I'm currently a finance major at A&M, and I'm unsure of whether I should keep my major or switch over to supply chain management. Finance has many recruiters at our school, and supply chain has less. Also, I've talked to a supply chain management advisor, and he told me that the program is fairly new, but he also said that they have a 98% job placement rate. I feel kind of weary about getting into a major that hasn't been around at A&M for too long. I've taken both finance and supply chain management classes. They both seem interesting in their own ways, but I'm a little worried about attaining a job after graduation. Which major would offer me the better chance of getting a good high paying job after graduation? From what I've researched, there are tons of finance majors at our school competing for finance jobs, and there are few supply chain majors competing for supply chain jobs. My ideal career would be working in real estate development, but I've heard that there is no one way to get into that career. Finance seems to be the most common major people choose to work in the real estate industry, but I believe that people have gotten into real estate through a variety of majors. Basically, I'm not looking to be picky with my first job since the economy is rough. I'm willing to take anything in either field that offers a good pay as my first job. Any suggestions on either major would be great. Please tell me about your personal experiences with either major.

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Which major would offer me the better chance of getting a good high paying job after graduation?

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First, you don't want to solely look at jobs that will pay you the most money. If you are not happy going to work you are far less likely to stay.

Second, I am not sure what year your are but I graduated in May 08 with MIS degree and took classes in supply chain and had friends that majored in supply chain in many of my classes.

While I was in the business school there were maybe ten people focused on supply chain.

Something that most students do not think of while in school is that if they major in management that they will be hired as a manager. Or, marketing they will lead the team. You are in school to learn how to learn and how to gain as much knowledge as possible while networking.

I do believe there is a need for supply chain employees in the market place and if there continues to be less students who concentrate in that field it should make it easier for you to find placement.

While in the business school you need to determine your short and long term goals. The business school allows you to take a few classes of each and from there you need to determine what your best fit is.

There are also organizations in the business school that hold meetings with professionals in the field. This is a great way to network and see your peers and professionals experiences.

There's a spirit can ne'er be told
It's the Spirit of Aggieland.

We will never forget 11.18.1999
BTHO Bonfire

First, look at a profession you would like to have. If you aren't happy with your profession, then you will find something else later on.

What do you really enjoy doing? What excites you on a daily basis? Can you turn that passion into a career?

So many majors at A&M dive into similar concepts. You will find supply chain pieces in the business school (INFO) or in the engineering school (IDIS).

If you choose Finance, what are your goals? Visa-versa for SC? These are very broad concepts, and you will have to choose a specialty within one.

I majored in Industrial Distribution, and currently work for an independent E&P company. I started in a logistics role, but now work in our operational engineering group. We look at quality, process engineering, efficiency studies, supplier studies. Everyday we attempt to improve our "value chain" which encompasses our supply chain.

Where you start is not where you will end up in the long run, but the experience along the way will make a huge impact on what you end up doing. You just have to make a decision on which you like the most, and why you like it the most. Find your passions within your chosen major!



[This message has been edited by Bring out your dead (edited 7/4/2010 12:30p).]

Switch to ID which is engineering degree if you want supply chain. That will get your more money. THeir career fair will have 60-80 companies hiring less than 200 graduates if I remember correctly. When I graduated in 2001, we had 108 companies for 145 may graduates.

supply chain is growing at A&M and so is the companies that are hiring it. supply chain has one of the highest saleries in the business school and you will have a background that differs yourself from the 30278402347324 finance people in the world. SCM is hired across all different industries. SCM is the way

I enjoy aspects from both majors, so it's difficult to decide which one is better. I'm not just choosing majors based on the pay; I have taken classes in both majors, and I do enjoy both. I know that I can succeed in either field, but considering the factors that I mentioned (finance department being flooded with students, while scm has fewer students competing for jobs), I would like assistance evaluating this difficult decision. My short-term goals are to start working for a good company in either field, because I enjoy the two equally. I would like to work for a company that has room for me to rise in my job title, so a large company would probably be ideal. At some point in my life, I would like to get into real estate development (residential or commercial). We really don't have a direct way to get into real estate development with an undergraduate degree at A&M, so I am having to take a detour toward my dream career, hence why I'm deciding between finance and scm. Have any of you gotten involved in real estate with a supply chain management degree? Regardless of which major I choose, I plan on continuing my education with a MBA, and I hope to concentrate it in real estate. I can't switch to ID, because I am already so far ahead in the business school. I will be graduating in about a year. Thanks to everyone for the advice.

