<p>I am planning to start my own personal training business after college. I am currently a high school senior. The way I see it, I need knowledge in both business and exercise science/kinesiology. I figure I have the following paths to choose from in college:</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Double major in business and exercise science.</p></li>
<li><p>Major in exercise science at a great school, then go to graduate school for business.</p></li>
<li><p>Go to a great undergraduate business school and learn exercise science outside of college (through national certification agencies such as ACE, NASM, ACSM, NCSA, etc.). Don't go to graduate school.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>The reason this is an issue is because I plan to play college basketball, which limits me to Division 2 and 3 schools. THIS MAKES OPTION #1 VERY DIFFICULT TO FIND. In the few schools that do offer both majors, the business school is not known to be great. I feel that if I'm going to major in undergraduate business, I should go to a great business school.</p>
<p>My question is which path should I take? (or a totally different suggestion). If you have any schools that would go along with that path, that would be great too. I appreciate your help.</p>
<p>Stats: 35 ACT, 4.0 GPA, #1 class rank, decent ECs.</p>
<p>I workedin the fitness industry for about 10 years. I was less than impressed with trainers with just a certification. Have always been very impressed with fitness professionals that have a degree in exercise science as many of these programs have competitive admissions. Over the long haul, you will be better served with a degree in the field rather than just a certification.</p>
<p>I now teach in a college of business. The undergraduate business classes have almost nothing to do with being a small business owner.</p>
<p>I would recommend…undergraduate degree in exercise science combined with a certificate program in entrepreneurship.</p>
<p>Iowa State Univ and U Iowa both offer outstanding exercise science programs along with entrepreneurship programs. Check out those on the web to give you an idea.</p>
<p>I would bet that you could find some D3 schools that offer both. You are going to have to look.</p>
<p>Thank you for the reply. Could you explain what a certificate program is?</p>
<p>I would get a degree in Exercise Science and MINOR in business. You will get all of the pertinent courses needed to open/run your own business by doing that.</p>
<p>At a 4 year school, it is essentially a minor.</p>
<p>[John</a> Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center, The University of Iowa](<a href=“http://www.iowajpec.org/undergraduate/certificate/]John”>http://www.iowajpec.org/undergraduate/certificate/)</p>
<p>Many community colleges offer it as a certificate program, essentially a collection of related classes.</p>
<p>[NIACC</a> Business Division](<a href=“http://www.niacc.edu/business/eentcert.html]NIACC”>http://www.niacc.edu/business/eentcert.html)</p>
<p>Okay thank you both. @Haystack Do you have any D3 school suggestions for this? I am definitely going to a 4 yr school.</p>
<p>I just noticed your ACT score and am revising my suggestion. Almost all of the really good undergraduate programs in exercise science are at major research universities. Some small schools have exercise science programs but they lack the facilities, experiences, and quality faculty that the big schools have. Many are at not so great LACs.</p>
<p>Go to a great LAC ( or small university), get a great education, and get a degree in anything while playing hoops. Get your certificate on the side. You might also consider an undergrad degree in biology as prep for an MS program in exercise science at a large school…Penn State, ASU, Iowa State, etc.</p>
<p>The entrepreneurship certificate can be done later or just take a few classes at a local CC while an undergrad/grad…perhaps in the summer.</p>
<p>I forgot to mention…in business terms, fitness has what we would call a low barrier to entry. Meaning, in the eyes of the general public, there is no difference in someone with an exercise science degree and someone with a fairly easy to acquire fitness certificate. With either, you can put up a shingle and get clients. Clearly, the degreed person is better qualified but it often does not matter to clients. I have seen both succeed.</p>
<p>As for starting a business, business school classes are basically worthless. The accounting class will teach you very little bookkeeping. You won’t learn anything about writing a business plan. The finance class will cover corporate finance and markets not how to acquire financing from your local bank. Community College classes will be much more real world.</p>
<p>Why not get the great education at one of the major research universities with a good exercise program? I don’t see the need to go to an LAC. Take advantage of honors colleges and other opportunities for someone with your grades and scores. I think for running your own small business that Business School is not a must, but obviously it would be useful to know some things about running a business. I’m not sure you need a certificate or you just need to make sure you learn what you need to know.</p>
<p>I would have suggested the same thing but he seems intent on playing basketball. But the truth is that the really good exercise science programs are at research schools.</p>
<p>I would highly recommend the University of Texas @ Dallas. They are D3 in Basketball and I know they have a good Business school Im also pretty sure they are good for fitness type things to. The campus is also amazing looking!</p>
<p>You are looking at a pretty specialized major, one that is not normally seen at a Div III school.
