Enroll to Grad

I am currently in college with the intention of majoring in international business. The school that I attend recently started offering a new minor in process improvement. You can actually earn a black belt in Six Sigma by the end of the program. I was also planning on earning a minor in German. Do you think the process improvement minor could prove valuable, or should i go anther route?

Foreign language DEFINITELY! I am double majoring in International Business and Mandarine Chinese.

Here is my situation: I am currently a junior at a top 25 university. I am pursuing a bachelor’s degree and economics, and looking to enroll in a graduate program in urban planning, preferably economic or international development. With AP credits however, I have senior standing and technically can apply for graduation right now but I need to meet my major/minor requirements, which I expect to have after fall semester at the end of this year, and I plan on graduating in december. However, my GPA is less than stellar for graduate school, fluctuating around 3.2-3.3.

Initially, I had been planning apply for and, if accepted, to enroll in graduate school right after I graduate. Now, I am having doubts, because my friends have been telling me that by doing so, I’ll be overwhelmed and feel "burned out." Also, I would have to take the GRE this summer, and I’m not sure I’ll be ready at that point.

The second option is to stay in school for an extra semester and try to take easy intro-level classes to raise my GPA for my grad school application. Unfortunately, that’s not a good option either: 1. It’ll feel like a waste of time because I’m not learning anything productive, since I’ll be in classes just because it’s easy, rather than because it’s interesting or relevant to my goals. 2. It would be a waste of money because I’m not learning anything productive. 3. Grad schools may look at my transcript closer and wonder what was the point of my last semester in college.

A final option, which is a bit more radical, is to spend my last semester studying abroad. I love traveling, particularly international experiences, and studying abroad appeals to me because it’s fun, and I’m interested in studies of international scope. However, I doubt that I will learn anything productive because I feel that studying abroad is a waste of time if you are pursuing a degree in college, as it doesn’t give you the same quality of education as in college, especially if it’s a 4-month long vacation. I believe that it is a mistake to interrupt the most important studies of your life with such an experience while pursuing your degree. But with my degree requirements completed, it may be a choice I would consider, especially because I am certain that I will enjoy the experience, and the cost of one particular program at my school is actually cheaper than a semester’s tuition. This may seem like the best choice, but I still have many concerns that I hope people can address.

1)Is it typical to go studying abroad on their last semester of college? Would such a decision hurt me in any way, especially if employers/grad schools look at my resume/transcript and scrutinize my decision in a negative way? How would they react to this? I know studying abroad is generally perceived as a good experience, but spending my last semester doing it, does it make me look lazy or unproductive in any way to potential employers or graduate programs?

2)What if I’m looking for a job or internship during this semester? They won’t be able to interview me because I’m halfway around the world.

3)What are any other drawbacks or problems that I might face career-wise if I decide to study abroad this semester?

So what should I do with my last semester of college? Enroll in Grad School? Take easy classes to raise my GPA? Or study abroad?

Thank you for your answers.
I will be pursuing a Masters of Urban Planning. (MUP)

You did not tell us the degree you want in grad school or the area you want to study. My answer is most relevant to PhD studies (or a Masters followed by a PhD.)

One thing you have not mentioned: try to work with one or two prof(s) who specializes in an area of research which interests you - take course(s), but try to do a research project with him / her, of work as a research assistant with him/her (most active profs have research grants, tho money may be in short supply in this economy). Do enough work to enable the prof to write a strong letter of recommendation and to find you some contacts. That can overcome a low GPA, especially if your lower grades came in the freshman year of outside your major. Next, ask the prof to recommend you to some good profs in your area of interest, and contact that prof to discuss working with him in grad school. The profs should be capable - some quality publications in your area of interest, and have a reputation on being able to work well with graduate students. Talk to his students. That prof, hopefully, will be able to support your application to study in his department. You would to well to talk to several such profs - usually a prof can only take on a small number of grad students, and is expected to contribute to the student’s financial support through his grant.

Try to increase your GPA before you leave college. That will help.

It may take a while to get into grad school - you might have to work for a year of two, even if your profs think you have a realistic chance of getting in. It might help to work as a research assistant somewhere. But - it you really want to travel, do so, and apply after you get back. Once you have to start meeting the demands of full time work and spouse/family, you may not be able to travel for a longer term until retirement.

I attend Drake University in Des Moines Iowa and I really like it here but now I am currently majoring in Broadcast News and I want to switch to music business. The only music business Drake has is a Music degree with a focus on business and I have to do recitals and take a bunch of theory classes and thats not for me. I need a school that actually has a music business degree and preferably with a international business degree also so I can get a dual degree. Any suggestions??

One of the few legitimate schools which offers a music business degree is Indiana
University-Southeast in New Albany. Surprisingly the program is offered there and not at the more well-known school of music at IU in Bloomington. IU-SE does offer a business degree. You might be able to create an individual major to combine the subjects or to do a double major. You are looking for an unusual objective and will need to be creative in obtaining it.

I have not checked the course offerings at IU-SE in international business or how extensive the music requirements are.

Another plan might be to earn the music business bachelor’s degree at IU-SE and then earn an MBA in international business at another university. Any really worthwhile instruction in the latter field is probably most likely found at the graduate level. I would also suggest that you learn the languages of the countries where you will pursue this career.

Good luck.

