ds143

Hi everyone!

Ever since a young age, I've known I want to study business in college. However, I've been having a hard time trying to think of the right major. Ideally, I'd love to be managing/work for a theme park, hotel, or tech company (something dynamic and people-oriented)...however, I know that I would hate accounting, finance, economics or anything on Wall Street. Of course I'm going to need some experience with those things, but it's not what I want my career to be based around.

I've looked into possible business majors, and I'm still a tad confused. I like the idea of hospitality as a major, so that's definitely an option. What else? What exactly do the general "business management" or "business administration" majors found at so many schools entail, and would I be happy with the curriculum?

Thanks!

psmko

business management covers pretty much the case study / theoretical practice of running organizations. (look at course offerings at various schools for upper div Bus. Admin students and you can have a general feel of what classes are offered etc etc)

also, it doesnt seem like you'll be taking a heavy emphasis on accounting / math / econ if you strictly wanna stay in bus. admin.

however, i'd like to point out that you dont necessarily need a "business administration" degree to run a company. my sister is a sales manager at a hotel and she has an art degree, so its more about getting your foot into the door. (she'll also be trying for a MBA program to further her opportunities)

PurpleAndProud

I wouldn't recommend doing undergrad business without an Accounting/Finance/Marketing concentration. Business Administration is just too broad and it's kind of useless to learn the theory before you've had a career.

Doing specifically Business Management/Administration is more in the domain of getting an MBA rather than undergrad.

I would like to point out that just because you get a concentration is say Accounting doesn't mean you have to be an accountant but it does show that you have a useful skill set.

openedskittles

Actually, a management major is less in the domain of getting an MBA than finance or accounting because MBA programs consider your work experience on the application and you're simply not going to have the same opportunities for jobs with steep learning curves and prestige as you would with accounting or finance.

I agree with the statement about accounting, though. You should get a useful skillset because you will need it. For example, everyone in management can make use of accounting skills and just because you have the degree doesn't mean you have to work for an accounting firm. After all, a lot of CEOs and CFOs are certified public accountants.

Also, perhaps you should consider Cornell's hotel management major. I don't know what job placement is like exactly, but it seems to be what you're looking for.

creamgethamoney

Not trying to insult marketing majors, but marketing is part of the big 3? I thought that GENERALLY (again not ALWAYS but GENERALLY) the best plan is to do either accounting, finance, or econ and then maybe double or minor in some other field that they are interested in. Again, it varies depending on someone's ability/interests, but I thought that this was the general consensus on these boards. I didn't know that marketing was up there with acct and finance.

Jimgotkp

If you want to do hospitality and rise the ranks you will have to start loving accounting. Just saying....