Undergrad Business Colleges

College Search & Selection
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<p>I had a long msg typed up but it didn't submit and I lost the info so I'm going to try again without expanding too much.</p>

<p>I'm looking at majoring in business with an entrepreneurial type of aim, but the problem is that so few colleges offer entrepreneurial or even business undergrad majors.</p>

<p>I'm ranked first in my class (1/100), 34 ACT, great EC's, etc.</p>

<p>My safety schools are the University of Minnesota and the University of Wisconsin-Madison. I also plan on applying to USC, Lehigh, UIUC, and possibly Northeastern, Babson, and UPenn.</p>

<p>Where else could I find a major that would match my wants... Or am I wrong in wanting this type of major?</p>

<p>I also feel it's important that I do my undergrad studying in a place where I can get great work experience from a top company... Right? That's part of why NE is so tempting.</p>

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<p>NYU-Stern?</p>

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<p>Honestly the work experience during school is helpful but FAR from critical. You can do much better than NE. If you go to a top school you will have amazing summer internships and won't even need that experience. Since you are a top candidate, I wouldn't sell myself short and go to lesser programs just because they have business majors. I would look for schools with univeral reputation, that also happen to have good business schools. Your list only really has one school at that level (penn). </p>

<p>If I were you my list would be the following. </p>

<p>Reach: Penn
Match: UVA, NYU-Stern, UNC-CH, Michigan, USC, UC-Berkeley, MIT Sloan
Safety: Indiana, Wisconsin, Ohio State</p>

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<p>Sorry MIT Sloan is a reach too! </p>

<p>One more thing, what are your future goals? If you just want to go into business, I highly recommend not focusing only on the business schools. If you go to a top school regardless of major you will have the chance to go into some of the top firms out there. Firms heavily recruit out of the Ivies, the top LACs, and the other top schools. Consulting firms like McKinsey, BCG, Bain etc and the top Investment Banks in fact specifically recruit from the name brand schools. Dartmouth, Duke, Penn, and Williams seem to do exceptionally well with recruiters. </p>

<p>On the other hand if you want to do marketing, the business major route might be better. </p>

<p>In sum though, I would say going to a brand name 'top' school will pay off much more than a business major at a lesser school. That said though, the match schools I named in my previous post have both overall brand name and business majors. I would avoid the NE, Babson, Lehigh category, you can do much better.</p>

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<p>Thanks for the great advice slipper.</p>

<p>I have been real confused lately because I planned on majoring in engineering but have been talked out of it by a few people. Marketing is not what I'm looking for. I do plan on getting an MBA someday.</p>

<p>I would like to start my own business someday, although I do realize this is extremely difficult and most fail, but I also would be glad to start out in a growing company or even a Forture 500 company (ha) and move my way up.</p>

<p>I was part of a six year college math program through the University of Minnesota which has a history of sending students to prestigious colleges. </p>

<p>By the time I graduate from HS next spring I will have earned 72 college credits through Minnesota's PSEO and UMTYMP programs. So, another of my concerns is that these credits will transfer. I'm also wondering if you think it would be possible to go straight into graduate work if I could complete my undergraduate work in 2 or 3 years? Or would it be smarter to get work experience before I tried to get my MBA??</p>

<p>Also, if I went the route of going into work for a while before getting my MBA, what major could I do if not business to get into a top company?</p>

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<p>Hey,</p>

<p>I actually am getting my MBA right now at a top 5 program and actually help with my school's admissions so I am glad to help! I also want to start my own business but I am going to work a couple more years to get more experience. </p>

<p>Pre-MBA you are going to have to work after you graduate. At my school I am the youngest one in my class, and I worked for two years. Most people work for 4 years pre-MBA. One thing is that a great majority of people at the top schools went to Ivies or similar. You might find a person from Minnesota or Lehigh here and there, but honestly the difference is staggaring. My class has over 50 people from Dartmouth, but only 2 from Northeastern! And the drop-off is quick, we have only 6 from Wake Forest for example. </p>

<p>Here is how to really build a solid business career. Going to a top school is of tremendous value because that is where the top firms recruit. And they almost could care less about your major, what they are looking for is a college's brand name so when they go to their clients they can say, "Meet mike, he graduated cum laude from Williams." So majoring in Econ at an Ivy (most common) and getting a solid GPA (3.5ish) will put you in the running for the top jobs out there, the consulting firms and the banks. For example, one of my friends majored in art history and works at McKinsey, which is the best firm in the world. I majored in history.</p>

<p>The thing is, these companies are hiring you because you are smart. And that is why they come to those top places, regardless of whether or not there is a business major. So while Babson might market itself as a top undergrad business school, the truth is the top companies are hiring alot more history majors from Ivies than Babson business majors. And these top jobs + having an Ivy or similar on your resume is the way into Harvard business school for your MBA. </p>

<p>My advice is to look at the Ivies and major in Econ. Dartmouth, Brown, Penn, Duke, Williams are all amazing places. Plus you will be around an amazing group of people and have a great overall college experience. The great job you get is icing on the cake. And the best thing is that when you start a company down the road you are plugged into some of the best networks out there.</p>

