College Major

[themeparkman25]

I posted this in the "say something random thread" and got nothing, so I posted it here hoping to get some responses. I'm asking this to those who who know a lot about the (theme park) industry and can offer advice to me on what to do.

 

I am currently a sophomore at the University of Colorado at Boulder and trying to decide specifically what major(s) I want to get before I get too deep in to my college years. I have taken plenty of economics classes and love them, but I have also taken plenty of business classes and love them too. So the question remains, which degree would be most beneficial to me? I, like so many people on this site, want to own a theme park in the long run, but to do that I believe I will need to work my way up some ladder (CF, SF, etc). To human resources, when I walk in or talk to them, which of the following options is going to look the best? Why? What would you advise I do?

 

Option 1: A degree (BS) in Business. A minor in economics. A certificate in entrepreneurship. Graduation: May '12.

 

Option 2: A degree (BS) in Business. A minor in economics. A certificate in entrepreneurship. A Masters in Business Administration (MBA) as post graduate work. Graduation with MBA: May '14.

 

Option 3: A degree (BS) in Business. A degree (BA) in economics. A certificate in entrepreneurship. Graduation: May '13.

 

Option 4: A degree (BS) in Business. A degree (BA) in economics with business emphasis. A certificate in entrepreneurship. Graduation: May '13.

 

Option 5: A degree (BS) in Business. A degree (BA) in economics (with or without the emphasis). A certificate in entrepreneurship. A Masters in Business Administration (MBA). Graduation: May '15.

 

I get fairly good grades (3.4 freshman year) and enjoy taking classes relevant to my major(s) so difficulty does not really phase me, but if I can get to the same place in the long run with less time and money spent in college then I should do that. I need help! I do not plan to stay in Colorado for grad school, if I should choose to do grad school. Does UCF have a good college of business that offers MBA's? I want a place that actually has a legit theme park and a good college I can attend.

 

Let's say I go with option 1, is the single degree and three extra years of experience worth more than going with option 5? If not of those options seem to be fitting, is there another degree that you would recommend me taking?

 

Thanks for your help!

Jordan "I'm going to own a theme park someday, tell me otherwise, I'd love to prove you wrong" Darrington

[ParkTrips]

You can own a theme park today. FUN is publicly traded shares of Cedar Fair

[Emiroo]

Option 1 is probably the best place to start. It's an extremely flexible degree that will help you get your foot in the door in all kinds of places. As well, it's also good to start slow rather than ramp up with all of that "extra education" (and debt) only to find that it isn't useful/required once you hit the real world.

 

As far as theme park management goes my advice would be to start at the bottom in the inside. Get a job at a park. Any job. Games, Ride Op, Sweep, Foodservice, Whatever. Let it be known that you are interested in working your way into management and hopefully one day upper management. To help yourself in this endevaour, give 110 percent no matter what job they give you. Be the guy who is the best at cleaning up puke if you have to. Just get noticed...and in a good way. With a little luck, you can become a lifer and make your way into management. And if you do ever wind up owning the place, send me some free tickets.

 

Reguardless, you can take some comfort knowing that your degree is highly portable no matter what industry/business you get into. Hopefully it will be Amusement Parks, but even if that falls through you'll still have a very marketable degree.

 

Good luck!

[Chris Benvenuto]

As far as theme park management goes my advice would be to start at the bottom in the inside. Get a job at a park. Any job. Games, Ride Op, Sweep, Foodservice, Whatever. Let it be known that you are interested in working your way into management and hopefully one day upper management. To help yourself in this endevaour, give 110 percent no matter what job they give you. Be the guy who is the best at cleaning up puke if you have to. Just get noticed...and in a good way. With a little luck, you can become a lifer and make your way into management. And if you do ever wind up owning the place, send me some free tickets.

 

Reguardless, you can take some comfort knowing that your degree is highly portable no matter what industry/business you get into. Hopefully it will be Amusement Parks, but even if that falls through you'll still have a very marketable degree.

 

Good luck!

 

Alot of Theme Park department heads and CEOs TODAY started at the bottom, as a simple pawn under the guidance of a much bigger plan. This cycle will continue, people will keep working summers, get a full time job and work their way to the top in their department or area.

 

I remember an old blog post of Tony & Tyler on CP's website and they even said they started at the bottom in the Mid 80s and worked their way to the top, and with their boss Dick Kinzel? HE started the same way, but beginning in the 70s and got to CEO in the 90s.

[haux]

You really should talk to an adviser or a counselor. Or perhaps write a letter to someone at an amusement park. Don't rely on the Internet to help too much with what you want as a career.

 

Chris Benvenuto's right. Cedar Fair President and CEO Dick Kinzel started working in foods. One of his vice presidents worked night trash.

[themeparkman25]

Part Trips-So is Six Flags. Well, they were, I'm not really sure where they are listed now. Wasn't it that if there stocked fell beneath a dollar for over a year they would be removed from that specific market? I'm still not even sure what they are doing with their Chapter 11 besides cancelling a ton of debt in exchange for equity. Oh well, that isn't what I want to do!

 

Emiroo-Would you suggest and MBA though? I feel like an MBA is critical to be a big name, and I guess if I want to maybe start my own I would want that knowledge as well. See my comment too please at the bottom about where I stand currently with jobs. Free tickets for you for sure since you are helping me here.

 

Chris-You as well, read my post at the bottom regarding my current job(s) in the industry. Then can you share your advice again. Sorry, I failed to leave that out of my original post.

