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when majoring in business, what are some things that I need to focus on in that major?
business is one of the subjects I want to major, but I don't know what to focus on for that major #major #business
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Simeon’s Answer
It's good to choose a specialization within business. I say that as someone who chose the business management degree and didn't think which specific skill set I would like to try being a manager for. Look at accounting, finance, marketing, and computer science related skill sets and see if any of them feel like a natural fit for you. All of those skills will be relevant for you regardless of which one that you choose, but you'll want to choose one to get your degree in and start doing networking for.
Kate Sonstein
Recruitment & Admissions for Graduate Business Programs
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Kate’s Answer
Most business schools have a base curriculum where you will take classes in all business disciplines, which can be helpful in deciding your major! But it’s also about your interests and what kind of jobs you are interested in. Right now, business analytics is a really important skill set in most industries and the job market has a lot of opportunities. It’s a great skill if you are math minded and can be a great jumping off point for other areas. Some universities offer free programs or summer programs for high school students or even just free class samples that you can look at to help explore different topics. Also, online platforms like YouTube are actually really helpful to learn about topics, which can help you figure out what you are interested in.
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Sophia’s Answer
I think Sophia M's answer is good, I will expand on it! I majored in accounting. I found it helpful as it gives a general overview of how businesses record information, and what types of information are particularly important to a business from a financial perspective. Accounting majors are typically employable across many of the same jobs that finance, marketing, and management majors apply to (but usually marketing majors, management majors, etc. can't apply to accounting specific jobs). I would also consider operations management/IT if you are interested in data and tech, super useful for just about any organization!
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Henry’s Answer
Most programs will provide you the opportunity to take an introductory class in different business disciplines which will help you to figure out what you are more passionate about. Similar to Sophia C, I believe that taking a class in Accounting is very important not only for a career in business but also for your own personal knowledge. Obviously it is a requirement if you go into Accounting or Finance, but even if you don't it is important as a Marketing or even and Engineering professional to understand budgets. On a related note, it is very helpful to get an internship (either paid or as a volunteer) to really get a feel for a job/field. Once you are there you might find out that the translation from classroom to real world is not what you expected.
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David’s Answer
I think business is interesting because there are so many ways to be "successful in business".
You can focus on technical skills, entrepreneurial soft skills, leadership skills, networking skills, marketing messaging, broader economic strategy, etc.
While in school, I'd focus on rounding a good base in the first 1-2 years, and see what you'd like to hone your skills on. Business is a collaborative effort so you don't have to be a jack of all trades -- there are others who naturally are better than you at certain things and they are there to back you up. But being able to work with others and driving towards a unified goal takes more skill than you think. And having that wide base will allow you to better see others' perspectives and lead. Not to say this is the only way to lead since some can be visionary -- but those are harder to come by.
I think you should always stretch yourself, but know your roots and what you're naturally good at. What you're good at is what you bring to the table -- it's table stakes to get a seat. What you do once there will depend on how well you are able to work with others, your base knowledge, and ability to make others better around you.
Good luck and enjoy the journey!
You can focus on technical skills, entrepreneurial soft skills, leadership skills, networking skills, marketing messaging, broader economic strategy, etc.
While in school, I'd focus on rounding a good base in the first 1-2 years, and see what you'd like to hone your skills on. Business is a collaborative effort so you don't have to be a jack of all trades -- there are others who naturally are better than you at certain things and they are there to back you up. But being able to work with others and driving towards a unified goal takes more skill than you think. And having that wide base will allow you to better see others' perspectives and lead. Not to say this is the only way to lead since some can be visionary -- but those are harder to come by.
I think you should always stretch yourself, but know your roots and what you're naturally good at. What you're good at is what you bring to the table -- it's table stakes to get a seat. What you do once there will depend on how well you are able to work with others, your base knowledge, and ability to make others better around you.
Good luck and enjoy the journey!
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Sophia’s Answer
It definitely depends on your personality and skillset! I think the most popular are Accounting and Finance, but then if you have a more creative side you could do Marketing. Or if you want a more general focus, you could do Business Administration!