“Hey there! I’m Sam, a senior at Northwestern studying Economics, Business, and Human-centered Design Innovation, and when I’m not walking backwards, I’m working with Chicagoland nonprofits to provide pro-bono consulting with a team of other NU students!” 

 

In true Northwestern-tour-guide-fashion, this is typically how I introduce myself to – in the pre-COVID era, at least – an auditorium full of prospective students and their tag-a-long family members. It is no surprise, then, that my tours tend to attract a bustling pool of economics-minded, business-savvy pre-professional students (or sometimes just their parents) who have a plethora of questions about what it’s like to have an explicit interest in business at Northwestern…without an undergraduate business school. In every campus tour I’ve given, I’ve been asked, “why doesn’t NU have an undergraduate business school?” “What, then, is fueling NU’s pre-professional reputation?” “Are business-savvy undergraduate students disadvantaged by going to NU as opposed to an undergraduate business school?”

 

To be fair – these are all valid questions. I know I had the same thoughts swirling in my head when I was applying to colleges. But after doing some more research, and spending a good four years at Northwestern learning all the ins-and-outs myself, I’m here to give all the prospective students the inside scoop on what it’s like. In short, here are three main takeaways. First, there are many, many ways for students to get involved in business. Second, you don’t need to establish this passion for business (or even know what “business” means, per se) before you get here. And third, I’m actually glad we don’t have an undergraduate business program. Let me elaborate: 

 

Regarding the first point, there are a variety of ways to get involved with the “business-scene” at Northwestern. 

 

Academically, there’s the Business Institutions Minor, which helps provides students with a foundational understanding of business through four core classes: accounting, marketing management, leadership in organizations, and corporate finance. To fulfill the rest of the minor, students can take business-related courses from other departments (like the “Politics of Capitalism” in the Poli-Sci department, or even “From Cybernetics to Cyberwar,” housed in the History department), or other electives within the Business Institutions department (like Investment Banking, or Nonprofit Management). All of the courses taught by the Business Institutions department source their professors from the Kellogg School of Management, so it’s a great way for undergraduate students to learn directly from MBA faculty and former industry leaders. Personally, I chose to opt-in to the BIP minor because it still offered me the flexibility and space in my schedule to pursue other fields of study – like art history, economics, and design – while still giving me all the hard skills I needed to go through banking and consulting recruitment unscathed! 

 

For students looking for a more specialized deep-dive, however, there’s also the Kellogg School of Management’s Certificate Program for Undergraduates (CPUs). Kellogg currently offers two types of CPUs: Managerial Analytics (MA) and Financial Economics (FE). Depending on whether you’re more curious about optimizing organizations or capital markets, both options offer unique ways for undergraduate students to take Kellogg courses alongside other MBA students. Not only are these students taught by Kellogg professors, but they also are privee to a CPU-only resumé book, free printing and free coffee. 

 

Moreover, there are also less business-explicit courses that students can take to build up their own acumen. For example, Northwestern boasts a Certificate in Entrepreneurship, Certificate in Leadership, and even a Learning and Organizational Change major (in the School of Education and Social Policy) that also tends to attract many business-minded students. I’d recommend checking out their websites to learn more information about them! 

 

Academics aside, students also hone in on these skills and interests through student organizations. If you’re interested in business, but not exactly sure what kind of business you’d like to pursue, general business-interest clubs such as business fraternities, the Institute of Student Business Education (ISBE) or identity-related groups like Women in Business serve as great starting points. If you’re interested in trying out more specific facets of business, however, you can consult for small for-profit businesses with Lambda Strategy, or even learn to pitch a stock with the Investment Management Group (IMG). For many of NU’s pre-professional clubs, even their recruitment process tends to mirror that of their post-grad counterpart! Lastly, if you’ve got a start-up idea in mind (or just want to join another student’s budding business), the Garage is Northwestern’s own, in-house start-up incubator. In true Silicon Valley style, it’s equipped with conference rooms, phone booths, a shop, and a coffee bar! In my experience, I find student organizations to be a great place to not only meet other like-minded students, but also to immerse yourself in Northwestern’s local community. Most of my interview answers came from the experiences and learning opportunities from my time in business-related clubs, too. 

 

But wait – there’s more! 

 

Northwestern’s also offers a way for you to try out different occupations before you graduate: Chicago Field Studies (CFS). Leveraging our neighboring big city, undergraduate students can take a quarter to effectively intern for a corporation. CFS offers “course” (i.e. internship-types) in Advertising, Banking and Financial Services, Strategy and Management, Consulting, Data Analytics, Market Research and E-Commerce, and Entrepreneurship. CFS offers advisors to help you land a job during the school year, and you can be paid by your employer while also receiving class-credit. The best part – you’ll be back home on campus by the evening, so you can still stay connected with all your friends attending classes as normal. 

 

As you can see, there are almost too many ways for students to pursue business at Northwestern, and, importantly, there are a variety of ways you can choose to partake. You don’t need to be an economics major, or even study anything remotely related to business. You can choose how much time you’d like to dedicate to this passion, and even pick it up mid-way through your Northwestern career! Whichever way you wish to participate in Northwestern’s business scene, it’s important to know that there are many people on-campus dedicated to helping you navigate it. Northwestern’s Career Advancement office, your academic advisors, and even the friends you make while you join one of NU’s many clubs, are all there for you to help you out along the way. 

 

In fact, the autonomy to choose just how you’d like to participate in the business-sphere and how much time you’re willing to commit is exactly why I’m thankful Northwestern does not have a formal undergraduate business school. You rid yourself of the institutionalized pressure that comes with the structured program. Instead, you’re encouraged to be divergent. Learn the foundations and skills needed for business, yes, but also discover where and how you’d like to apply these skills in the future. That’s the difference. 

 

Samantha Borja ’21

Major: Economics

Hometown: Manila, Philippines