Business isn't for everyone, some Kelley students find

When junior Cheri Hite first came to IU three years ago, business seemed like a natural fit. \nFlattered to be directly admitted to the Kelley School of Business, Hite thought a business major could be her ticket to multiple job offers, a good career and a high salary. \nBut while she did well in her business courses, she wasn't happy. \n"I realized I just wasn't as competitive as (my classmates)," she said. "Making business plans and all that stuff is not my kind of thing."\nShe switched into the University Division -- after having to convince her parents that she did indeed want to move out of the business school -- and defaulted to an undecided major. \nAfter some anxiety and soul--searching, and a brief period as a communication and culture major, Hite decided upon human development and family psychology. She doesn't regret it. \n"I love my new major," she said. "With this degree, yes, I'm going to have a huge pay cut, but I'm going to be so much happier." \nHite's experience is just one of many that illustrates the process of switching majors once in the business school. \nNo official IU statistics track how many students change their minds every year, but advisers say, if done early, business students have plenty of opportunities for new majors. \n"There are a lot of options open to them," said Gail Fairfield, manager of undergraduate advising for the business school. "It's really important for students to be internally clear about what they are wanting to do and what works for them." \nShe said the school's required 45 hours of general education credits make for an easier transition for students who later switch degrees. Many move to the College of Arts and Sciences or the School of Public and Environmental Affairs, she said. \nTransferring to SPEA is particularly easy, thanks to overlap between courses, said Matthew Auer, director of undergraduate programs, in an e-mail. \nSPEA's computer literacy credit, for instance, is fulfilled by Kelley's K201 Computers in Business course. And the nature of SPEA's undergraduate programs, which allow between 24 to 30 elective credits to count toward a bachelor's degree, helps, too.\nAuer said many business students share a similar interest with SPEA students: guiding organizations and people. \n"They discover that sure, they're interested in being managers and being leaders," Auer said. "They also discover that they want to give back, that they want to help society, that they want to do something that's close to their heart and not just have a job and be connected to an ordinary business." \nTo judge whether a business major is a good fit, Fairfield recommends students take X100 Introduction to Business. The course provides a sense of the business school before students fully commit, she said.\nShe also advises students to take introductory courses in other fields to help them refine their interests. \nThe reasoning, she said, is simple: If students aren't happy, they won't do well. \n"It's pretty hard to fake your way through the business school," Fairfield said. "It's a rigorous program. You're not going to get to your senior year if you're not engaged." \nBut for those who do choose to switch out of the school, some say business classes are still useful, even if the credits don't transfer. \nSophomore Cortney Johnson, who majored in accounting before switching to SPEA this semester, said she's glad she took X220 Career Perspectives, even though it doesn't directly transfer to a SPEA course.\n"It was a stressful class ... but each part you did was a resume, a cover letter -- things you needed," she said. "I'm kind of glad I took it"