Management Degree or Marketing Degree? Little help...

[MattTheSkywalker]

I don't think that highly of marketing degrees. Management is something I believe is learned by doing.

IMO for business people, the best undergrad degree is Mathematics. Tough one, though.

Synpax gave you good advice about how to suggest getting into the limited majors.

 

[Synpax]

I was pushed to major in math. To do it again, I might have majored in that or engineering, or I may go back and get my MA in math.

 

[MILF69]

First of all what's your passion? No matter what you get a BFA in what do you see yourself doing? Even ten years from now. Think of what you want to do and then see which one will be the best to take you there. I myself have a BFA in Fine Arts...I'm a creative director...with a minor in marketing. The marketing side unfortunately is going to focus more on advertising etc. But that is a huge part of where your goignt o be using a Marketing degree. Marketing...what to people like, want need...what's goign to make them buy your product or someone elses. You need to look at every angle...stick to what you really want to do and go for it...mo matter how many degrees it takes. Also it's not what you learn in the classroom it's what you do outside the classroom that counts. You have to get in somewhere as an intern...no money...get a feel for different businesses. See what's out there. Lot's of Luck!!!!

 

[Code3]

I say msvain75 is on the right track. If you have an idea about what you may want to do after college, let that decide between mgt or mkt. DO NOT go into finance or another major soley on thinking you may get a better job after college. An Internship is always a plus and is looked on very highly by employers, plus it may help you figure out what you want or don't want to do. I was a mrk major in college only b/c it was my fastest way out. I'm currently a manager for a healthcare company. My friend was a mgt major and he is now doing mrk for a food company. As stated above, any idiot can go to class and get a degree, its what else you do outside of the classroom that will seperate you. So, I recommend getting involved with a sports team (even intramural), do an internship, and maybe find some time to volunteer. This may help give you an advantage over the several thousand that are graduating the same year with the same degree as you. Good luck.

 

[MattTheSkywalker]

msvain75

I suspect that the original poster, like so many people in school, is not very certain about what he wants to do, and in the absence of a clear understanding of that, is trying to position himself for the greatest potential opportunity as things become clearer.

chewyxrage,

I don't really think it matters all that much, if you don't know in which direction you'd like to go. I would consider synpax's advice, and I recommend finance classes because they are a decent prep for additional training. They are also mind-numbingly boring, and (candor alert) a finance degree from NIU is not going to move any employers either way.

 

[MILF69]

msvain75

I suspect that the original poster, like so many people in school, is not very certain about what he wants to do, and in the absence of a clear understanding of that, is trying to position himself for the greatest potential opportunity as things become clearer.

chewyxrage,

I don't really think it matters all that much, if you don't know in which direction you'd like to go. I would consider synpax's advice, and I recommend finance classes because they are a decent prep for additional training. They are also mind-numbingly boring, and (candor alert) a finance degree from NIU is not going to move any employers either way.

I agree with what you're saying....I also think that he is just looking for some different opinions and my point was to encourage him to take any step he can, i.e. interns at different place, to get a feel for marketing or management. Interns dont last long and everyone wants students to com in and help. No matter where he goes he can get a feel for lots of different positions. In conclusion...he'll figure it out on his own...we all do at some point!

 

[KillahBee]

It all depends on what you want to do. Anyone that says finance is the best way to go if you don't know what you want to do is wrong. That will limit you, depending on what you want to get into. An ad exec or sports marketing VP doesn't give a flaming shit about a finance degree. My undergrad degree is in PR/Communications with a minor in Marketing. I was lucky enough to know what I wanted to do (somewhat) so I knew what to take. But I will say this, I regret not taking more general business or finance classes to get that basic understanding of fundamentals under my belt. What are you interested in? Any ideas whatsoever? And much more importantly, what types of jobs/internships have to taken? A degree alone does not get many people a job. That being said, if you want in on Marketing, a finance degree will not do much for you. And vice versa. Once again, it comes down to what you are interested in and/or what you are not interested in. In general, I don't view any type of management degree as that great. As MTS said, it's more of a learn by doing thing ans to be honest, most employers are not looking to hire a manager right out of college. I took marketing and while a lot of the courses seemed to be the same thing over and over, it's all what you make it. And you can choose less general classes (I took a Writing for PR class and a Measurement class about surveys that were very useful to this day) and take a minor that complements your major.

 

[KillahBee]

Also, a lot of colleges are moving towards an IMC (Integrated Marketing Communications) degree now that spans all areas of marketing. At least that's what they were moving towards when I was in school.

 

[-SD-]

If you have a great personality and are a people person, you can get away with management or marketing. If not, then accounting. Finance can go wither way.