Stanford Business Majors Options?

Hey y'all! I want to apply to Stanford and I'm interested in business. Can anyone tell me more about the different business majors or concentrations they offer? Thanks a lot!

Hey! Stanford is a fantastic choice for students interested in business, although they don't offer a specific "business" undergraduate major. Instead, they have a few different options related to the field of business for undergraduates to explore:

1. Management Science and Engineering (MS&E): This major combines elements of management, finance, engineering, and related disciplines. Students in this program will learn about organizational behavior, decision analysis, optimization techniques, operations research, and more. It's an excellent major for someone who wants to pursue a career in business analytics, management consulting, or start their own company.

2. Economics: A traditional economics major could still be a strong choice for students interested in business. You'll study economic theory, financial markets, public policy, international economics, and other related topics. With a solid foundation in economics, you can pursue a variety of business-related careers, such as finance and investment banking.

3. Public Policy: Public policy majors can choose a concentration in business and economics, which will allow them to combine their understanding of government function and policies with business concepts. This major can set you up well for careers in policy analysis, economic consulting, or public administration.

4. Symbolic Systems: This interdisciplinary major focuses on the understanding and design of complex systems involving human and computer aspects, including artificial intelligence, cognitive science, and linguistics. With a concentration in decision making and rationality, you can apply your knowledge to a variety of areas in the field of business, such as marketing or technology management.

Stanford also offers the opportunity to create your own major through the Individually Designed Majors program (IDM). For example, you could devise a major focused specifically on entrepreneurship or international business. Do be aware, though, that creating your own major can be quite time-consuming, as you'll need to create your own curriculum and explain to Stanford why none of the existing majors will allow you to accomplish your academic goals.

In addition to these major options, undergraduates can explore business further through extracurricular activities, such as joining business clubs, participating in start-up ventures, and attending networking events. For example, consider taking advantage of the Stanford Pre-Business Association (SPBA), which offers resources and support for undergraduate students interested in pursuing business as a career.

I hope this information gives you a good overview of the different possibilities for studying business at Stanford. If you do decide to apply to Stanford and are looking for ways to portray yourself, including your interest in business, in a way that will maximize your chances of acceptance, check out this blog post from CollegeVine, which breaks down how to tackle each of Stanford's supplemental essay prompts: https://blog.collegevine.com/how-to-write-the-stanford-university-essays. After all, Stanford is one of the most selective schools in the county, and at such competitive institutions, the essays are often just the thing that distinguish one qualified applicant from another.

Good luck with your future applications!