1. Welcome! Please take a few seconds to create your free account to post threads, make some friends, remove a few ads while surfing and much more. ClutchFans has been bringing fans together to talk Houston Sports since 1996. Join us!

degree programs

Discussion in 'BBS Hangout' started by God's Son, Dec 29, 2009.

Tags:
  1. God's Son

    God's Son Member

    Joined:
    Jun 19, 2007
    Messages:
    608
    Likes Received:
    1
    iam thinking of pursuing a bachelor in finance because i think it would be more specialized and help me get a better job down the line. anyone here go down this road and what was your experience and what line of work did you settle in. i also want to know what the average finance graduate can expect to make here in houston market
     
  2. K LoLo

    K LoLo Member

    Joined:
    Jun 27, 2008
    Messages:
    1,427
    Likes Received:
    548
    I would think $40-45K.

    Thats what friends of mine were getting when we were all graduating a year or two ago. I saw some get less, actually.
     
  3. BEAT LA

    BEAT LA Member

    Joined:
    Sep 24, 2009
    Messages:
    7,662
    Likes Received:
    197
  4. Harrisment

    Harrisment Member

    Joined:
    Jun 20, 2001
    Messages:
    15,392
    Likes Received:
    2,157
    The fact that you are Jesus will probably get you at least 52k.
     
  5. s land balla

    s land balla Contributing Member

    Joined:
    Apr 24, 2001
    Messages:
    6,608
    Likes Received:
    365
    What school are you planning to get your degree from?

    Back in 2007, finance-related jobs in Houston for newly graduated UT Austin grads were around 48K. Not sure what it is now.
     
  6. Pharaoh King

    Pharaoh King Member

    Joined:
    Jun 18, 2009
    Messages:
    288
    Likes Received:
    22
    Let me piggyback on this thread.

    Having lived in the Middle East for a while, and being FROM the region, I have always had interest in working within the oil and gas industry. As such, I was thinking about returning to school and doing a BBA in Finance with emphasis on energy finance/trading. I know the University of Houston has such highly regarded program at Bauer. Any one here work in the energy oil and gas field and has recommendations or ideas for me as to how I can break into this field? Ultimately I would like to get the degree and have the flexibility to work anywhere in the world and make a good income while doing it. I am still conflicted as to whether or not I should focus on finance or accounting, but I would really like to focus my studies to emphasize the energy sector.

    Any ideas guys? I am really trying to get as many opinions as I can from people in the know. I am also open for suggestions on programs offered in the U.S. and particularly Texas that would meet the criteria.
     
  7. Pete Chilcutt

    Pete Chilcutt Contributing Member

    Joined:
    Jan 28, 2009
    Messages:
    5,535
    Likes Received:
    280
    Im at Bauer at UH. Cant wait to get my degree
     
  8. TreeRollins

    TreeRollins Contributing Member

    Joined:
    Nov 7, 2006
    Messages:
    2,052
    Likes Received:
    102
    If you are majoring in Finance it is probably a good idea to take a good amount of accounting hours. Your opportunities will be greatly expanded.
     
  9. Pharaoh King

    Pharaoh King Member

    Joined:
    Jun 18, 2009
    Messages:
    288
    Likes Received:
    22
    Why don't people just go for an accounting degree if that is the case? Any advice for those interested in focusing on the energy sector? Should I consider a particular program or should I just go for any general finance degree?
     
  10. TreeRollins

    TreeRollins Contributing Member

    Joined:
    Nov 7, 2006
    Messages:
    2,052
    Likes Received:
    102
    Many entry-level positions for finance majors are going to require a certain number of accounting hours. At the very least take intermediate acct I & II.

    UH has a global energy managment program that may be a nice supplement with an undergrad finance degree. That being said, I don't have any firsthand knowledge about it.

    http://www.bauer.uh.edu/undergraduate/finance/global-energy/
     
  11. Phillyrocket

    Phillyrocket Member

    Joined:
    Jun 12, 2002
    Messages:
    13,721
    Likes Received:
    10,192
    I have a BBA in finance but work as an accountant. In my experience an accounting or finance degree are pretty interchangeable. I did finance just because I am personally interested in stocks and investing. Currently I work for a bond bank where my finance background is finally able to be used. I still do accounting but a lot of my job involves analysis of cash flows for our lending that we then issue bonds to cover.

    I think people especially new grads put too much emphasis on GPA, class rank, major and minor etc. In my office we have an art major, a hotel management major, and they do finance and accounting work.

    Do what interests you, you can work your way into any field with a business degree. I would suggest to stay away from marketing or HR unless you really want to do that.

    Economics, finance, and accounting are very flexible and you can kind of do what you want.
     
  12. Pete Chilcutt

    Pete Chilcutt Contributing Member

    Joined:
    Jan 28, 2009
    Messages:
    5,535
    Likes Received:
    280
    Do you guys have internships?
     
