FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE A BUSINESS DEGREE: How much of what you have learned in college have you actually used in?
339624
I can safely say that my MBA did help me a great deal with my career. My boss likes me because I am able to construct very comprehensive but easy to read reports. So, I use my grad degree. My college degree was a B.A. in History and it hasn't done anything. Only 40% of college grads end up working in their field. That is partly the fault of the students, and partly the fault of the colleges. If you graduate with a business degree and you don't have well developed Excel and quantitative business skills.... then you're going to be pretty worthless in most entry level positions. And that's the fault of the colleges. But if you go to college and you don't want to be "number cruncher", then guess what... 90% of the jobs are just that. Certain degrees like education, engineering, some of the applied sciences are very specific and will give you the foundation for doing the job in those fields. But, if you get a B.A. and go into business, then... of course your college degree won't mean anything, but that's probably because you didn't know what you wanted to be until after you graduated. If I had to do it over again, I would have been a mechanic, tile installer, or a plumber. They make more money than I do, and I have an MBA.
328876
Everyone is different.  I personally went to college to be a high school teacher.  I realized after a year and 1/2 that I hated it.  I worked in a restaurant for a year, then taught adult learners for a year, then when I was 25 I stumbled into a marketing position and have been in marketing ever since (for 7 years).  I wish I'd gotten a degree in marketing....
860733
There are also other options - You could get a bachelor's in general studies or humanities. You also mentioned that the IT industry is not for you, but what about other industries? A business degree can be applied to almost every industry and it also gives you the option of starting up your own company. It seems that your desire to go back to school and get your bachelor's is really what's driving you here and you should definitely go for it without thinking twice about it. A bachelor's degree in whatever area is something that employers look for and expect. I have seen successful corporate managers with bachelor degrees in arts or history. So, go back to school, talk to your counselor and don't worry about your major. If you find something you love, then that'll be great but meanwhile just look at this whole process as a self-discovery journey and an employment tool.
24369
It depends on what you want to do after biz school. I've talked to many friends and family members who've gotten their MBAs and that's their point of view. I decided not to go to biz school.\n\nPros:\nBusiness schools give you the academic credibility and opportunity to step into large, well-established corporations. It also gives you a network of alumni who can refer you to jobs, so you most likely won't have to worry about not finding a job. Not to mention a higher salary in general.\n\nCons:\nBusiness schools don't teach you specialized skills, like engineering, design, nursing, etc. If you do full-time, you give up about 2 years of salary plus the cost of school.\n\nI want to do my own design business and it's more important for me to learn about design than business. I think business is an art that comes with experience and intuition, and so is design, but I can always hire MBA grads to provide business advice while I focus on the designs.
1113291
I am 51 years old and I decided to go back to school and get a business degree in Entrepreneurship because I am older and feel that opportunities for us are limited.\n\nBut you can still work at hotels, and work up in higher positions.  I currently work at a hotel and plan on applying for jobs within the hotel after I get my degree, and the big plus is that they are paying for my education.\n\nValet jobs, drivers...school bus or city bus, parking meter readers, any city position.\n\nCasino's as dealers\nWaiters in banquets\n\nDon't give up...it is attitude more than anything.  Use your network of people that you know...they are a very good source of information.\n\nWhat type of work were you doing before?
692335
once you have practical experience it probably won't matter much in a job search. i have a degree in management which did give me more practical training for business compared to a friend who majored in econ which is more theoretical. you might want to consider econ though if you think you might later decide to go into a MBA program. that would be the best of both worlds. good luck.
1167060
I have a degree in Human Resource Manage.  I also have a degree in Business Management.  (I have an MBA too, but who is counting?)  \n\nFirst off, HR people, unless you get high up in a major corp (which often means you need a Master's and possibly a law degree as well) do not make a great deal of money, usually, especially starting out...but that is the same for marketing as well.  Typically, HR majors who want to work in that field get jobs as recruiters right out of college.  This is a cool job.  You are pretty much selling jobs.  You get to go to career fairs and things like that.  I think it would be fun.  \n\nHowever, a common misconception is that HR people make hiring decisions for companies.  This is just not the case.  Well, it may be the case for positions that require no skill or have no competition, but for skilled and competitive positions, managers make the decisions, HR just screens the people. HR has become a safety vale, more or less.  Due to employment law, our sue happy society and other factors, the HR position has become an organizations primary CYA mechanism.\n\nI don't know that one degree is better than the other.  It depends on what you want to do, in the end, I guess.  Both degrees build a foundation for success.  Both degrees provide you a foundation of education reguarding general business practice, which is marketable.  However, neither degree provides you with a specific skill that an organization needs.  (trust me, I know...I hae been there)  \n\nI don't believe one decision is better than the other.  Each degree program is respectable, relevant and marketable.  Beyond college, continued education and career experience will become much more important.  By gaining either degree, you will have put yourself in a position to become successful, which is what we all want, right?
262757
It helps. But in some areas like business, employers would employ some one with a bachelor's degree straight from college at an entry level. To do an MBA well you need to have some business experience to leverage on.
882833
It is not so much what you learn by going to college, but the fact that you did it, and that it says something about you.  Of course, it will give you the qualifications to apply for many more jobs, but it will also tell employers that you had what it takes to stick with it and to graduate.  It says that you wanted to improve yourself.\n\nEmployers may believe that college graduates are more likely to be fast learners, to feel better about themselves, to be good workers, to be highly motivated, to be team players, to be able to think more analytically, and to know more about more things in general.\n\nAdditionally, from a personal point of view, getting a college degree is a maturing process and broadens ones perspective on life and the world, no matter what courses you do.\n\nSo there are a number of reasons to go to college.  Why did I go when I went?  I was 16 years old and I knew that I had to support myself and find a way to do so relatively quickly.  So initially I went for one year, then worked for a year, back to college for another year, etc.\n\nI hope these thoughts help.  Best of luck.
