Student seeking for advice..

Parents Forum
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<p>I'm really stressed out right now regarding where to go to college. Before I get into the specifics, let me explain a little about my perspective and what path I am taking. I just want some advice and opinions.. I want to work in the investment banking industry.</p>

<p>I'm a transfer student majoring in sociology. I know all the stereotypes about sociology majors and the many questions that people tend to ask such as "how are you going to find a job?" or "you want to be a social worker?" Yes, I plan to find a job through my schools career center and no, I do not plan to become a social worker. Sociology is actually my "stepping stone" to get into Harvard Biz School or something equivalent to that caliber. My ambition has always been to major in sociology, get a very high gpa (hopefully >3.8), graduate and work for a few years while studying for GMATS, score a 700+ on my GMATS and then apply to Harvard MBA. It seems to me like a great way of getting into my desired school because I looked at the demographics of all the topic MBA programs in America, and most of them have social science majors representing the majority of admitted students who enrolled. In fact, I keep on hearing that students who major in business administration for undergrad tend to not get their MBA's because of how redundant it is. What do you guys think?</p>

<p>With that in mind, a lot of people are opposed to it. Mainly, the older generation relatives and family. One main opposition is that even though I graduated with a sociology degree with a high GPA, the big companies still won't hire me because I wont know any of the concepts or know how to do anything! THey are saying that I wont be able to do any assignments when they throw stacks of paper on my table because I literally won't know anything about it!</p>

<p>Now people of my generation who graduated recently told me that businesses don't even care about what you learned in undergrad. So what if you know a lot about finance?? My older friends tell me that businesses are willing to teach and train you if they think you are smart and if you graduated from a prestigious college. They say that your undergrad major has nothing to do with your first job. Some of them work in fortune 500 under investment or counseling and say that many of their co workers are not business administration majors-- in fact, they are actually liberal arts majors. What do you guys think?</p>

<p>I guess what I'm worried about is not being able to find a job with a sociology major. I don't mind making less coming out of college compared to my business major counterparts because I know once I get into Harvard Biz school or anything near that caliber, I will easily bank $70,000 or more. I'm looking for long term growth and not short term satisfaction.. What do you guys think I should do?</p>

<p>Now you guys know about my perspective, below are the schools I'm debating between..</p>

<p>USC Marshall School Of Business: Major: Business Administration. Based on my financial aid and scholarships, I will only need to pay $7,000 a year to attend this private institution.</p>

<p>UCLA: Major: Sociology: I received the most prestigious and highest honor scholarship from UCLA-- The Regents Scholar. I received a full ride + a couple of very coveted benefits. </p>

<p>UC Berkeley: Major: Sociology: Based on my financial aid/ scholarships, I will only need to pay $4000 to $5000 a year if I decide to go there.</p>

<p>I need to decide by June 1st. I would highly appreciate it if some parents on this forum would give me their opinions. Thanks</p>

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<p>It is a sad day when kids plan their college careers soley on how much money they can make. Call me an idealist, but it strikes me as souless and sad.</p>

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<p>You certainly do not need a business degree to work for businesses or to get an MBA. If you love sociology and want to do business, you can pitch yourself to employers or grad schools as someone who understands societies. Many soc depts also offer classes on globalization. That sort of coursework, along with courses on international politics or economics, would provide excellent background for the work you wish to enter.</p>

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<p>"It is a sad day when kids plan their college careers soley on how much money they can make. Call me an idealist, but it strikes me as souless and sad."</p>

<p>Maybe I'm naive', but this kid hasn't said anything about making money as the reason he/she wants to go into investment banking. Maybe he/she just thinks it would be exciting.</p>

<p>That said, I don't know why you've picked sociology. Do you think you will get a lower GPA than you would in economics or something?
It's fine if that's what you want to study. (I agree with momfromme in the way you could market it.)</p>

