Undergraduate Business Major

[mik37]

I am a soph at UMD and on the business track. Since junior year is coming up I am forced to choose my major. I am currently in a business management program in the school of agriculture resource and economics. At the end of the year I am thinking about applying to the Smith School of Business and my area of interest is marketing (not interested in hearing views on marketing). I also have a concentration in sports commerce and culture and plan to get masters in Sports Management and possibly MBA in marketing.

The difference between the two programs:
Current: I have to take 4 classes I would take in Smith (Finance, Marketing, Business Law, and Management) along with 7 Economics of agriculture classes, 1 more elective, and intro probability. 13 classes total.

Smith: 4 from the current + 3 more. 6 Marketing classes, mandatory junior english (placed out of current major bc I got an A in freshman english), 1 more econ, and 2 extra elective. 19 Classes total.

I'm beginning to realize a few things. The business school at Maryland is not that great, undergraduate major is not that important, and why work my ass off when I can chill and get decent grades.

What do you suggest I do in choosing between these two programs?

Cliff Notes: I am debating between working really hard for an undergraduate business school or working moderately in a different type of business major.

[BG1124]

I really don't know why you said the business school at maryland is not that great when the undergraduate program is ranked 21st in the nation. You definitely do not have to "work your ass off" for a business degree from Smith. From my experience (class of 2006) I graduated with a 3.2 double majoring in Marketing and Logistics while not working extremely hard. Go with the business program and thank me later.
-BG

[alphatmw]

lol @ management or marketing.

in seriousness, take marketing. the majority of my friends a business majors and i've yet to meet a management major. unless the economics of management tweaks it in such a way that it becomes more sought after, i can't imagine how its actually useful in the real world upon graduation.

[mikeczyz]

one thing i'm discovering is that most ugrad business programs require very little math. while this may not be a problem for some folks, if you intend to pursue graduate studies in economics, statistics or other quant related fields, you may want to take a few extra semesters of math. for instance, this is crib'd from the uc-berkeley econ graduate admissions checklist:

"Applicants must have knowledge of multivariate calculus, basic matrix algebra, and differential equations; completion of a two-year math sequence, which emphasizes proofs and derivations, should provide adequate preparation."

Umm, at my ugrad business program, you don't even need pre-calc to graduate. just some sissy business math courses...something to keep in mind for the future.

[matt777]

Future grad schools and employers know that the Business school is harder and will consider this when evaluating your resume.