819776
hmmm school was almost 11 years ago... graduated college with my Bachelors in Arts... Worked for 7 years as... Marketing Director, Ceo, Development Director and consultant respectively. Made between 50-120k throughout the years. Sold my house, took out two loans and scraped up all my saving to start my company 3 years ago. Right now, the company is still at a loss, this should change in spring. Hope that helps!
523394
I have my MBA because I thought I was going to move to NYC and work in advertising. My life changed, I never worked in the field and probably won't. I am relying on my undergrad degree as an art major now. The courses you will take when you seek an MBS fall in what I think is common sense. However, if you want to move up in the business world, that peice of paper means alot.
772836
Well, I have an MBA, plus a degree in info systems. I have worked as a financial analyst in telecommunications, supporting the marketers. Have also worked as a statistical/financial analyst for a bank, supporting credit card marketers.\n\nDoes the degree open up opportunities? Yes, but it really depends on what you want to do. The degree does the most for technical types who do not understand the big picture of business, because it teaches you about finance, marketing, accounting, and human resources. The more insightfull students develop an understanding of the big picture, and how these various functions (or departments) relate to each other.\n\nSo, if you want to become more of a financial/marketing analyst type of person, or want to go into management, then yes, and MBA could be a good compliment to your existing skills. Also, if you want to go into biz for yourself.\n\nBUT, if you are happy in a technical role, and/or do not have an outgoing 'people' personality, then an MBA could be a waste of time. And remember, in biz management, personality is a LOT more important than brains and education. Although brains & education certainly help, without the right personality you will not climb management ranks. Instead of plunging into an MBA prog, just take a intro finance and an intro marketing course at your local university. These courses will teach you 90% of what you need to know about biz.\n\nOne final point: the school you go to does not matter much. This is a dirty little secret that the "best" (that is, MOST EXPENSIVE) schools do not want you to know. Once you have been out for one year, nobody gives a damn what school you went to. Save your money, and go to the university that you want to.  Believe me, it really does not matter. \n\nSource(s):\n\nMe, years of biz experience as an MBA.
948327
They do!  If you followed a serious path of study at a university.  You would, however, have to major in business (entrepreneurship) and triple minor: finance, administration, and economics--not just the beginning courses, or one course in each, but the higher level courses that require 3-4 classes in each.  On top of that, you will have to have computer science skills, be proficient in mathematics (algebra), be an excellent speaker/communicator to make deals and sell your ideas to the public (Speech 101), know who you are dealing with (psych 101/ sociology 101), know who you are and where you came from (Western Civ), understand how to deal with people from different cultures (Humanities), and how to speak to people in other countries (French, Spanish, German, etc).  (Japanese or Chinese would be excellent languages to learn).  You will need to know how to write reports and do evaluations, so English is important; you don't want people thinking you can't spell or write a proper sentence.  Finally, and most importantly, you will need to be honest, just, and decent, so people will deal with you and you won't end up getting crushed by something as ridiculous as Enron, right?  So, I recommend courses in philosophy, starting with Ethics.   Now, do you see what college really does for you?  It works on the whole person, perfecting the rough edges, so when you do master the business and money side, you will be refined enough to carry it all off.  Donald Trump is the most down to earth billionaire I have ever seen; even he will tell you, "A college education is important; I respect a college education."   Just go to college and stick with it.  If you want to be rich, you can be.  If you just want to survive college, then you can do that too.   If you want something bad enough, you will do what it takes to get it!
405833
E-commerce degrees? I have never heard of these degrees. i have heard of a Bachelors in commerce , then major in  Finance, marketing,Human resources, accounting.
416175
Take the Bus. Mgt., I've been in the Hospitality Business for 20 years, and I turn 36 next month, I've worked at golf resorts, hotels, restaurants you name it I've done it and you don't need a specified hotel/motel degree, I'm a manager now at a restaurant and it isn't that great, I've bartended food and beverage manager, it's knowing the right people, making friends and connection, and working hard, being diligent at whatever you do, and given time, the right people will notice and by the way honesty works real well, my connections will soon make me a lot of money. Last thing, get your degree and learn all you can about money, the rule of 72, compounding interest, everything.  I was a microbiology major and later became a financial analyst and that taught me what I needed to know.\n\nPlease respond if you have further questions, always happy to help someone!
329392
Absolutely!!!\n\nI am an adult student (30 years old).  I enjoy my classes much more at this age than I think I would have had I gone when I was younger.  Things make more sense when you have had life experience.  I'm currently taking an economics class and I'm loving it.  It's actually explaining things I've heard about on the news.  I'm actually starting to understand how the world of commerce works.\n\nHigh school for me was bogged down by parental expectations and peer pressure.  I absolutely hated high school but love the college experience.  This is about me and what I can accomplish, it's not for anyone else but me!  \n\nIf you do decide to start going to school begin slowly.  The first class should be something that really interests you.  Even if you can't decide what degree you might pursue take something that you've always wanted to learn about.  If for no other reason than it gives you more knowledge. Knowledge is power :)\n\nI highly recommend the experience, not to mention the degree will be helpful!  I'm not saying it's easy, but it is well worth it!\n\np.s. If you are a working mom, it's still doable, it just takes a little longer and a lot of patience.
1085564
Bad idea. That is what I have and never helped me with getting jobs. Better to specialize somewhat but still keep is somewhat broad like a BA or BS in Business, economics, etc.. Employers seem to like that better I have found.