Sociology Vs. Business

Student Lounge College Life
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<p>I have two questions for all of you business people. I don’t really know if I want to go into business but I wouldn’t mind the option. I am currently a sociology major and business minor. I intend on going to graduate school but I will need to work for a year or so to save money. With soc and a bus minor will I be able to get a job in business that will pay me well enough that I won’t starve and can save a little for grad school. My concern is that sociology seems vague. It doesn’t lead into a direct career like accounting or marketing. I considered accounting but I was worried that I wasn’t good enough at math. I mean I am an A- or B student depending on the class but I have to work pretty darn hard for it. It seems like everyone that I know who is in accounting is some kind of crazy math genius. Do you really have to be a math prodigy or can you just be an okay B student? I also don’t dislike math, it’s not my favorite just because I get frustrated, but I do like the challenge. I just don’t always win. </p>

<p>Also I am thinking about law school so I feel like sociology would maybe be better for that but I really don’t know what I want to do, which is another conversation. I can see myself in many different careers. I don't think I will really be able to make a decision until I get some work experience. </p>

<p>Sorry if that was long.
Thanks!</p>

2

<p>first of all, any major and any minor can get you a good job in business. The major doesn't matter. It's YOU, the person. Companies can tell immediately if you are the business type. There are internships, interviews, etc that determine this. </p>

<p>There are MANY people who study non-business fields in college, and end up doing business successfully. Mark zuckerberg-philosophy. Peter Thiel (hedge fund, VC)-philosophy. Guy kawasaki (apple evangelist, VC) - Psychology. Wales (wikipedia) - not computer science.</p>

<p>This proves that what you major in doesn't matter in the long run. </p>

<p>"I mean I am an A- or B student depending on the class but I have to work pretty darn hard for it. " That is a very good attitude, and I respect that. I think that you should do what you enjoy most, and if you like sociology, but want to do business, then do both! </p>

<p>Accounting does not require you to be a "Math genius". You don't have to be a prodigy to do accounting. Ok, having a mathematical "understanding" of things helps. Eg. Understanding simple concepts and how one affects another, etc. Eg. If LIFO does this, analyze how FIFO does that. True, a good understanding of math concepts/numbers help. </p>

<p>You don't have to always win, or always achieve an A in a business class. Just try your best and DO WHAT YOU WANT. You'll find that in the end, everything works out (stupid philosophy, but really its true)</p>

<p>Work experience is very important. Hence the internships, etc. Ask some guidance counselors and other students what the careers are like, and ask upperclassmen friends if yo uwould be fit for them.</p>

<p>By the way, you probably would have to work for more than a year in order to get into a good business school. good luck!</p>

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<p>business classes suck. if you aren't sure, don't do it. it'll be a waste of time.</p>

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<p>What you should be doing is spending serious time taking advantage of your college career center. They offer workshops and speakers on various careers, info on various professions, counselors, etc. Most have lists of alums in various fields you can talk to and get a better idea if their career is right for you, as well as advice on how to prepare. And the career center can help you find internships and co-op positions. A real key to getting a good job out of college is relevant experience like this; who would you rather hire, someone who says "I think I'd like to do X?" or the person who can talk about their actual experiences doing it and offers their supervisor as a reference? Internships are the single most important thing a person majoring in a liberal-arts major can do to boost their post-college job prospects. And just working in a professional environment exposes you to other areas. You might end up more interested is something you hadn't originally considered but that you see on the job.</p>

<p>I should add that the career center isn't just going to hand all this to you, especially at larger schools which don't offer a lot of personal attention. You have to be assertive and think about what you want, then use the resources available to you to get it. A great book that gives tons of examples of college kids exploring their interests and getting into good careers is "Major in Success" by Coombs.</p>

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<p>As a liberal arts major with an MBA, I second Mikemac. I worked after I graduated at a major NYC law firm and HATED it. Thank goodness I checked it out, because three years is a long time to spend getting a degree for a job you don't really want. Turns out, I thought the business clients were having more fun than the lawyers, so tried a few business-related jobs-then got my MBA. I recommend this route. And these days, good business schools expect you to have have 3-7 years working in any case, before you come.</p>