Know-How Exchange : Career/Training

I slightly disagree with Randall when he said "Selecting a major is easy. Accomplishing the goal of actually receiving a degree in business is one of the most difficult you could take." I think that completing any degree is difficult, and that business is no more difficult than other BS degrees (though BS degrees may be slightly harder than BA degrees).

I fully agree when he says read. This will give you a huge leg up over other students. Perhaps not read all of the periodicals he listed, but chose one and subscribe to it. I started reading Business Week when I was in college and have continued with it ever since. The Economist is also a good weekly that covers general business subjects. If you think you can handle the amount of reading, the Wall Street Journal is probably better than either, but it is a daily.

Truthfully - I wouldn't stress too much about what degree you go for. We have had some conversations about whether a certain degree is required on this board, and it seems that most people believe that getting a degree is more important than what degree you get. You likely will change careers a few times in your life, so at many times your degree won't match what you are doing. But this is fine. Business is a good degree at providing information that could be useful in most any situation you may find yourself.

Hi pretty_brown/eyes621,

Selecting a major is not easy, as you know it can be one of the most difficulty choices a new college student has to make. The sad reality is after all that anguish and decision-making that if you are like most people you are going to change your major at least once, more likely twice, before you settle on one that you really like.

Be forwarned: If you pursue a degree in business you will have to take statistics. This is the great slayer of many aspiring b-students. You've been warned.

However, all majors have courses like that, they are called "weeder courses" and they exist in part to separate the weak from the strong, or the serious from the party animals.

BS or BA, there are many required core classes you have to take in the next couple of years regardless of what your major is so do you really have to even worry about a major right now? - Probably not.

Instead, put your energy into getting psyched up for 4-6 of the most memorable years of your life and enjoy any extra free minute you have now, because once you start college, and if you are really applying yourself, you won't have any.

To really get an idea of what your career pick will bring, try as soon as possible to get exposure to it in the real world. Better to find out when you are junior than a new graduate that you can't stand reading The Wall Street Journal, Fast Company, Business Week, The Economist and all the other required publications, and that the reality is you would rather read Wired or Popular Mechanic.

I hope that helps!