What will impact my job and graduate school chances more, my major or the school I go to?

College Majors
1

So here’s my dilemma: I am a transfer student stuck deciding between two Ohio colleges, Miami University and University of Toledo

Still waiting on financial aid, but more than likely, Toledo will give me a lot more scholarship money than Miami.

I want to work in the pharmaceutical industry, but on more of the business side. I also want to get my MBA and I one day want to branch out and do consulting at a major consulting firm.

UT has a niche major that I plan to pursue that supports my Pharmaceutical industry goal–Pharmaceutical Administration. It has a great balance of business and pharmaceutical related classes, as well as an internship built into the program. It perfectly sets you up for a career in the pharma industry.

Miami U has no such major. However, their graduates comparatively have more jobs at higher levels at more top-level, big name companies, both Pharma and non-pharma, as well as a higher number of graduates in consulting at top companies. In addition, Miami’s graduates get into much better MBA programs, and more graduates work outside of Ohio than Utoledo alumni (something I desire to do).

Pharmaceutical companies have expressed a need for business experts–they hire pharmacists with no business experience, who they have to spend more money training and grooming. Having the Pharm. Admin degree would put me at an advantage here. However, numbers don’t lie, and after doing a lot of research, Miami graduates seem to get more jobs at these top Pharma companies without the pharmacy background

So what should I do? Go to the school that will give me more money and the more field relevant major, or go to the school that has better results and better alumni connections in my desired field? All other things equal, what gives you more of an advantage in terms of graduate schools and job opportunities?

2

Make your first business decision. What’s more important results or costs?

(Um I would pick results).

3

Finances aside, a very specific major isn’t necessarily better than a less specific one. A “pharmaceutical administration” major just sounds like a business major with some extra coursework that’s specific to pharmaceutical companies, but I don’t think it’ll really give you an edge. It’s not like it’s a widespread major and you’d be competing with hundreds or thousands of PA majors with a business major - most people going into the kind of jobs PA Toledo graduates want are going to be business (or chemistry or biology) majors anyway.

You have said yourself that Miami graduates are actually more likely to end up at top-level companies in your field of interest - which is great evidence for the idea that the exact, precise major doesn’t matter.