I went to a community college and got a 3.11 gpa. and im at a university on my last semester. I have a 2.8 but am working hard to get it higher. I have little work experience in envro. science (my major) but am looking in the field for when I graduate. Are there any specifics teachers look at and how hard would it be to get enrolled in a similar program at a university level for grad school?

No offense, but you need a LOT of help with your English grammar and sentence formulating. Graduate schools will throw your applications straight into the trash if you do not correct your grammar and sentence forming skills. Science or not, all post-collegiate schools are looking for good communicators, whether it be written or verbal.

On top of your poor English skills, your QPA (not GPA…that is a pre-collegiate term), is low. Work on these two and you should have no trouble getting accepted into a graduate program.

I hope this helps!

I’m about to start college soon, and I’ve been thinking about getting my major in international business. My parents are a bit sketchy on my decision, and its starting to worry me. Can you earn money with an international business degree? I just want a job that will enable me to travel to other places, and this degree seemed like it would allow me to do that…

I’m also considering minoring in German, so I’ll have something else to add to my resume.

its not a bad major, but you can always change it

international business kind of limits you to doing relations with ppl from different countries and figuring out how business works elsewhere

id chose business marketing if i were you man

i am trying to get a masters degree but the finance department is making me mad… what should I do

Ok I wanted to start on my master degree right after undergrad I start at University of Pheonix and it didnt work…. the major was business my major and interest was education… so that wasnt a wise decision… I was just going to Uof P because I wanted to go to a school… anywho I left there and I am now at Notheastern Illinois University…. I enrolled in 3 classes for the summer I took two…. the other class the professor cancelled due to only two people enrolling in the class…. a guy and myself.. I cancelled out of the class through the computter after the professor said he cancelled the class. At the end of the summer semester I had two A’s and on the third class that was suppose to be cancelled their was no "cancellation" in which the professor did on my transcript at all…. I called the school and asked them why didnt they put cancel on the class that was cancelled because if there is no cancel on the class that was cancelled then my GPA will go down… one administrator said the class was cancelled and they could see it through their computers not on the transcripts(sounds dumb to me, because I want evidence that the class was cancelled) One adiministator said it takes a while for Cancel to show up on transcripts. Two months went by, cancel didnt show up at all… so last week I was registering for classes and they said I could not register due to me having a hold…. I thought the hold would be due to my undergrad transcripts not being into the grad school yet… I called the school and the said I had a hold due to a balance of $2,000 for summer classes due to this being a commuter school and classes are $300 each…. something wasnt adding up… so i asked them how many classes were they counting and they said 3 classes… I wasnt suppose to be charge for the 3rd class due to the professor cancelling it… apparently professor didnt cancel the class and they think I suppose to pay for the class… they lady I talked to said it look like I enrolled but I just didnt take the class … Now I have 2 A’s I dont think I would enroll into a class and skip the class… I know grad school cost… and I dont have money like that…. What would you guys do in this situation?

call the department, or ask to speak to a dean of the dept. ask to speak to who’s ever in charge of guidance.

keep talking to different people untill someone can do something for you

I think the question is pretty self-explanatory, but I am wondering if a degree in international business can also be used to prepare one’s self for a career as a travel agent or someone who works in the tourism industry. Thank you for answers in advance.
International business covers the trade industry while a travel agent’s job covers the leisure industry. These are two separate and unrelated occupations, even though there seems to be connection in name.

You’ll need to get a degree in hospitality (along with an agent license) to work as a travel agent.

My cousin works as a booking agent in the travel & entertainment industry.

i am trying to get a masters degree but the finance department is making me mad… what should I do

Ok I wanted to start on my master degree right after undergrad I start at University of Pheonix and it didnt work…. the major was business my major and interest was education… so that wasnt a wise decision… I was just going to Uof P because I wanted to go to a school… anywho I left there and I am now at Notheastern Illinois University…. I enrolled in 3 classes for the summer I took two…. the other class the professor cancelled due to only two people enrolling in the class…. a guy and myself.. I cancelled out of the class through the computter after the professor said he cancelled the class. At the end of the summer semester I had two A’s and on the third class that was suppose to be cancelled their was no "cancellation" in which the professor did on my transcript at all…. I called the school and asked them why didnt they put cancel on the class that was cancelled because if there is no cancel on the class that was cancelled then my GPA will go down… one administrator said the class was cancelled and they could see it through their computers not on the transcripts(sounds dumb to me, because I want evidence that the class was cancelled) One adiministator said it takes a while for Cancel to show up on transcripts. Two months went by, cancel didnt show up at all… so last week I was registering for classes and they said I could not register due to me having a hold…. I thought the hold would be due to my undergrad transcripts not being into the grad school yet… I called the school and the said I had a hold due to a balance of $2,000 for summer classes due to this being a commuter school and classes are $300 each…. something wasnt adding up… so i asked them how many classes were they counting and they said 3 classes… I wasnt suppose to be charge for the 3rd class due to the professor cancelling it… apparently professor didnt cancel the class and they think I suppose to pay for the class… they lady I talked to said it look like I enrolled but I just didnt take the class … Now I have 2 A’s I dont think I would enroll into a class and skip the class… I know grad school cost… and I dont have money like that…. What would you guys do in this situation?

Write a letter to the President of the university, the dean of the department, the registrar and the Professor involved.. Ask to have the class shown as canceled.

If you cannot get anywhere go to legal aid and sue.