10 Biggest Surprises For Business Majors

Business is everywhere – and everything is business.

That may come as a surprise to many college students. Some view business as an easy major. Aside from Finance, they’ll argue, it is broad and general – watered down to accommodate the lowest common denominator. It’s more art than science, they’ll add. With all the group projects, you can glide right through.

Reality is, business is increasingly a technical field, with decisions dictated by complex analytics frameworks far more than gut feelings. More than that, it hones skills – critical thinking, problem-solving, teamwork, communication, leadership – that are the foundation for success in any field. Just ask Maitri Ajmera, a Finance major at the University of Minnesota’s Carlson School. A 2024 graduate who landed at Microsoft, Ajmera also minored in Art and Political science. Turns out, her business acumen proved invaluable in making her political science papers “more concise and persuasive. By studying marketing, she was positioned to better “tailor different art pieces to different demographics.”

Ajmera wasn’t alone in deriving unexpected benefits from a Business major. Take Zainab Maniya, a Business Management and Public Policy major who now works in management consulting. A 2024 graduate of the University of North Carolina’s Kenan-Flagler School, Maniya credits business coursework with improving her personal relationships by training her how to communicate more clearly and adapt more quickly. By the same token, Jordyn Osofsky, who moved into investment banking after studying International Business, Finance, and Economics at the University of South Carolina’s Darla Moore School, was surprised at how “interdisciplinary” her studies were.

“For example, one might expect an Economics class to be pure math and supply and demand calculations, but it also involves psychology and sociology that inform us as to how people think and make decisions,” she tells P&Q. “International relations, world history, and anthropology all intersect with my international business classes, and all play a role in a business deciding to conduct operations in a particular country or not.”

Earlier this year, P&Q honored the Best & Brightest Business Majors from the Class of 2024 – 100 graduates who represented excellence among their peers. As part of the nomination process, P&Q asked these graduates to share the biggest surprises they found in majoring in Business. From the value of networking to the fun side of Finance, here are some unexpected benefits to studying Business.

1) It’s Not A One-Size-Fits-All Major: “Since coming to Bucknell, I’ve been able to customize my own path as a management and organizations major and take classes outside of the usual finance and accounting paths. For example, I have been able to take courses such as leadership & development, management consulting, global management, responsible management, and many more. These classes have allowed for a well-rounded and complete learning experience as a business major that I do not believe I would have been able to get elsewhere.”
Brenna Yingling, Bucknell University (Freeman)

2) Your Network Is Your Net Worth: “It is all about who you know. The importance of networking surprised me most, especially networking with executives and recruiters who take the time to come to campus to attend and host events. I was initially surprised when they would remember me from a previous meeting or case competition, especially when they work with so many students. I found the business world is big, yet small. It’s amazing how often you’ll find mutual connections. I learned the importance of making a good first impression and maintaining relationships. I think this goes to show how important building connections is, and that you can be memorable by putting your best foot forward and having fun.”
Alanna Jones, University of Denver (Daniels)

“I think what has surprised me most is the importance of developing relationships with peers and professionals. Coming into the field, I had the idea that your technical skills, work product, and ideas by themselves could differentiate you. However, I’ve quickly realized that to have the opportunity for your ideas to be considered, you also need to develop trust relationships with those around you. Getting to know my peers was not only helpful inside the classroom, but also valuable to have a support system as I navigated the job search and life. Meeting professionals and Marshall alumni allowed me to learn from people that were previously in my shoes, while getting the inside scoop of different industries and career paths. In business, it’s impossible to do anything on your own. You need to surround yourself with those that will elevate you, which can only be accomplished by developing relationships with those around you.”
Alfonso Aguilar Vazquez, USC (Marshall)

3) Finance Is Fun: “I was surprised by how much I enjoyed learning the theoretical side of finance. The financial system has an immense societal impact and learning both the ‘how’ and ‘why’ behind seemingly ordinary, everyday financial phenomena was a far richer experience than I had expected when I began my undergraduate studies. I feel like finance as a subject is typically viewed through a very practical, utilitarian, and career-focused lens. In my experience, this leads a lot of students to underappreciate how academic and philosophical the subject can be.”
David Allen, University of Miami (Herbert)

