Major/Minor Advice

Hello everyone, finally made an account to ask you all a question.

I'm currently a sophomore at U of Michigan. My plan, at least for now, is to major in Economics and Mathematics (our Math department offers sub-concentrations, so technically that degree would read 'Mathematics of Finance & Risk Management') and I am considering pursuing a minor in Computer Science.

Now that I'm getting further along in the level of my coursework, I'm wondering if this combination of concentrations is truly necessary. My goal for after undergrad is to go to a European MS in Finance program, possibly at LSE or HEC Paris. I've looked through some other options both domestically and abroad, though.

What sort of options might I have with regards to my major? I enjoy all three areas of study, but I'm starting to think that it may be best to cut one of them out in order to keep my GPA in the 3.7+ range. I'm open to any and all suggestions, as I really have no idea wether cutting one or the other out will hurt my chances of admittance to a decent graduate program down the road.

Thanks in advance!

 

Focus on one major and find a way to boost your GPA as high as possible. From experience, I don't think people really care that you double/triple majored; the only exception are well know dual-degree (different from double major) programs like Wharton's Huntsman or M&T. Other than that, a higher GPA will stand out more than any sort of double/triple major

 

I'm not necessarily certain I'd like to go in to IBD. I'm more interested in pursuing the masters degree abroad and seeing what avenues that may open up later on. I have an opportunity to intern with EDF Trading (Energy markets) the summer after my junior year, and I don't want to do the BBA. I am familiar with Ross and it is undoubtedly a great program, just not for me.

This is more of a question concerning graduate school admissions and the best possible approach to that opportunity. I hardly think that the 'only reason' one should attend U of M is Ross.

 

Most likely nobody is going to care.

"You stop being an asshole when it sucks to be you." -IlliniProgrammer "Your grammar made me wish I'd been aborted." -happypantsmcgee
 

What are you trying to do when you finish? I'd say something like statistics or accounting will be most useful for you, if you want to get into finance. Econ programs don't generally cover much (if any) of either of those topics, and they're both pretty important for practically any of the investment related jobs.

 

Honestly... have you ever heard someone ask, "What did you minor in?"

blackjack21:
I'm pretty sure the programming/design minor is more difficult, but it might give me a few added skills on my resume. Both the minors seem pretty interesting. Not sure which one to go with. Thoughts?

Do it for interest, sure, but honestly you'll get farther in life if you take some art history classes so you have something interesting to talk about over drinks/dinner. The real world is not filled with rapacious tools who will agonize over every choice you made in college. Seriously.

 

Get as many minors / majors as you can - you rarley need to spend more for them, builds your transcript and skill set. I would reccomend comp sci. many jobs seem to be going that way.

"I am not sure who this 'Anonymous' person is - one thing is for certain, they have been one hell of a prolific writer" - Anonymous
 

I don't know why CPA has anything to do with what you're thinking as you're clearly not interested in it and no one is forcing you that route...

My advice, no matter what take 2-3 accounting courses. I wish I just did an accounting minor personally... Like others said though I don't think your major is overwhelmingly that important.

"If you want to succeed in this life, you need to understand that duty comes before rights and that responsibility precedes opportunity."
 

I would say a math minor. Honors in economics is great but a math minor shows that you have the logical and quantitative understanding that bankers want. In other words, anyone can get an honors in economics if they work hard enough but not everyone can get a math minor.

But, if you get a FT offer from the BB, why would you want the extra work/pressure of a math minor/economics honor during your senior year? If it was up to me, I would be straight chilling with 12 hours or less if I got a FT offer.

 

What do you want to do with your career? Accounting, stats, finance would all be quality minor choices. Accountants have plenty of jobs and job security and it can help out if you are looking into banking/consulting. Finance and stats are a better fit if you are looking to do something more markets related.

A few other points, minors are usually only 3 classes and usually only the most basic of the topic. You would be better served structuring it so that you take the classes that would benefit you the most with what you want to do rather than what will qualify you for the minor. I have always thought that public speaking courses that teach you how to debate/express ideas and force you to talk in front of a large audience were great for one's future development.