  13. dharocks

    dharocks Contributing Member

    Joined:
    Jun 24, 2003
    Messages:
    9,032
    Likes Received:
    1,969
    I'm in the fourth year of a 5-year accounting mba program, with a bba dual concentration in accounting and finance. A lot of programs are set up so you can double major in the two pretty easily, though if I could do it again I'd have just stuck with accounting. It was way easier getting an accounting internship and there seem to be a lot more jobs there (though I've mostly just gone through on-campus recruiting, so take that with a grain of salt). I'm really just doing the MBA to sit for the exam anyway.

    I've actually heard that math majors tend to break into finance more easily than finance/econ majors, but I have no idea if that's true.
     
  14. K LoLo

    K LoLo Member

    Joined:
    Jun 27, 2008
    Messages:
    1,427
    Likes Received:
    548
    you can't take the cpa exam with a finance degree, so the two aren't toally interchageable
     
  15. RocketsPimp

    RocketsPimp Contributing Member

    Joined:
    Feb 15, 1999
    Messages:
    13,812
    Likes Received:
    194
    I'm going for a double major in both finance and accounting. It's only a few more classes, so I figure it's worth it.
     
  16. Phillyrocket

    Phillyrocket Member

    Joined:
    Jun 12, 2002
    Messages:
    13,721
    Likes Received:
    10,192
    We did and I've been pushing for more. One problem, we're in Santa Fe, NM.

    Funny thing is our last intern was from Texas Tech.
     
  17. Phillyrocket

    Phillyrocket Member

    Joined:
    Jun 12, 2002
    Messages:
    13,721
    Likes Received:
    10,192
    Very true, IMO a CPA is way overrated when it comes to how good someone actually is on the job.

    However it has tremendous value as many many jobs require it. Here in NM if you're a CPA they think you can turn water into wine.
     
  18. K LoLo

    K LoLo Member

    Joined:
    Jun 27, 2008
    Messages:
    1,427
    Likes Received:
    548
    In public accounting, it doesn't mean much until you leave the firm. When you leave, you make a lot more money tho.

    I actually just got done taking it, so thanks for saying what I just did was overrated.
     
  19. Dairy Ashford

    Dairy Ashford Member

    Joined:
    May 20, 2002
    Messages:
    14,502
    Likes Received:
    1,831
    Gas Scheduler, but don't do it with a pipeline; do it with a Gas or Electric utility, or the Sales/Trading division of a major oil company.

    Also, keep your grades up, take an interest in sports and learn to play golf. Whole industry is based on relationships that traders have with their counterparts at Utilities (Gas Buyers), Producers (Gas Sellers) and Pipelines (Gas Transporters). These three entities hold lots of industry conferences and meetings to get traders from different companies together, so you just have to be able build long-term friendships with people in a short amount of time. I mentioned keeping your grades up for two reasons: first, because over the last six years a lot more graduates seem to have taken an interest in energy trading, and secondarily because much of the newer energy firms are run by investment banks, which means tougher selection criteria anyways. I have a BBA in Finance from U of H and seven years of scheduling on a big interstate pipe (NNG), but a sub-3.0 GPA and a poor "social fit" means I won't get anywhere near a gas trading or even in-house transport marketing job.

    Here is a list of the biggest North American gas traders.

    Reading List:
    -Understanding Today's Natural Gas Business (Bob Shively and John Ferrare)
    -Electric Power Industry in Non-Technical Language (Denise Warentkin-Glenn)
    -Trading Natural Gas (Fletcher J. Sturm)
    -Gas Pipelines and the Emergence of America's Regulatory State (Christopher Castaneda and Clarence M. Smith)
     
  20. Dairy Ashford

    Dairy Ashford Member

    Joined:
    May 20, 2002
    Messages:
    14,502
    Likes Received:
    1,831
    I think if you come from a great private college, or a good one in a really big city, you can probably get some decent finance opportunities right out of the gate. But when those recruiters go to big public schools, they could be looking at 500/1000/2500 resumes at each school. Particularly in flyover states, they almost have no choice but to demand a relevant major and a top-level (3.5 - 3.85) GPA. Then out of that pile they presumably pick the ones with leadership experiences, good internships and interesting extracurriculars.

    But I think I agree with the general idea about following your interests. As long as you make the necessary sacrifices and have a backup plan, and don't do something stupidly impossible like acting or music, you'll eventually make a career out of it.
     

Share This Page

  • About ClutchFans

    Since 1996, ClutchFans has been loud and proud covering the Houston Rockets, helping set an industry standard for team fan sites. The forums have been a home for Houston sports fans as well as basketball fanatics around the globe.

  • Support ClutchFans!

    If you find that ClutchFans is a valuable resource for you, please consider becoming a Supporting Member. Supporting Members can upload photos and attachments directly to their posts, customize their user title and more. Gold Supporters see zero ads!


    Upgrade Now