<p>The differences between Ivies is small, but I have noticed that the strong alumni oriented ones seem to be more successful. In my experience Princeton, Dartmouth, Duke, and Wharton grads seem to have the best networks and job placement. I also see a ton of these grads at the top b-schools.</p>

<p>And if you decide to go to a b-school undergrad make sure its a name. One way to do this is look up the MBA rankings. For example, Lehigh honestly doesnt generate that much credibility, but UVA does.</p>

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<p>USC will probably give you scholarship, they like to buy students away from better schools. if you can go to a better school though, by all means go. i just wanted to mention this in case money is an issue. USC has the first established entreprunurial progarm in the US, and its real good from what i hear. they put your picture up on some wall in some hall with your respective class, and they have pictures back form like the twenties when the program first opened its doors. my cousins on that wall ;)</p>

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<p>So slipper, do you think I should think about going into engineering undergrad at a top engineering school then?</p>

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<p>Slipper,
How high would you rate the undergrad business schools of UVA and Michigan. Would grads from those programs compare favorably from grads from a school like Dartmouth that doesn't have a business major.</p>

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<p>Douche_Nutz, engineering at a top engineering school is a great preperation for an MBA. Once again though, for business I seriously recommend the brand names over the non-brand names, i.e. it is a serious advantage to go to a lesser "engineering school" but better overall school, i.e. Penn or Yale engineering over GaTech everyday of the week even though GaTech might be slightly higher ranked in actual engineering. I would say though that econ at a brand name is probably a better option, if only because its easier to get a high GPA, and that is what the consulting firms are looking for.</p>

<p>Plmok, interesting question since my roommate went to UNC undergrad in business. We both concur that in terms of getting the top jobs, UVA and Michigan business students do very very well, but the edge still goes to the people from the ivies. Lets put it this way though, with a 3.5+ from either option you will get a great job, but the best recruiters still give a slight edge to the Ivies, if just for brand name. Top undergrad Business Schools are a great option however, and for internal corporate jobs especially in marketing (like working for Proctor and Gamble) it is much better. For the top consulting firms and banks, ivy grads hold the edge.</p>

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<p>Many of my classmates (UVA Engr) went on to law, business or med school...if you enjoy engineering do it!</p>

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<p>What about McCombs at Univ of TX at Austin? It would be sooooo convenient for me to go there.... b/c I'm in-state</p>

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<p>slipper, I have a dislike for economics that comes from taking a college micro class. On the other hand, I love researching and investing in equities and have started an online business that's made me a good amount of money to put towards college.</p>

<p>You know, I really don't know enough about the field of economics though, and I shouldn't let one class spoil what could be the ideal field for me... I'm going to look more into it.</p>

<p>I have also seriously considered taking the route to law school... So right now, as you can tell, I'm lost.</p>

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<p>Hey DN,
Don't worry about being lost, you are only a junior! Engineering is awesome, so if you don't like Econ and are math/ science oriented then go for it! It all depends on the GPA you can acheive, and if you can maintain a decent GPA in engineering you will be fine. The average GPA entering Harvard, Wharton, Columbia, Stanford MBA programs is a 3.5, so its not that high. On the other hand, law schools place a ridiculous importance on GPAs and will take a 3.6 sociology major over a 3.0 engineering major every time. </p>

<p>My advice is to focus on what you are good at, but do it at a top school in overall credibility, not just specific program.</p>

<p>Hiya, UT McCombs is a top 40 MBA program, and perhaps a top 15 undergrad, but its not nearly as up there as some other programs such as Wharton, UVA, MIT, or even Emory etc. That said, if you want to stay in Texas it is very respected in the Southwest.</p>

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<p>screw the rankings. Top companies may not recruit at lesser ranked schools but who says you can't start your own company or become a top level executive at a smaller company and still make lots of money?</p>

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<p>You can, if you are bill gates and invent something spectacular. It is much harder than it sounds, getting recruited is easier. </p>

<p>Slipper do you have any thoughts on emory undergrad?</p>

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<p>I'm actually a senior... Thanks for the info slipper... I'll have to keep evaluating my options and will speak with some counselors and experienced people.</p>

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<p>Fdogg, Emory undergrad is great and since its the top school in Atlanta it has a ton of first access into Atlanta companies. Overall it seems to do a little worse than the Ivies or Duke/ Stanford for getting the big new york, boston, or san fransisco jobs, but its pretty much the next best thing. If I were going there and wanted to go into business, I would major in business as well since because the program exists recruiters give an edge to business grads (basically they know at Brown there is no business so they don't care, but at Emory they will give an edge over another Emory grad without business).</p>

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<p>are u telling me it is harder to create your own company and make lots of money then to get recruited and make alot of money. I think you might be right on that one</p>

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<p>Hey slipper1234....i know this doesn't belong here but i wasnt getting much action in the other forum and maybe some of you have experience or may be able to answer my question.</p>

<p>I need something that will help colleges know (im in hs) that i want to major in business....so does anyone have any good ideas? like starting a business club at school.....any good internships? COULD YOU HELP ME OUT? Thanks a lot.</p>