"Greed, in all of its forms; greed for life, for money, for love, for knowledge has marked the upward surge of mankind. And greed, you mark my words, will not only save Teldar Paper, but that other malfunctioning corporation called the USA."
 

Get a minor in something that doesn't make me dread the idea of interviewing you. I get physically ill whenever I have to talk to some kid that was Finance Econ double major and math stats minor. Major in shit that matters to the world, minor in shit that matters to you.

If I had asked people what they wanted, they would have said faster horses - Henry Ford
 
happypantsmcgee:

Get a minor in something that doesn't make me dread the idea of interviewing you. I get physically ill whenever I have to talk to some kid that was Finance Econ double major and math stats minor. Major in shit that matters to the world, minor in shit that matters to you.

Ditto. I'm minoring in Philosophy and Music - you'd be surprised how many liberal arts people there are on the Street. One interview I had with JPM the associate was a philosophy major and we just talked about philosophy for like 20 minutes.

Minors make you interesting - you're paying for college, take time to learn about and enjoy things that you like. Plus, it'll make you a more interesting person. "Finance Econ double major and math stats minor."-type kids are a dime a dozen.

 
Alexa9:

Hi everyone...

I am an Economics major.... I also speak two languages fairly well Spanish/English( College/ University educated person level...) and speak and understand a 3rd one (Portuguese, though I can't write in it very well).

I would like to know your opinion on whether a double major Econ/Computer Science BA would be better than a major in Econ and a minor in Psychology, for me.

I am would like to end up in a position where I get to use my language skills and my liberal art and multicultural skills...rather than a quant position, since I am not terribly good at numbers by any means...

Please please adice. :)

If you don't want to do much with numbers or any quant work, why even consider comp sci? Any decent comp sci program will require a good bit of math/logic and is hardly useful for the typical IB/Consulting/whatever jobs. Psychology wouldn't help you in any way, but do it if you are really interested. I doubled in Econ/Art History. Art History was "useless", but actually a great conversation starter and is more memorable than another Econ major with minor in Stats/CS/etc..

Feeling Good, Living Better
 
CarriedDisinterest:
Alexa9:

Hi everyone...
I am an Economics major.... I also speak two languages fairly well Spanish/English( College/ University educated person level...) and speak and understand a 3rd one (Portuguese, though I can't write in it very well).
I would like to know your opinion on whether a double major Econ/Computer Science BA would be better than a major in Econ and a minor in Psychology, for me.
I am would like to end up in a position where I get to use my language skills and my liberal art and multicultural skills...rather than a quant position, since I am not terribly good at numbers by any means...
Please please adice. :)

If you don't want to do much with numbers or any quant work, why even consider comp sci? Any decent comp sci program will require a good bit of math/logic and is hardly useful for the typical IB/Consulting/whatever jobs. Psychology wouldn't help you in any way, but do it if you are really interested. I doubled in Econ/Art History. Art History was "useless", but actually a great conversation starter and is more memorable than another Econ major with minor in Stats/CS/etc..

I am actually VERY good at logic and verbal reasoning...what i am terrible at is CALCULATIONS and MATH iseld :( ...i feel like i have dyscalculia almost... because I am great at learning languages i feel, but when it comes to numerical reasoning..i an utter dummy.

 

Please please adice. :)

[/quote]

So you want to get into ibanking? I hope you do since this is a finance/ibanking forum. if not you should probably ask college confidential.

I would highly not recommend you to take a double major in econ/comp sci especially if you are not 100% sure about comp sci and say yourself that your math is bad.

most likely your GPA will go down and realistically if you wanna be competitive for IB you should keep your GPA as high as possible. Minor in psychology if its what you like and can either increase or atleast sustain your GPA. once these minors start pulling your GPA down you know its not worth it.

I would take some minors that are interesting and can be conversation starters or show diversity. Psychology is just too generic imo.

But again, do what you are genuinely interested in.

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