experience via a small “real money” university portfolio that is commonly offered in many undergraduate business schools these days. In addition, I find the basic undergraduate liberal arts requirements (English, Writing, Public Speaking, etc.) quite sufficient in meeting those needs.</p>

<p>There’s no substitute for when real money is on the line and you have to make the tough call. Thorough due diligence on the investment helps make that call with more confidence. You learn that specialized financial research and critical thinking in B school. Sorry, but IMO, paper trading and history majors just won’t stack up as well.</p>

<p>One comment to nervous parent. My daughter at JMU wants to major in secondary education. She has to major in ENGLISH. And return for a fifth year for a Masters in Education. Not certain how other schools handle education degrees. She might fare well as your child. She truly wants to be a writer but understands the need for a marketable degree, then eventually can follow her true passion.</p>

<p>Would you pay for your child’s undergraduate education if they wanted to go to law school?</p>

<p>I came from less than nothing, was a liberal arts major in college, went to law school, have a nice career, and have made more than enough money to pay for all of my kids to go to college, major in whatever they want, and pursue their OWN dreams (which don’t involve law or business in any form) without their choices being limited by debt. Two of my kids are already out of college, both with liberal arts degrees from top colleges, and both are now doing exactly what THEY want while making enough money that they don’t have to (and don’t) ask their parents for anything. </p>

<p>The blessing of being a parent with means is that you can give your kids opportunities that you didn’t have. It’s a real shame that NervousParent doesn’t see that.</p>

<p>From the W&M Career Center:

Take it for what it is.</p>

<p>Here’s how a recent history major is faring in the job market.</p>

<p>[Unemployed</a> graduate David Rowe in sandwich-board job hunt | Mail Online](<a href=“Unemployed graduate David Rowe in sandwich-board job hunt | Daily Mail Online”>Unemployed graduate David Rowe in sandwich-board job hunt | Daily Mail Online)</p>

<p>""Fact: Consulting firms hire more W&M liberal arts majors than business majors. “”</p>

<p>Need more facts than that. For instance, what is the amount of each kind of major graduating? If the mix is 90% liberal arts majors and 10% business majors at the school, then, of course the above fact will always be true. I could say that consulting firms hire a lot more business majors at Babson than any other major. But that statement would be misleading wouldn’t it!</p>

<p>Nervous Parent - a lot of people significantly with much better resumes than recent college grads are looking for work right now.</p>

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<p>Forcing your kids into careers in which they have no interest may well make them poor for a lifetime - no matter how much money they make.</p>

<p>Some would choose to be a business major because it’s a requirement.
For instance , cfa, cpa, cia require credits in accounting, finance or other business majors.
It’s not about getting into fortune 500 that matters…as a liberal arts major.</p>

<p>Financial Analyst - history majors might have the upperhand in research, but …the rest of the factors( …nearly all of them) …nobody would pick a history major for that position.</p>

<p>Accountant - you should first look at the Business major forum, they would laugh at the thought of a history major becoming an accountant.</p>

<p>I mean , …business is comprised of many occupation, majority of them requires specialization in business. What is the purpose of being a history major, when you become a business man. </p>

<p>Tribe, you noted that some of big shot Bmen didn’t major in business, but your missing the fact that most of them had experience in their special field.</p>