Correct me if I am wrong but is there not a real estate organization in the business school?

http://studentactivities.tamu.edu/online/organization/OTQ1MzEw/profile

http://studentactivities.tamu.edu/online/organization/OTQ1ODcw/profile

If your dream job is in real estate join one of these organization. From there you can network and find out what is the best route to your dream job.

There's a spirit can ne'er be told
It's the Spirit of Aggieland.

We will never forget 11.18.1999
BTHO Bonfire

Ag08,

The links you provided aren't working. I am involved in a few organizations already. I'm involved in the Society of Finance, Insurance, and Real Estate. I'm also involved in Phi Beta Lambda (business fraternity), and I currently hold an officer position in the Business Administration Society. The real estate professionals I have spoken to have told me that you can take many routes into real estate, so I'm not required to major in one particular subject. I simply wanted suggestions on a major that could give me a good start in my career, whether it be finance or supply chain management. My main concern is graduating and struggling to find a decent job. I have seen a few of my peers with finance degrees that are struggling to attain a job. I would say that this is because of the economy, and because the job market is flooded with students who hold finance degrees. Thank you for the advice.

Why don't you do SCM and then try to get into the MRE program?

Double Major and you will be banking! SC wasn't around when I was there 01- 05.

I have recently been tasked with assisting our new SCM group at my O&G company. Let me tell you this - SCM is where you want to be. 5 Astros suites, 4 golf outings, 1 planned hunting trip, 1 planned Texans suite, and 10 lbs gained from the finest lunch/dinner outings you can imagine.

All my buddies are jealous. What the he// was I thinking in this Business Analyst position?

Ohhh and without a doubt the answer to "what major will get me a job sooner" is SCM. A buyer is a buyer is a buyer. Same goes for logistics, materials, and contracts management. Take a looksee at the professional networks available as well...APICS and NAPM/ISM

Plus if you're interested at all in overseas/expat work the SCM jobs are everywhere.

My husband is in supply-chain and I'm a recruiter who has recruited for that profession. I highly recommend that major or double-majoring. It's all about good analytical skills.

An Aggie's Wife

If you want to switch majors, switch to accounting. I'm sure you've already taken quite a few ACCT classes, so the switch shouldn't be too difficult. Plus, most hiring directors see ACCT majors as people who can succeed in any position, while FINC people tend to have a narrower view. Plus, there are a ton of B-school students who are scared away from ACCT because they think it's too hard, meaning less competition for you. Just a thought.

EDIT: Personal details - I am an ECON grad and a current Bush School student who is studying transfer pricing (international corporate income tax for multinationals,) and I'm finding that the most valuable classes are all ACCT. Quite a circuitous route, but it illustrates my point.

[This message has been edited by Stasco (edited 7/12/2010 6:10a).]

Okay, sounds like supply chain management is the route that I've chosen. I appreciate all the help that everyone has given me.

I think that is a good choice you can always go back and get MBA or Masters in some kinda financial deal. SCM the options are just not as avaliable post undergrad.

Besides the 2 schools they are in, has anybody done a comparison between Supply Chain Management and Industrial Distribution?

I always viewed ID as being SCM, and a lot of Ags I know in the industry went through that channel, so I am interested in what the SCM as a major does differently.

My understanding is that SCM focuses on product life cycle and value chain. ID touches this, but also has significantly more ENGR based courses, ie) electricity, automation, mechanical power, fluid power. The business school's program is relatively new to the landscape, but it would be interesting to see how each program differs from the other.