<p>Hey--don't be trashing UG business degrees! (g) Back in the stone ages, the undergrad requirements at my decently regarded state university were the same as described: the regular University distribution requirements in the humanities, social sciences, and sciences AS WELL AS a prescribed sequence of prerequisites that were math through calculus, micro and macro economics, two courses in computer science (at the time they required BASIC and FORTRAN programming classes), and statistics. No such thing as international business degree at the time but after I graduated they added one and to get into that you had to have gone through a certain level of a foreign language. </p>
<p>I am eternally grateful for my business degree. It was truly the best of both worlds: I got a great liberal arts education because of the distribution requirements and because even as a junior and senior I had plenty of room to take at least one class per quarter outside my major so I was able to take as much psych and anthro as I wanted and I combined it with my business concentration which was marketing. Because of the happy coexistence of liberal arts and business, I still find my degree useful a quarter century later--who knew enthnographic studies would become a part of marketing research? Or that a marketing manager would need to understand pretty complex quantitative analysis of the effectiveness of this or that marketing effort. </p>
<p>Almost everybody at my level has an MBA, but I'm still coasting on my original old Bachelor's degree. To be honest, the degree was almost worthless my first five years out of school--I worked the same entry level jobs as everybody else, but when I needed it it kicked in.</p>
<p>If any of our kids wanted to major in business I'd be totally fine with it, but I'd make sure they got a solid liberal arts grounding along with the business degree, and I'd insist that they study a language in college.</p>
<p>Mini
when I read what your D is looking for two schools came to mind..Arizona State..Div 1 gymnastics,merit aid,honors college,highly ranked business school (really well funded) w/brand new facilities,city locale with excellent air transportation,language (at least the Spanish)music possibilities with their School of Music.If she has any interest in Hispanic American or Native American culture she'll love it there.
Indiana U (Bloomington) Div 1 gymnastics,excellent business school..friends S is recent accounting graduate,merit aid,honors college,music possibilities,not sure about languages..only drawback could be non city locale (but cute town with worldly outlook) and transportation options..its a drive to nearest airport.</p>
<p>"I guess there are only a handful of decent schools around giving scholarships for gymnastics (dying sport at the college level) and having a good undergraduate experience and a good accting program."</p>
<p>Actually, there are quite a few, and we have 18 on the list. Indiana U - sadly - does not have Div. 1 gymnastics, only club gymnastics (Illinois, on the other hand, is pretty prime.) But we really don't need help with the schools - we have that pretty well covered (I've got all the women's Div. I scholarship schools and all busines programs with accounting cross-referenced, including info. on whether the business programs admit on entry or after two years (and what the requirements are), language offerings, and locations. So if anyone ever comes up with a similar need, let me know.)</p>
<p>I'm speaking at ASU in February, so will get to kick the tires then.</p>
<p>mini
you'll love ASU in February.Thats when D (ASU grad) went out for her music audition and never wanted to come home.
Try to get a look at the new Business School facilities while you're on campus,and if you're a fan of Frank Lloyd Wright,take a look at the Music School facilities!</p>
<p>quote " admit I kinda cringe when I hear about someone going to that field because of my bother in laws ( no mispelling) experience
He has several grad degrees CFA related, and has been CFO for a few companies- internal auditor for large banks etc.
Because of mergers, exporting work etc- he is now selling insurance out of his basement at 56.( nothing wrong with that if htat is what you want to do- but is the only thing he would agree to after looking for a job for almost two years)
He isn't the only one that I know who is doing that- so my impression is to get as much diverse work experience as you can- it can only help"</p>
<p>unless you are a professional (dr or certain lawyers) just about everyone that works in business will be doing this at age 56. I am 46 and expect only 8-10 more years in a decent job in a decent company. Its what i counsel young kids on all the time, a business degree is quite a risk. with constant reorgs, mergers, increased technology, and the ever present politics, you are at tremendous risk. an MBA does little help. I would encourage anyone to build a deep skill set in a particular vertical if you want to stay for the long haul. You will have to provide a deep skill in a specialized area if you want to work in a $50mm a year company or better after the age of 50 or so. my D is starting college this fall and she is doing a combo of finnce and law, to hedge her bets before she has to make a final decison in a few yrs. i would love to see her stay out of the fortune 1000 completely</p>
<p>Accounting is a good choice for that through 66472--you can always work in gov't, or in small firms or go out on your own after you burn out on corporate work.</p>
<p>I had the same feeling about my business degree/corporate career until a year or so ago. I am your age and I expect another decade if I'm lucky, although the odds my employer will still be around in a decade are almost zero--we've been expecting a buyout for years and it's only a matter of time before we are picked off. However, I've seen two or three new companies launch out of every merger in this town in the past several years, so I'm optimistic that I will be able to transition to a different type of company once this gig ends via restructuring or a merger.</p>