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<p>No, I don’t think I do. When I asked why the student would apply to colleges that didn’t have a business major, I didn’t mean that he was planning to do something illogical. I meant that I saw this as an indicator that he had not made a commitment to majoring in business. It seems to me that you have made that commitment, and he hasn’t.</p>
<p>Op, why don’t you have your son write out a list of what is most important to him (maybe good sports teams, location, frats, med to large student body) and you write out a list of what is most important to you (undergrad business major) and you pick out schools that have both. He can do what he thinks is imporant to him right now. If he doesn’t like business (which is likely, maybe wants differentiate himself from sis and dad), he can switch to a different major. Most kids will switch majors many times before they graduate. If he picks schools by other “EC” factors that he enjoys, then he’ll be happy during his 4 years, while he considers his options, even turning back to business.</p>
<p>I don’t know much about undergrad business majors or sports teams, but a quick glance at USNWR might suggest: UC Berkley, Michigan, USC, UT Austin among others.</p>
<p>Northwestern has a business minor, as well as a certificate program for undergrads at the Kellogg school- Northwestern’s graduate business school. Sounds like a great place for an undergrad who is interested in business, but may be interested in exploring other options as well.</p>
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<p>In fact, at the high-prestige end of the college spectrum – at least the private university/college segment – hardly anyone offers an undergraduate business major. Penn does, obviously, and so do Cornell and MIT (sort of), but very few others. Most public universities offer the major, but the best regarded programs (like Michigan’s) have competitive admissions. (By the way, I know you used to be able to get guaranteed admission to Ross if you were a strong applicant to Michigan. The OP and her son should explore that.)</p>
<p>In academic circles, “business” is about a low-prestige a major as there can be – sort of a short-bus major for students so lacking in imagination, focus, and intellect that they can’t figure out how to make actual academic study apply to the real world. Many business majors are nothing more than the equivalent of a “general studies” or “liberal arts” major – no more than a couple of courses each in accounting, finance, statistics, policy analysis, psychology, organizational dynamics and leadership, marketing, maybe some “special” writing course. In other words, a succession of introductory courses with no real depth anywhere, and constant reference to “business” as the example of everything because the students need to have pictures drawn for them in order to understand relevance.</p>
<p>I have worked in the business world for 30 years and could count on one hand the number of colleagues, particularly at management levels, that have undergraduate business degrees. Maybe a few in accounting, but even there most have economics undergrad degrees. </p>
<p>Making a successsful career in business means building a strong resume of experience, and making and leveraging strong contacts. So that big ten sports school could be a great source of contacts, and have a tremendous alumni network that helps students get internships and real jobs. Instead of looking for a particular major or business program look at the career counseling, participation in internships programs, how good is the school at helping students get that first job. Maybe he should look at schools like Northeastern that have a built-in coop program so most graduate in 5 years - but with real world work experience.</p>
<p>Engineering is close at assuring employment after graduation but the only real gaurantee is the military academies.</p>
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<p>Actually, many of the higher prestige and selectivity colleges, as well as most “liberal arts colleges”, do not have an undergraduate business major.</p>
<p>For example, of the UC system, only two of the nine offer an actual business administration major. But at least half of the less prestigious and less selective CSUs offer business administration majors.</p>
<p>Here’s what I know, Amazon. The happiest people are those that are happy in their day to day work whether they are huge amounts of money or not. If they aren’t pulling in the bucks, they learn how to either adjust or change into something more lucrative or add to their income in some way. Maybe it’s not on their priority list.
