I’m just admitted to emory class of 2028 through ED, currently still at highschool. My intended major is human health-considering emory’s close connection with CDC. My goal is to work at the MBB in the consulting field, and I do not intend to pursue masters to reduce the financial pressure on my family. I want to maximize the resources at Emory, and stand out. I’m thinking of double majoring in Econ and Human Health, going into healthcare sectors in those firms. However, I did not take any Econ course in high school, nor business, and I want to get a head start before my first year. Considering my goal, would human health + econ be better than health + business? I’m not sure. Which one should I start learning right now?
I think econ is a great thing to learn and is needed in business school. But it’s a social science - you can see if you enjoy it.
I do appreciate your goals but think you’re moving way too fast.
Consultants hire from a variety of majors.
When I look up Emory and McKinsey, I see a Strategy and Accounting major…accounting is always great. Poli Sci + organization. I also see a Poli Sci and History
At BCG, I see a double with Business and Env Science, General Management, Strategy and IS with a concentration in Health Innovation
It does seem doubles are popular - but I think you’re getting a bit ahead of yourself.
You should study what you want - because that will bring your passion. What you think you want today - in regards to major, more schooling and more - is likely to change.
Get to school - enjoy and take advantage of the faculty and other support.
It’s fine to start - I’d choose econ - but you don’t need to map out your four years or life now - because the odds are, even at Harvard - you won’t get to MBB.
It doesn’t mean you won’t - some will - and you are driven - but you have to be prepared for life’s twists and turns.
Good luck.
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You do not need to have taken any Econ class in HS to succeed in an Economics major and business classes at a top college are nothing like HS business classes (think Ap physics C v Physical Science).
In any case, as a freshman, you’ll be taking Calc1, Econ 101&112, and Stats which are needed for both the BBA and Econ; like all freshmen you’ll also take 3 classes (transition to college, physical activity, health), take the easy pass/A and don’t complain if it’s easy - it’s on purpose, there’ll be no other easy As; like all freshmen, a world language class each semester (unless you scored a 4 or 5 in an AP foreign language= 1 semester only) + 1st Year Seminar&1st year writing (unless you got an appropriate AP score = Seminar only).
Basically 90% of freshman year is the same for would-be business and econ majors.
So you don’t have to make a decision now.
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Not sure if that matters to you, but a data science element would be a great way to stand out as a BS/BA.
As a data scientist in Pharma, I might be biased but there isn’t a job today that can’t benefit from data skills. In the past, you needed a masters in Data science, Stats, Econ etc but there are now a lot of BS level programs available.
At Emory, there is a joint major of Econ and Human Health so you don’t have to double major, per se. however the joint curriculum is not considered STEM while pure Econ is quantitative and considered STEM certified. There is also a Quantitative Science major and minor which is another way to say data science. So you have options but it gets confusing.
On paper, there is a meaningful difference at Emory between a Econ and Health dual major and the Econ-Health joint major specifically about the depth of quantitative (read:data analytics/data science) components. The joint degree is intended to Provide breadth while the Econ major is supposedly more quantitative.
What odd is that the joint major specifically has three data methods courses which are all forms of data science. if you want a data element, the joint degree seems to have more of this despite not being considered STEM. Weird. Perhaps you could use electives to make one look more like the other. Or you could dual major or minor in Quant Science. Best to discuss options with the advisors.
Note - In grad school “health economics” is a specialty data science MS degree focused on health. It is more than the Emory joint major and goes deeper into methods. Just confusing…
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