Supply Chain Management?

<p>Hello,</p>

<p>I am a junior who is currently majoring in Supply Chain Management. I am a little worried about whether or not I will see many post graduation opportunities, and I am contemplating whether or not to change majors. Here is the thing, the SCM program at my school (Michigan State) is ranked #2 nationally, which makes me think that maybe it would be a good program for me to pursue. I have read a few books on the topic in my spare time, and I think it is pretty interesting. </p>

<p>I just wanted to know if you guys think it would be better to stick to SCM, or to switch to finance or IT (Accounting is out of the picture. Couldn't get in even if I wanted to). My gpa is currently around a 3.3, and I could most likely pull it up to a 3.5 or a little higher by the time I graduate. So would that then make SCM marketable for me in your opinion?</p>

<p>Thanks.</p>

<p>My biz school overall is ranked like #27 or #29 overall, so pretty descent. Here the SCM salary and offer rates have gone up every year for 5 straight years. It’s usually 2nd between MIS and Finance, but Finance has like 3x as many offers because there are way more Finance majors here. I think its marketable, but I could be biased because I am a SCM major. Not to mention, you said it was #2…that’s pretty good.</p>

<p>SCM at Michigan State? You are in a very good situation. I wouldn’t switch unless you suddenly find something that you are super passionate about.</p>

<p>Thanks for the responses. I did some more research and I think I will stick with the major as I like the subject and I have no reason to switch. I was just a little worried since people always say something like “If you want to get a good job, major in something like engineering, accounting, finance, statistics, ect.” SCM never ever ever made the list. But maybe that’s mostly due to it being somewhat unknown compared to the other majors.</p>

<p>I am interning with a SCM group at a Fortune 100 company this summer. None of my co-workers have degrees in SCM. They range from economics (Wharton), pre-law (didn’t know this is a “major” but whatever), international economics, business administration, etc. It seems awfully narrow to me (I’m a math major, economics minor) to major in that …</p>

<p>Well that is a little unsettling. But still, as long as the employment statistics aren’t terribly skewed, SCM majors here have nice job placement.</p>

<p>I mean, that’s just an anecdote. Take it for what it is. I am sure that there is good job placement for the SCM major at MI State, but you might want to keep flexibility in mind as well.</p>

<p>Yea that is a good point. I am trying to keep myself from being biased for SCM as it is my major. I really cannot come up with any response to the claim that it is not a flexible major. I guess that is a little worrisome.</p>

<p>But then when I look at my alternatives ( realistically economics or finance), the situation looks worse. As far as I know MSU is not known for economics, and I have no idea what I could do with a BA/BS in econ from MSU since it isn’t a top school. Finance is not ranked very highly either, and from what I here it is given far less attention than our accounting department. </p>

<p>The one thing that makes me feel a little better is the fact that the SCM program here is so highly ranked. Do you think it would be a good idea to get a specialization in finance or IS/IT, even if it requires an extra semester?</p>

<p>If I were in your situation, I would take a look at the specific recruiting opportunities that each major offers. And supply chain management is narrow, but there is also a lot do within supply chain management. Purchasing/procurement organizations are entirely different beasts than what they were even 10 years ago – it’s less about price and more about adding value across the supply chain and collaborating with suppliers nowadays. I would agree with you that economics probably wouldn’t serve you very well. It’s probably more mathematical than you are interested in and doesn’t teach you the hard skills (accounting, finance, etc.) that some sort of business major would (I say this as an economics minor, but I attend an LAC that doesn’t offer any vocational courses). </p>

<p>You’re a junior, right? Have you done an internship in a procurement or supply chain-related organization yet?</p>

<p>Thanks for the response,</p>

<p>As for econ, yea I don’t think it would serve me well either, although I do like math. If I were to do econ I would also minor in math. But I am not really considering econ as much as finance anyways.</p>

<p>I have not interned yet. I just achieved junior status, so I am planning on interning next summer. So the end of my junior year and the summer where I first achieve senior status. From what I hear getting an internship is very important, so I will do everything in my power to get one.</p>

<p>Best of luck!</p>

<p>Be ready for your school’s fall career fair! At my school we had like 1 week for school before ours happened, and a lot of students weren’t in the right mindset yet.</p>