I have known many people that chose a career totally or (even partially) unsuited to them through parental pressure. And they spend quite a few years in their adult lives trying to correct that early misdirection. Some did it initially for the money and some because their parents steered them in a direction that didn’t match any of their interests.<br>
The main point is they’ve felt strongly enough to stop their lives and do an about face.</p>
<p>Your kid may be different and will adapt to whatever course is set–but don’t count on it.</p>
<p>JHS==I agree about the business major–that was what all the “dumb jocks” took when I was in college. The “smart jocks” majored in Economics, Biology, etc. and are all C-level executives, medical drs, etc. Most of the “business majors” are working at low level customer service type jobs. :D.</p>
<p>I’m at NU alum who also attended Kellogg and have lectured there. I was an econ major and distinctly remember when you absolutely couldnt take any business class as an undergrad with the exception of one accounting course. I just took a look at NU’s minor in business institutions and frankly, it depressed me. I get that they feel it’s inevitable to leverage Kellogg to all the wanna-be I-banker types, but I’d rather my kid at NU stay away from that stuff. </p>
<p>Amazon, you seem not to listen to the advice of multiple people -who are TELLING you that an undergrad business major is NOT some kind of golden ticket to employment, for all the reasons stated above. Blossom and JHS among others are spot on.</p>
<p>Amazon, good luck with your son and his applications. Apologies that I’ve posted before and given you what you consider bad advice. I don’t remember every story that’s posted here- I try to give advice based on 30 years working for global corporations, most of that in a hiring capacity. For any reader who doesn’t like what I post or doesn’t agree with my perspective, they can simply turn the page.</p>
<p>But I have not offered my personal opinion- both because it’s not relevant here (this is not my kid nor my money) and because it’s clear you’re not interested in hearing other points of view. I am merely pointing out that there are thousands of entry level jobs that get filled every year by kids who don’t have business degrees. That’s a fact.</p>
<p>My opinion… on how to support your child’s interests while not breaking the bank paying tuition for a degree which may or may not turn into a lucrative career… I keep to myself. I am done raising my brood; all of whom followed their hearts and minds intellectually in college and majored in something they found fascinating and absorbing, and all of whom are successfully employed in fields that have nothing to do with what they studied in college. None of them listened to any of my advice about networking, career services, cover letters, etc. (the shoemakers children have no shoes… I spend half my free time counseling OTHER people’s kids who are looking for jobs but my own won’t take advice from mom!). And nevertheless- they all seem to have turned their intellectual passions into careers which satisfy them.</p>
<p>Best of luck to you; I’m sure your son will do well wherever he goes and whatever he studies.</p>
<p>Amazon - I know based on your prior posts you will not like nor agree with anything I have to say, but I will say it anyway.</p>
<p>You don’t like your child’s major? Don’t pay for it. But since you made it clear in earlier posts that you will pay for some, set a clear budget and back off. You will only hurt your relationship with your son if you continue down your current path. It is simply not up to you to pick a major or a career for your child. I would strongly recommend counseling for you (not the son) if you can’t accept the above statement and live a happy life.</p>
<p>You keep asking why does your son keep saying he wants to major in business, but seems to be illogically applying to schools that don’t have a business major? Translation: Your son is trying to go to the school he thinks he wants to go to and he is telling his pushy, over-bearing mother, who already decided what his career should be,what she wants to hear (i.e. he will major in business). If you keep bearing down on him with unsolicited advice about his major, and career choice he will learn to just tune you out, if he is not doing that already.</p>
<p>OP; This is reminiscent of a post I made three years ago. I won’t repeat it, since I have only recently recovered (smile). If you want a link to that thread, pm me.</p>
<p>I WILL say this; it is possible that you actually know your “child” in ways you can’t communicate here, but are important, nonetheless.</p>
<p>My oldest son majored in middle eastern studies from Emory. He never took a single course from Gouizeta–a very well respected business school.</p>
<p>When he graduated, he got a job he loved with a non-profit in DC. He was paid enough to be self-supporting–and given costs in DC, that is saying a lot.</p>
<p>The DC nonprofit paid for him to get an MBA from Indiana/Kelley School of Business.</p>
<p>He is now working for a nonprofit in Boston, doing what he loves…and making a darn good living too.</p>
