Q&A: Tips for Incoming Business Majors for Success in College and Beyond

Have you ever wondered what it’s really like to be a business major in college? Now, we have an inside look. Nicole Alvarez, a business major at Rice University, recently sat down with Girls for Business staff writer Daniela Alvarez for an interview to share that experience firsthand.

Q: Looking back, what do you wish you had known before starting college as a business major?

A: The first thing that comes to mind is that internship recruiting starts relatively soon—much sooner than most incoming college students would assume. To start off on a good foot, begin to recruit for different school clubs and get yourself involved to give yourself the best chance for finding opportunities your freshman summer. If you really want to get ahead, have a basic idea of the business fields that you're interested in for your career so that you know which clubs to explore once you arrive on campus. There’s no pressure at all to have everything figured out, there will be time to explore paths you’re interested in. Just know that it’s never too early!

Q: What habits or routines help you stay organized with homework?

A: Like most college students, I use my Google Calendar pretty diligently. Paper planners have always worked for me as well. I really think it's just a matter of keeping track of your syllabus and making a note when deadlines are coming up.

Q: How do you balance extracurriculars, school, and other responsibilities?

A: This is something that took me some trial and error to really figure out, and I think that's gonna be the case for just about anyone. It's really easy when entering college to feel like you want to get involved with everything, but it's much more beneficial to only get involved in clubs that you feel genuinely passionate about and could even rise to a leadership position in. It's better to have deep involvement in a few clubs that you’re really interested in than to be shallowly involved in a lot of things. 

Q: How important were internships and real-world experiences during your time in high school?

A: I did a few internships, externships (short-term shadowing opportunities), and coffee chats in high school. It was through those experiences that I was able to identify strengths and confirm that I was interested in business and wanted to study it in college. I definitely don't think you should stress out if you don't have a formal internship, but I would definitely recommend finding some sort of remote role, program, or externship. There are a lot of opportunities for high schoolers to get involved in the business world. Sometimes all it takes is a Google or LinkedIn search to find some cool opportunities. 

Q: How can students make the most out of networking events, conferences, or career fairs?

A: I found a high school internship through my high school's career fair. I would definitely recommend speaking to every table you’re interested in and ending every discussion by asking for contact info so that you can later reach out with more questions or ask about any potential internship opportunities. It's really nice to make those kinds of connections in high school because they can oftentimes turn into mentors who can support you in the college application process and beyond. I'm still in contact with some of the professionals that I was able to network with in high school. And once you get to college, you’ll get a lot more networking opportunities. 

Q: Any final pieces of advice that you would like to share?

A: I would say that because business tends to be such a popular major, there can be a lot of competition within business clubs and recruiting for internships in popular career fields. Getting started early and making connections with professionals in your fields of interest can make all the difference! But overall, I’ve really enjoyed studying business, especially because it’s usually flexible enough to be paired with another major or minor. I think that what you learn is super practical, and I would definitely encourage anyone who is interested in studying business to pursue it!