4) Upperclassmen Want To Help: “I was so surprised at how willing upperclassmen were to provide mentorship. I had no idea how to write a resume or a cover letter. Upperclassmen sat with me and taught me, line-by-line, how to improve my resumes and cover letters while also running through mock interviews frequently. These experiences were a testament to Stern’s tight community, where upperclassmen are invested and take pride in your success.”
Sanemi Nair, New York University (Stern)

“Whether it be life advice, interview prep, meeting new people, studying for an exam, or career guidance, one thing I’ve noticed is how naturally people in business school were willing to help and mentor each other.

I would be nowhere without the upperclassmen and peers who were willing to provide me with mentorship throughout college and with support during key decision-making moments. I always make it a priority to pay this forward, and mentorship has been an integral component to my time at Wharton. While I am indebted to those above me, some of my most invaluable lessons have come from mentees and underclassmen, from whom I continuously learn, emphasizing how mentorship truly is a two-way street.”
Deepak Kejariwal, Wharton School

5) There Is No ‘Right’ Answer: “Important decisions are all about balancing a fine line between past historical, concrete data, and figuring out how this information fits into the future vision and mission of the company, two relatively abstract concepts.”
Shreya Ramesh, U.C. Berkeley (Haas)

6) You Can Do Anything With Business: “Majoring in business has surprised me with the revelation that the only limit in this field is the extent of one’s imagination. The capacity to envision innovative solutions to problems is not just a skill; it’s the lifeblood of the business world. It’s surprising to realize that the world of business is not confined by rigid boundaries, but is, instead, an area where creative problem-solving can have profound impacts on various aspects of society. Whether it’s streamlining operations, developing cutting-edge products, or devising novel strategies, the freedom to think expansively is a powerful and empowering aspect of studying business. This realization has made me appreciate the dynamic and limitless nature of the business landscape, where ingenuity is not just encouraged but essential for meaningful contributions and success.”
Pirmin Christian Brechbühl, Wake Forest University

7) Diversity Is A Differentiator: “I was surprised by how important it is to be in a multicultural environment to truly understand business. After having the privilege of attending Hult, a university with a significantly multicultural student body and teacher body, I learned that business must be analyzed from a global perspective, not only do markets work differently, but the behavior, customs and different socio-economic and cultural barriers make the whole difference in any deal or project.”
Alejandra Mejía García, Hult International Business School

8) You Can Seize Opportunities As A Student: “You don’t have to wait until you’re older to chase your dreams. I remember speaking with my Olin career coach, Janelle Brooks, and explaining how it would be a dream to intern for a company paving the path in digital well-being. She asked me what I was waiting for and encouraged me to research events I could engage in. I took her words to heart, soon connecting with them, which completely changed my career trajectory. I launched myself into the world of digital well-being and was soon awarded grant mentorship and funding from Netflix’s The Social Dilemma to work on my film about the youth-led digital well-being movement, Our Subscription to Addiction. Importantly, my experience as a young person online gave me a unique angle into the industry that was especially valued by major decision-makers, including funders and lawmakers.”
Yoelle Gulko, Washington University (Olin)

9) Faculty Members Are…Interesting: “I was surprised with how interesting the lives and interests of faculty were. Many professors had whole careers and lives before teaching at William & Mary. Taking the time to learn about them, their passions, and work is humbling. It tells us that our own paths that may look different than we envision. Learning about professors has taught me that there is no one right path and following your instincts will lead you exactly where you need to be.”
Matthew Hovelsrud, College of William & Mary (Mason)

10) Business Applies To Daily Life: “Majoring in business has given me a unique lens through which I view day-to-day life. It has transformed how I view businesses, whether I am eating at a restaurant and thinking about the profit margins on the menu to driving on the interstate and analyzing the benefits of a marketing billboard sign. I find myself considering concepts such as supply and demand, cost- benefit analysis, the principles of scarcity, and itemized deductions. It is rewarding to know that what I am learning in the classroom applies to my daily life.”
Allison Pascarella, Florida Southern College
 

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