Have you considered not playing and just participating in intramural or club sports?</p>
<p>@Haystack So you would recommend choosing a great LAC, majoring in biology, then going to grad school to learn about exercise science. And then getting my business knowledge at a community college in my free time? Just making sure I understand you correctly. Thanks.</p>
<p>@MizzBee I do realize that but I am trying to find all options available that still involve a great education AND college varsity basketball. It’s very important to me.</p>
<p>2 possible options…</p>
<p>Great LAC, major in anything, get a fitness certificate through self study, possibly take some small business/entrepreneurship classes at a local CC to help you with your business endeavor (lots of small business owners never do this yet are still successful entrepreneurs).</p>
<p>Great LAC, major/minor in biology, consider getting a fitness certificate through self study, possibly take some small business/entrepreneurship classes at a local CC to help you with your business endeavor. Apply to MS programs in Exeecise Science. You will probably have deficiencies (lack of undergraduate courses in ES that will need to be made up).</p>
<p>Again, the barrier to entry as a fitness professional is very low. You can do it with just a certificate. </p>
<p>There is no one correct answer for you. Good luck.</p>
<p>@Haystack So what we know for sure:</p>
<ol>
<li>Go to great LAC.</li>
<li>Get fitness certification from outside source.</li>
<li>Take business/entreprenuership classes @ community college.</li>
</ol>
<p>Okay so how much do you think a MS program would help me as far as knowledge goes. Would it allow me to better help my clients? And what about some marketing classes? Could I take that at a LAC? </p>
<p>With method #1 it seems like the only reason I am attending college is to play bball.</p>
<p>Thank you for your help.</p>
<p>Some of the better fitness certificates require a bachelors degree in anything.</p>
<p>[url=<a href=“http://www.nsca.com/Certification/CSCS/]NSCA[/url”>Become a Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist | NSCA]NSCA[/url</a>]</p>
<p>You want to prepare for a future that may or may not include fitness. You may get to college and decide that you love economics and pursue a degree in that. Also,if the personal trainer business does not work out, you may need to look for a job, at say a hospital, as a trainer in their fitness facility and they will likely require a degree in addition to a certification.</p>
<p>The best fitness professionals that I have ever worked with have an MS. You would have far more knowledge from an MS program than you would ever get from self studying for a certificate program.</p>
<p>Many LACs do not offer any business classes. Some do.</p>
<p>Another suggestion would be to get a degree in Athletic Training-which is different than Exercise Science but you could probably double major as there would be a lot of crossover. If you pass the AT exam and become certified it would give you a career path to earn some money while you are getting your business off the ground. It would be a big draw for high school and college athletes to train in the off-season, especially if you can stay connected to a sports medicine clinic.</p>
<p>You should pick the colleges that are an overall good fit for you. You want to play basketball but you may not make the team or have an injury that precludes playing. You may also outgrow your sports fascination when you enter college- ie you could discover a lot outside of sports that intrigues you. Many college freshmen will change their major, if they even have one. You should allow for this possibility. You may discover that Physical Therapy is more rewarding, or any number of other related fields. Choose schools with your proposed fitness/exercise physiology/whatever designation major and let the business courses be either an add on or masters level. </p>
<p>You need to consider academics more than athletics. You need to have flexibility for changes as you experience college. Be sure to pick a school for more than one major/sport. Remember to get a college education, not just a narrow job related one.</p>
<p>@Haystack Could you explain what kinds of fields I might go into with an economics degree since I don’t really know where that would take me (I’m new to all this obviously hahaha). You’re suggesting graduate school for exercise science. But I will need/want to be doing something worthwhile in my undergraduate years too. You suggest possibly economics or biology or SMALL business studies (if I can find a good school with that). Could you sort of sum up your suggestions thus far to make sure I am understanding correctly. Do any schools come to mind that you think I should check out? You have been a great help already.</p>
<p>@SteveMA I think you’re onto something there. I’d be much more marketable if I decided to work for a high school or small college for a time if they could hire a “2-in-1” athletic trainer and strength and conditioning coach. And good D2 or D3 schools you know of that have both of these majors? Thank you.</p>
<p>@wis75 An injury would be very unfortunate, but I still plan on being at a great school. I feel that I am considering academics a good amount. There are many great D2 and D3 schools academically, so it’s not like basketball is completely limiting me…just making me search harder. Thank you.</p>