<p>S3 is a business major at American University in DC…he loves it, it’s in his blood. He is doing well in his classes, and has had some amazing internships. He-and I - could never see him doing anything different. But he has also loved his religion classes and his art classes. And his politics classes.</p>
<p>The point being that there are a lot of ways to arrive at a destination. It’s up to your son to decide where he wants to go, and as parents we can give lots of advice on how to get there, but we need to remember that only the child is going on the journey. </p>
<p>And haven’t you ever noticed that the louder you get, and the more insistent you get, the more resistant and obstinate the child gets? Why are you having this battle now? </p>
<p>Visit a lot of campuses…including those your son is interested in…and explore the opportunities. Stop by the career office and let your son ask the questions. Both of you may be surprised at what you learn at various schools.</p>
<p>Maybe the child is onto something! Read this article titled “Wealth or Waste? Rethinking the Value of a Business Major” from the Wall Street Journal
[Wealth</a> or Waste? Rethinking - WSJ.com](<a href=“Wealth or Waste? Rethinking - WSJ”>Wealth or Waste? Rethinking - WSJ)</p>
<p>Amazon, You never say that your son WANTS to major in business. You say that he “agrees” that it would be a good idea. That to me sounds like he is just trying to placate you.</p>
<p>The average college student changes majors more than once during the four years that s/he is in college. He should look at a school that would offer many interesting options for him.</p>
<p>Would you be ashamed of him if he did not go into a business career?</p>
<p>If he’s lucky enough to get you paying for his entire tuition & living expenses (I would NEVER do such a thing), he should be happy to go to whatever school you choose! You’re not choosing his major (he’s already interested in business) or career, you’re just limiting his school choice, which is your right. </p>
<p>Although, at some point you’ll have to let go, let him be independent, and manage himself - otherwise it creates a whole host of problems.</p>
<p>It appears yet another “college counselor”–the collective wisdom of CC parents–has told OP what she doesn’t want to hear.</p>
<p>Okay, we’ve all been there. We made plans in our heads since the kiddos were little about what they’ll be when they grow up. Gonna be doctors or lawyers or a finance guru. And then the world changes and they end up in computer animation which wasn’t even invented at the time…The point being that there are good career paths that OP hasn’t considered.
OP–my son said “get off my back, I’ll figure it out” and I did and he did.</p>
<p>I’ll admit to not reading all of the pages - just the first.</p>
<p>We always told our boys (only had boys) they could be whatever they liked and as long as they weren’t pimps or illegal drug dealers, we’d be proud of them. We did, however, share our financial info with them and give them guidance on other ways to pay for college (mainly picking good merit and/or need based schools). </p>
<p>In our hearts, we KNEW they’d pick our Alma mater and enjoy their time there as much as we did. We also sort of thought they’d follow along with similar interests. The boys only heard the first two statements - it’s all we told them - not our heart stuff.</p>
<p>Oldest broke us in. He’s in a small Christian school and loving it. He had no interest in our large state Alma mater and politely told us so. His major isn’t anything related to what we do, but he’ll do well in it.</p>
<p>Middle is in a medium sized research U and loving it (though he just started). He would have happily gone to our Alma mater had we insisted (oldest would have resisted), but by then we knew to let them follow their hearts. He’s found his niche and will do well - I’m sure of it.</p>
<p>Youngest (junior in high school) still changes his mind frequently. I hold my breath a little bit with some of the changes, but then remind myself of our first statement that they can be anything they want - and remind him the second about our finances and how to get other money he will need for school. Time will tell what happens. </p>
<p>We will not and can not take out loans for our guys. The older two studied and did VERY well getting scholarships and being desireable prospectives at places where they applied (all their choices, not mine). Youngest? We’ll see. What he sows he will reap, but it will be his decisions. I can’t imagine doing otherwise - nor would I have wanted my parents making my decisions many moons ago.</p>
<p>For the last time. Son wants to major in business. Of course this could change but if he applies to a school which asks him for his desired major it would be business. He is not looking at schools which have an admission process into business or don’t have business because of some deep-seated psychological thing. He likes those schools because they have good football teams. If you think that that’s a good reason to go to a school that doesn’t have your major to each his own. If he doesn’t get into the b-school he agrees that Economics is less desirable to him. He has never expressed any interest in majoring in anything else except perhaps pre-med which he can do with business.</p>
<p>Maybe some of you have been arguing about pursuing your dream vs. being forced into a narrow path but this is not the issue here.</p>