Being a Business Major at a Tech School
When you’re majoring in business at a school that is predominately known for science and engineering, you’re sure to raise a few eyebrows. I know this from personal experience. But here are some of my responses for some of the more commonly asked questions for this business major.
Why business?
When I was in high school, I went to a math and science magnet school. I always had a strong inclination towards the sciences, particularly environmental science. I was president of my school’s FIRST Robotics team and really enjoyed the engineering process. When I was an upperclassman, I helped my father open up a franchise of Cartridge World, an ink and toner re-manufacturing company. It was like someone flipped a switch. I was hooked on opening and operating businesses.
Why Florida Tech?
When I was looking for colleges, I was originally just looking at ones with strong engineering programs. Because of my new found love of business, I narrowed my list down to schools that had engineering programs, as well as business programs. I’d make up my mind as to my further course of study. Even if I chose business, I still wanted to be around engineers because of the shared dedication we’d have for our classes and research. I didn’t want to go to some big school with a bunch of unfocused people that could distract me too much from my studies.
What sold you on Florida Tech?
I like to tell people that one dreary day back home I was looking up the weather in the cities of all the schools on my list. The temperatures were as follows: 33 in state, 32 in Boston, -10 in Montana and 75 in Melbourne. While the weather was a very nice incentive, the deciding factor was the small school feel that Florida Tech offers. It’s not too big where you can get lost, but also not too small that you run out of people to meet. When I visited the school, I got to sit down with College of Business professor Dr. Vamosi and have a thorough discussion about the courses I’d be taking throughout my college career.
Do you get looked down on by the engineering majors?
There is some joking that goes on between the engineering and business majors. This mostly stems from the lack of technical classes the business majors have to take due of the nature of their curriculum. Business majors don’t have labs or have to take any advanced mathematics. These highly technical classes eat up a lot of time for the engineering majors. So while most of the school is toiling over a lab report, the business majors have already completed all of their assigned work. You can’t help to chuckle when your engineering buddies come to you for help with their basic economics homework.
What Do You Do With All That Free Time?
I’d like to answer this question with another question: What free time? It’s almost expected of business majors to go out and get leadership positions in student organizations or land a part-time job. This apparent free time is supposed to be utilized to fill lines on your resume. I’ve lost count of the number of student organizations I’ve been in at one point or another. I’ve held leadership positions in six (Alpha Tau Omega Fraternity, Sailing Club, SOSA, Student Government, FIRST@FIT & Delta Mu Delta Business Honor Society). I’ve worked with a professor doing climate adaptation and sea level rise research. I’m also a dual major with a minor. “I like to keep busy,” is a bit of an understatement.