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<p>Are you planning on eventually getting a masters degree or a MBA? If so then go to either UCLA or Berkeley because 1] it will be easier to gain acceptance in a MBA or masters program with a degree from either UCB or UCLA. A masters degree, especially a MBA, will be MUCH more valuable long term for you in the business world than just having a BA in business. If a BA will be your final college degree, then go to USC. They have a alumni terrific network, especialy in Calif. for helping grads find jobs.</p>

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<p>I, too, agree with momfromme. Follow your interests and go to Cal or UCLA. Both are top schools. Consider balancing your sociology major with some courses that might help you in the job search post-undergrad - economics, for instance. Maybe think about a minor in Econ (IF it interests you). That might address some of your parents's concerns.</p>

<p>You seem to know that the top b-schools prefer students to have a couple of years (anyway) of work experience before going for the MBA. </p>

<p>FYI, I am a Stanford MBA (from about a million years ago ;).) My undergrad degree was also in the social sciences (Econ). I'm not suggesting the Econ courses idea just because I happened to major in it, but because - if it interests you - it addresses some of the concerns your parents (and maybe you) seem to have.</p>

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<p>If I had a choice, I would definitely do sociology in a heartbeat. In fact, it was because of an essay related to sociology where I truly want to change the world that got me the full ride to UCLA. It's just that coming from an asian family, relatives and everyone in general are always pushing for the practical thing to do which in my case would be to major in business administration. I think I might just follow my intellectual passion and go with sociology then.</p>

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<p>
[quote]
I want to work in the investment banking industry..I do not plan to become a social worker. Sociology is actually my "stepping stone" to get into Harvard Biz School....It seems to me like a great way of getting into my desired school because I looked at the demographics of all the topic MBA programs in America, and most of them have social science majors representing the majority of admitted students who enrolled...I don't mind making less coming out of college compared to my business major counterparts because I know once I get into Harvard Biz school or anything near that caliber, I will easily bank $70,000 or more. I'm looking for long term growth and not short term satisfaction

[/quote]
Sorry, maybe I misread the OP, but what I heard was, "what's the best way for me to get into Harvard business school and make a lot of money". My bad.</p>

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<p>As long as you're doing what you love, why not make a lot of money while doing it? I don't see anything wrong with making a lot of money. I only have problems with greed, and a lack of social conscience---and you don't have to have a lot of money to exemplify either of those traits.</p>

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<p>Stanford has a non-profit MBA-- <a href="http://www.gsb.stanford.edu/mba/academics/pmp.html%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.gsb.stanford.edu/mba/academics/pmp.html&lt;/a> . I'd say a sociology major would get a good look for that program.</p>

<p>I know someone who did that program--and went to work for Goldman Sachs immediately afterwards.</p>

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<p>"Sorry, maybe I misread the OP, but what I heard was, 'what's the best way for me to get into Harvard business school and make a lot of money.'" Anxiousmom, that's different than "what's the best way for me to get into Harvard busines school in order to make a lot of money." Though the OP may be after money, it was not stated or implied in her post. She says she knows that going to Harvard Business School will earn her a high salary (which is almost certainly true), so she's not worried about making less than business majors after college. </p>

<p>I agree that you should major in what you want to major in while taking courses in a variety of areas and getting good, valuable internships during the summers. My major directly prepares me for basically nothing, but it's not something I'm very worried about. It's true that businesses are quite willing to train, but you should still get good jobs and internships in order to build a good resume and gain experience. Remember, your focus may change during college, and you may not be able to get the GPA and scores you've set for yourself. </p>

<p>I agree with the others to stick with it and pick UCLA or Berkeley.</p>

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<p>anxiousmom...
For all we know the OP is from an immigrant family and the first in his or her family to go to college. Or from a poor family in a poor neighborhood.
We all aren't several generation American affluent.</p>

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<p>Let's step back a bit OP...before we can tell you anything can you tell us why you want to go into investment banking? What do you think investment bankers do? What do you like to do? What attracts you to the field? And why sociology of all things? From what I remember of sociology classes, one cannot FIND a major which will be more critical of your ultimate career objective. </p>

<p>Is it because sociology is generally regarded to be one of the easiest majors in which to score a high GPA?</p>

