<p>Is it best to major in Business at graduate school or undergrad? I'm kind of confused.
I feel as if you should major in something "interesting and unique" during undergrad.
Which will then give you some background for your business degree. Anyone else agree?</p>
<p>It would help to give us something more concrete about what you will major in than “something unique and interesting”.</p>
<p>Arabic Language and Literature, or Middle Eastern Studies.</p>
<p>And where do you plan on working after getting this major? The most important thing for an MBA is meaningful work experience. Outside of working in foreign affairs - which is ultra competitive - where would you get meaningful work experience with these majors? If you aren’t at a top ivy league the humanities majors are notoriously horrible for job placement.</p>
<p>So basically you’re stating that if someone isn’t at a top ivy league school, then give up? I’m not going to college just for a degree, I want to go to college to learn something useful. So since humanities is crossed of the list, what major would you suggest? Accounting, because I suck at math.</p>
<p>^ That’s totally fine, but if you don’t study something marketable, don’t be surprised if the market doesn’t want you.</p>
<p>Marketable as in? I mean there is a language flagship program and you can major in anything and still become fluent in the language. So would you suggest majoring in something “marketable” and still learning the language.</p>
<p>If it’s business vs humanities, you should do business. Yes, you are going to college to learn, but you are also going to prepare yourself for the “real world”. What do you think looks more appealing, someone who majored in accounting or someone who majored in Arabic Language and Literature? Unless you plan on using Arabic in your job, it is not a very worthwhile major. You will not <em>only</em> be taking business classes. I know that for Wharton at Penn they require that you take at least 1/3 of your courses outside of Wharton. If it helps, I can pull up some statistics on how much business majors make after college vs humanities majors. I know it’s not all about the money but hey, the money helps.</p>
<p>There are plenty of career opportunities for someone with a degree in Middle Eastern literature.</p>
<p>1) Professional Occupy Wall Street Protester
2) Professional Mom’s basement dweller
3) Professional Starbucks novel writer
4) Professional…</p>
<p>At least MINOR in something useful in the real world. You don’t want to be that person who can’t find a job because you picked the wrong course of study.</p>
<p>Okay, what about international business? Minor in Arabic</p>
<p>Is your interest to work overseas?</p>
<p>Yes, or in New York. Basically I’m interested in living in NYC and having a job that requires travel. I love foreign languages, and Arabic is what I’ve decided on.</p>
<p>Well since you say NYC - you know those Occupy Wall Street protesters with no discernible goals or ideas of how to fix what they are complaining about? They majored in things like “X Studies” or X Literature. ;)</p>
<p>Your best option to work overseas is to get a job with an international corporation and express interest in overseas travel early on. They don’t hire international business majors. They hire accounting, finance, MIS, and engineering majors. </p>
<p>Understand though, your passion for overseas work is so common and often people don’t understand what that means. I have travelled to Europe for work. I went there and worked. I didn’t bask in the beauty of the local culture. I went to meetings, worked in the hotel conference rooms, and got to enjoy the city at dinner every night. If you understand that overseas travel is not some glorious adventure than I applaud you, but I can’t tell you how many applicants I have interviewed that killed their chances by saying "I know the Big 4 do lots of travel and I’d love to go to Paris because I want to experience the city ". Sorry we go to work…</p>
<p>Hmm, so why do they have majors like International Business? I’m kind of confused. A question for you, if I just want to make a lot of money, and travel, and live in NYC what should I major in. At this point, I don’t care. I’m assuming in order to get a more than decent paying job-- you have to attend an Ivy-League school and major in engineering or finance. True? Also, I ultimately don’t want to be an employee, I’d like to be an employer.</p>
<p>If the advice people is giving you doesn’t make you happy, then just do whatever you want. Seriously…you’ll make it out the other end probably happier.</p>
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<p>Or you could work for the State Department or as a professional translator. The three letter organizations like to hire people who speak Arabic fluently. </p>
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<p>Let me make sure I’ve got this. You want a major that will result in:</p>
<ol>
<li> Lots of money</li>
<li> Lots of travel</li>
<li> Ability to live in New York</li>
<li> Start your own successful business</li>
<li> Can be wildly successful from a lower-tier school</li>
<li> Doesn’t require complex Math</li>
</ol>
<p>Not to patronize you, but if there was a major that fit all of those criteria, everyone in the country would major in it. </p>
<p>Rather than setting up those requirements for a major, think about a career path. Do you want to go into consulting (travel and money)? I-banking (money and New York)? Hotel and/or restaurant management (doesn’t require an Ivy League education or math)? Optometry (good money and you can start your own business)?</p>
<p>Do some research on various careers and choose one that makes sense to you and that seems enjoyable (or at least tolerable for 40 years). Then back that career into a major and a school level. For example, let’s say that you decide to go into IT consulting (it pays well, allows for tons of travel, you can live in New York, and you don’t have to go to an Ivy League school). That will require you to take a more technical major (economics, engineering, supply chain, etc) from a respected but not necessarily top school.</p>
<p>:) thank you.</p>
<p>@ Banjo, great advice. I get it now 
Economics seems fun.</p>