NPHC Intake and Business Major Alternatives

In this Issue:

• Business major alternatives
• National Pan-Hellenic Conference intake process

The University is closed today, so this is a pre-post

Business major alternatives

I heard from a student late Friday that Business School admissions decisions went out, which means there will be some happy students and some students disappointed with their outcomes.

For any student who hoped to get into the B-school but did not, I want to say two things that I believe to my bones to be true: 1) this does not mean you are a bad student/not smart enough/etc., and 2) this does not mean you can’t get a business job; it just means you will get one in a path different than you originally envisioned.

For students who did not get into the B-school, they will need to choose a major in the College. That can be any major, any department, but I would encourage students to pick a major they like and are good at vs. one they think would look good on a resume (but the subject matter would be a struggle). Think of it this way: if you had an open job, would you rather hire a student who graduated with a history major and a 3.6 GPA, or an Econ major who graduated with a 2.4? (and no, I am not saying Econ is a bad department or grades too hard – I am saying that you should major in something you have aptitude in, not something that is business-adjacent if that is not a strength for you).

There are two great alternative academic paths to help students get a job in business without being an undergrad business major:

• Summer Management Program (SMP): I will have a more detailed look at this program in another week or two in the Daily Deac (including info about a Zoom info session for families), but the 50,000 foot view is this is a business boot camp for non-business majors, typically held in the first session of summer school. It gives students a lot of exposure to business processes, terms, concepts, vocabulary, and skill practice that they can build on later. It is a great foundational program.
• MS in Mgmt and MS in Business Analytics: these are graduate programs, so your Deacs would do their 4 year undergrad at Wake, apply to one of these grad programs, graduate from undergrad, then spend a 5th year here. Students get an extraordinary business education in a compressed time frame and tend to go on and compete for the same jobs they would have gotten as an undergrad business major.

I have had academic advisees of mine do the SMP and also the MS programs and they have had great job placements. Highly recommend both programs.

The other arrow in the quiver that students need to be looking at is fully maximizing what the OPCD (Office of Personal and Career Development) has to offer. If your student is not already very plugged in to the OPCD, encourage them to get serious about it – maybe do 1-2 activities every month.

The OPCD has a vast array of tools in the toolbox to help students get from college to career, and the wisest students take advantage of all they have to offer. The more work you put into understanding potential career paths, how to get internships, how to interview, etc., the more likely your job search will bring you to the best destination for you.

So if your Deac did not get the B-school, please encourage them to consider these other paths plus the OPCD, and not to beat themselves up. There are all things we want (and think we deserve) but might not get. They are learning a lesson in resilience right now, and that will serve them well throughout life. 

National Pan-Hellenic Conference intake process

Last week, the Daily Deac covered Panhellenic (i.e., sorority) and Intrafraternity recruitment. There is one final Greek council to discuss: NPHC, or the National Pan-Hellenic Conference. These are the nine national historically Black fraternities and sororities, five of which are chartered at Wake Forest. There is also one associate member.

Intake is the process where men and women who are interested in joining one of our NPHC fraternities or sororities or our multicultural sorority can explore their options. Intake takes place at various times throughout the year, depending on when a chapter is able to accept new members.

Because the process is so varied, it is nearly impossible to describe here. If your student is interested in an NPHC organization or our multicultural sorority, they should fill out the interest form on the NPHC website.