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<p>it might be a nice change of pace to see someone who wants to who "truly wants to change the world" go into investment banking! He never said he wanted to keep all that money -- maybe he plans to make tons of money in IB and use it to change the world!</p>

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<p>When did the OP say she wanted to go into investment banking? I re-read the post, and the only mention I could find was that some of her friends who gave her advice are now in ibanking (implying, I guess, that they are qualified to give that advice).</p>

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<p>"I just want some advice and opinions.. I want to work in the investment banking industry."</p>

<p>First paragraph, initial post.</p>

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<p>Ah, sorry. That's what you get for trying to post right after waking up!</p>

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<p>I believe when people discourage Sociology as a major, it's because they know people who went on to get a Masters of Social Work (MSW) and are slaving away giving of their heart, soul and 12th unpaid hour...for low wages and high stress.
Does a major in Antrhopology get the same stupid response? If so, then I stand correctable...but I think people are royally confused about Sociology. It's not "pre-social work career" although it can be, and I treasure everyone working in that field.</p>

<p>I don't know if the OP is first-generation college, or Asian, but I had to laugh recently when an Asian comedienne on TV talked about the requirement within her family of majoring only in Business, Medicine or Engineering. Everything else was a soft science.
"When I announced my major as 'Psychology,' they heard it as 'Pole-dancing.' "</p>

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<p>Okay everyone, I'm actually a GUY and not a GIRL. haha.. but anyways, I chose sociology as my major after taking an intro to soc class and I realized how messed up our society is. Social inequality, racial inequality, education inequality, financial inequality, gender inequality.. inequality this and inequality that. Even though we did not go deep down into the specifics, I did get a glimpse at how messed up our world is. How do we justify that 20% of the old wealthy owns 75% of the assets while the other 80% of the US population share the remaining 15%? How come in corporate america, we have glass ceilings for gender, immigrants, ethnicities, and people with disabilities? When many of the baby boomers retire in the upcoming 10- 15 years, millions of them will be in poverty and even more will be forced to stay in the work force. </p>

<p>This is exactly why I want to change the world. Being a first generation student in college, I have read and learned about the social ills of America, even though I haven't been out in the work force to experience it. Credit is so easily accessible now that it is to a point where people are living off of it. College students like me receiving credit lines of $15,000 PER CARD?? You gotta be kidding me! I make less than $3000 working part- time! The average American has around $3,000 of revolving debt? Ridiculous! I want to get into investment banking to enlighten Americans on how important it is to have their own retirement fund such as a roth- IRA and making sure they utilize their 401K plan to the full extent of their company match! Most importantly, in the past decade, there has been a new type of bank loan which is called the "micro- loan." This means loaning very small amounts of money such as $500- $1000 to people living in impoverished third world countries. Banks become extremely wealthy because of the high end loans with high end collaterals but that does not help the typical impoverished family who needs a couple hundred dollars to start their own farm for sustenance or help them buy their food. These small loans have a 90% repayment track and will truly make a difference in peoples lives. I'm talking about loans to help people buy their basic necessities in life! That is the bank that I want to start and have many branches opened in many third world countries. </p>

<p>And MOMBOT, I said sociology is easy, but I did not once say that I don't take it seriously. There are many types of generalizations you can make for sociology majors such as athletes, people who fall out of engineering and business majors, people who want the easy way out of college, people who just want to play all day and still maintain good grades, etc. Trust me, I've heard almost all of them, but there are people in this world who really care about the human race and want to better it as global citizens. Investment banking doesn't mean that ALL people want to be come the analyst that works for 12- 15 hours a day for 5 to 10 years and then retiring. There is more to life than money and I have seemed to find my goal in life as I venture deeper into the upper- division realms of sociology!</p>

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<p>You guys know what... I think by being skeptical and questioning me, some of you pushed me over my doubt and helped me decide where I want to go now. This has actually been a very awakening experience for me since I had to explain to you guys everything aforementioned. I'm going to go to UCLA and major in sociology with the full scholarship =]</p>