I have recently started to consider majoring in something business related rather than engineering related (as I previously thought I was highly interested in). I know it is a bit early to decide, as I am still in high school. However, many colleges require you to apply to a “school,” inside of the college itself. Therefore, I have been wondering what the pros and cons of each major are. Additionally, it would be helpful to know some colleges that are well known for both disciplines and would make it easy for me to either transfer between majors after getting in, or to double major across schools.
What year are you in high school?
I’m confused because you posted last April and it sounded like you were going to apply this past cycle.
In general (at most, but not all schools), it’d be easier to transfer from engineering to business instead of the other way.
Engineering is heavy heavy calculus and physics based where some b schools will want you to know calc, but not near the level of engineering. So you gotta love math.
Engineering - is a great major - even if you don’t end up an engineer. At the same time, business can also be great…but you can be in some business roles even without a business degree (like marketing, supply chain, operations). Of course, like business has many disciplines, so does engineering. Supply chain jobs often request engineers. Data Science would be another major to look at.
Then there are some - I don’t know all - the programs - that are a hybrid. I don’t believe they will be engineering accredited (ABET).
Check curriculums - see which you’d enjoy more.
It’s early - but it’s a very good question you are asking - and I always think looking at curriculums and career outcomes can be telling. But at 15 or 16, and even 20, you don’t necessarily know - but never hurts to look.
The other thing is, at many schools you can minor in business. Some schools have minors in engineering too - but may require they be a major in a different engineering discipline. Not sure where one can minor in engineering if majoring in business.
Good luck
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Since you’ve been focusing on Northwestern as a potential ED school, check out their Industrial Engineering department Undergraduate Program | Academics | Industrial Engineering & Management Sciences | Northwestern Engineering This is the most business-y of the engineering fields, and could be a good pivot point - if you start out there, you could remain in this major, or switch to a different engineering major, or switch out of engineering, or consider one of the other programs that are mentioned on that page. Of course, there are many other schools with strong Industrial/Systems engineering departments as well, but this type of major generally could be a good option to explore, equipping you with a strong technical skill-set that most undergrad business grads don’t have.
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The pros and cons will depend on YOUR interests and aptitudes.
Have you researched the course requirements for business and engineering to see if one path is preferable to you?
Have you researched the many different paths one can take within both the engineering and business schools?
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I might suggest you take a step back and consider possibly enrolling at a college where you can explore even more broadly than just business and engineering. You really don’t need to have decided in HS what your life will be like to go on to a successful professional career. Indeed, taking the time to really get a better understanding of what you like–not just in classes but through internships and such–and are good at doing can pay off in the long run.
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You’ve received good suggestions. When I read the first sentence of your original post I immediately wanted to ask, why? Is there something that initiated this change of heart? I don’t need to know the answer but you should think about and talk to trusted people in your life about it. Second guessing big decisions is natural but I noticed you used the past tense…“(as I previously thought I was highly interested in)”.
My DH and DS both made the conscious decision to pursue business over engineering even though they had a strong aptitude in math and science.
DH comes from a family of engineers so naturally majored in engineering. It was sophomore year that he panicked as he realized he did not want to be an engineer. He pivoted from EE to General Engineering (at UIUC, though it’s industrial engineering now) in order to incorporate some business classes. He applied himself to all the classes he didn’t really love and was able to get a direct admit to a prestigious MBA program. (It was hard then and harder now, without work experience.)
Then there’s DS’s experience. We live in a suburb of Chicago with a lot of outstanding academically motivated students. Many of those friends chose engineering and pre-med. He was comfortable choosing business the more he talked with people and reflected on what he liked and what he wanted for the future.
Fast forward, he’s been out of school for almost 5 yrs. He graduated from Gies (UIUC) and lives and works in Chicago as a financial consultant. Life is good.
I noticed you are from IL so if you’re considering UIUC I recommend a campus visit. We loved the Gies experience but it is very difficult to get admission into business.
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As mentioned look into Industrial engineering. Good marriage of both disciplines.
Hi! I messaged you directly explaining the situation.
Thank you so much! I really appreciate the advice. I do enjoy math a lot, which is what drew me to engineering in the first place. However, I have recently discovered that I also find a lot of business topics interesting as well and might even want to study it in college/go into that career. Based on this I am probably leaning towards studying engineering in college, as it seems like a more versatile degree.
