parent/child dissent

FinanceGrad
Thu, 30 Aug 2012 19:19:30 +0000

I was trying to ask in the previous post what is your son’s reason for wanting a BBA? I mean in his own words what is he telling you? I think that would help everyone here give you better advice because so far I think we are just getting your own opinions.

“At Northwestern you can study economics or finance or marketing or organizational behavior but each one is a separate major or certificate program. You can’t just take a course here or there. You have to do the whole certificate. With a business major - you start off taking one or two classes in every discipline and then choose one or more specializations. You aren’t asking a person to choose a career at a young age”

^^With that rationale he is no better off (employement-wise) going to a LAC, or majoring in something non-business. If he’s not specializing in something then he’s not any more competitive than any other major. I know a lot of previous posters mentioned they knew plenty of people who didn’t major in business, but ended up working in it anyway. So, he could easily lose an interview spot to a non-bs candidate.

“Yes, exactly FG. Not focused on one specialized field yet. Maybe general management consulting. But a bba will let you focus in one or two areas like accounting or finance. But you don’t have to decide that before you start the program.”

I don’t know why you think picking a specific degree limits you from taking other classes. Only the last 30hrs determine your major the other 90-100 are used taking all those other classes you mentioned. In fact, if you are a finance major would be required to take management, marketing, economics, finance as part of the degree, not to mention other humanities. Also, many schools allow you to minor in other business degrees. For example, Management BS with minor in Accounting or the other way around.