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I will definitely look into Industrial Engineering! This sounds like a good medium between the two.
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I have done a little research. From what I found, the course requirements for both sound interesting to me. However, I was a bit concerned about the rigor and difficulty of many of the engineering courses. Due to this, I am wondering if I might end up enjoying business more, even though I like both subjects.
I’m not a fan of the direct to mba program but Alabama has a STEM to MBA - so you do both. But it’s very well known.
If you end up an engineer, there’s always grad school later :)…which in my opinion is better so that you can leverage your experience for more $$ or pivot to another career if unhappy with the current.
Good luck whatever you end up pursuing !!
Thank you!! This looks like an excellent program and I will definitely research into it a lot more. Do you know if there are any other programs like this?
I really enjoy math and science, but I also recently discovered how much I enjoy a lot of business related subjects as well. I had not really had the opportunity to explore them in school until this year, and I realized I might enjoy it as a career. I am also aware of how challenging most engineering degrees are, and was thinking that I would like to have a back up plan. I think I would be able to handle the an engineering program, but even then I don’t want to get stuck doing something I don’t enjoy (in case I change my mind), so I would just like to have the option of both. Additionally, I know that I would not want to go into a law or medical field because in the past, I have strongly disliked those subjects (biology, AP Lang, etc). UIUC is a school that I am highly considering, so I will definitely keep that in mind as well.
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Definitely the combo undergrad vs a full engineering degree. Others might know more.
Again, not a fannof direct to MBA …I think it’s a loss for the student but the Bama program is popular and Bama is a fine engineerimg program with fantastic merit, attracting top kids.
When I google I don’t see others but others may know.
Many MBA programs will take kids directly from undergrad - it’s just they won’t have been integrated over the four years.
But while some kids want that, you give up potential benefits later.
If you know you’re gonna pursue engineering - focus on that. If you decide to bring in business, you can hopefully take classes wherever you end up !!
I really appreciate your help!! I was under the impression that it was hard to get into a good MBA program without being a business major and/or having work experience in the field. I feel like I definitely have a clearer idea of what I want to do now, knowing all of this.
I think work experience before an MBA is usually a very good idea anyway.
But it is easy to know that you do not need to be a business major, because many colleges that place well into business jobs and ultimately MBAs (should that remain important) don’t HAVE business majors.
Edit: For example, check out this list, particularly the per capita version (second):
Dartmouth? Nope. Chicago? No. CMC? No. Yale? No. Williams? No. Harvard? No. Northwestern? No. Stanford? No. Duke? No. Amherst? No.
That’s all top 10, and it just keeps going. Eventually some do, but I think this is very indicative of what value MBA programs really place on undergrad business majors.
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Thank you! That is good to know and I will definitely keep that in mind.
Take your time to explore - however for business try to find an area (finance vs. accounting vs. analytics vs. marketing vs. supply chain vs. management etc.) that you are interested in, because they are very different (like nuclear vs mechanical engineering)
They also have different lifestyles. In business ‘prestiege’ matters a lot. A below-average student at Cornell will get better jobs than the honors 3.9 student at a so-called ‘non-target’ school. Networking will drain more of your time than academics, and this includes getting into competitive clubs, BUSINESS FRATS, internship/special programs, going to tons of social events, cold-emailing etc.
You get a good job by knowing people (like hi so-and-so, you were also a brother in [insert frat] and now you’re working at Goldman Sachs, could we sit down for coffee?)
Engineering, by comparison, is near-reverse of this. Very much more meritocratic. But also requires a LOT more studying. Recruiters care about your GPA, research, honors etc. and classes require MUCH more work (a 3-credit chem class will be more work than a 3-credit business class). Most engineering kids have very light extra-curriculars (casual/non-competitive ones) but they have a straightforward path. Do well in classes, and you have a direct path upwards. Lots of really, really good public engineering schools nowadays (Auburn, NC State, Texas A&M, UIUC, Wisconsin, Purdue, Virginia Tech, Georgia Tech etc.) and you don’t have to worry about ‘subjective’ things like joining a business frat / competitive club