 

Haux-That is a very good idea and I definitely will do that. A couple years ago I spoke with B&M, Intamin, S&S, Vekoma, etc about working for them and that helped a lot. My tastes shifted though from engineering to business. As well, read the bottom!

 

I don't mean any of those remarks in a negative manner to you guys, I mean only good by it. They are simply suggestions that you check out my experience and share your advice with the additional information. I apologize if I came off in a poor fashion.

 

My current job(s) in the industry

I worked for a solid year and a half about in a ski and bike shop and got excellent hands on experience with customer services, technician skills and tastes of management since it was a small shop. However, in retrospect I wish I spent less time there and more with theme parks.

 

This last summer I started working at my local park, Elitch Gardens, as a ride operator. I was promoted not to long after starting to a ride trainer. I applied to a couple of job openings as an area manager, though my lack of years with the park is what ultimately got me the nix. Assuming I get rehired, and I feel pretty good about that haha, I would start this upcoming summer as a trainer and would be a contender for manager since I would have the year of experience under my belt. Now I am not guaranteeing that I would get promoted, and I am not trying to be narcissistic, but I believe I have what it takes to be a very good employee.

 

In the upcoming weeks, I have been given the privilege of working as an ambassador at the annual IAAPA convention. I take this with high regard as it is a fairly competitive opportunity, or so I have heard. Either way, I should have the honor of meeting many of the executives at both parks and suppliers. I'm not saying that I will be given job opportunities from this event, as I have been told not to expect anything, but it will still give me the chance to dip my feet into the market.

 

So on top of the major question, another huge question I face is what to do next summer. Cedar Fair offers internships in the business sections of their parks that require you to be a sophomore with good grades, good past, etc. So do I apply to one of those, and IF I get the job, do I take that? Or do I return to Elitches as a trainer and work my way up from there? My concern with Elitches is that it has little to do with Finance or Economics, and when I graduate I will have little experience to offer a future employer in the respect.

 

New Questions:

What major(s) should I choose to follow?

Which job(s) would be the most beneficial and efficient way for me to get remotely close to achieving my dream?

 

I appreciate everyones help so far, and would love to hear what anyone else has to say! Thanks a ton!

 

Jordan

[alanjonesbath]

I assume it works roughly the same in America as it does in Britain, if so very few employers would want to see that you had two bachelors degrees, just one in a relevant subject. A Masters seems to be seen over here as a way to get a bit more education in a specific area if it is required for a job you want, if your first degree wasn't in a relevant area for the job you are going for. I work for computer software company, and while many graduates who join us have a BSc in thing like Computer Science, Mathematics, and other similar degrees, we've had people join with degree in things such as Bio-chemistry, who have then done a Masters in Computing or similar. In Britain, most people will just get a Bachelors degree, some will then go on to get a Masters if they need it, and then a small few will go to get a PhD. I don't know anyone personally who has got two Bachelors degrees, and can't say I've ever seen a job advert that requried it.

 

My personal opinion? Don't get too hung up about getting a 'business' job in the theme park industry - there are plently of other industries that will be easier to get into. Get your degree, get a good job as a result of having that degree in any industry that you have a passing interest in, get experience, and then start hunting the 'dream job'. From what I've seen, experience counts for a lot more than a piece of paper that says you studied something at college for three years or whatever.

[Chris Benvenuto]

 

Chris-You as well, read my post at the bottom regarding my current job(s) in the industry. Then can you sure your advice again. Sorry, I failed to leave that out of my original post.

 

 

My statement was just an observation, not something to get hustled over. Sorry if you misunderstood.

[themeparkman25]

^I didn't mean that in a condescending tone at all. I appreciate your comments. My comment back to you was more of a, "oh ya, I left talking about my jobs out, please be sure to check those out and let me know what you think about that." I didn't mean to sound bad. Plus my post back to you doesn't even make sense.

 

^^I appreciate your comments and opinions. I too agree that experience can be worth more than a degree. I'm actually leaning towards just the business degree with a minor in economics and then saying where that takes me. Thanks again.

[larrygator]

I would say if you want to own an amusement, make lots of money in another field and then buy a park. Not many amusement park owners come up through the ranks, outside of family owned parks.

[Chris Benvenuto]

Come to think of it now, reading that job section, you should go for the internship. If Elitch isn't going to offer alot, I'd go with the Cedar Fair internship and it sounds right now just about the right thing to do.

 

That's what I would do in your shoes, at least.

[themeparkman25]

^^Would you just suggest any industry or what? Would it be possible to just work my way up the theme park ladder, then use that experience and money to do my own thing?

 

^That is what I am leaning towards, I will just have to see how both unfold though and which each offers. What would be a "sell" to you that would get you at each park? You're my age, are you doing anything in the industry?

 

Again, thanks for your help, and I look forward to what other people have to suggest about both the major and the job.

 

Thanks.

[Chris Benvenuto]

^^Would you just suggest any industry or what? Would it be possible to just work my way up the theme park ladder, then use that experience and money to do my own thing?

 

^That is what I am leaning towards, I will just have to see how both unfold though and which each offers. What would be a "sell" to you that would get you at each park? You're my age, are you doing anything in the industry?

 

Again, thanks for your help, and I look forward to what other people have to suggest about both the major and the job.

 

Thanks.

 

Well, in regards to what I'm doing? I'm striving for a summer job at CP, and see where it goes from there really.

[sixflagsguy5]

Talk to your advisor. Getting an MBA takes a long time and from what I've been told, it's better to get a degree, work for a few years and then get the MBA later. That way you can relate what you're learning to what you've experienced. The problem with that is that there's always the chance that you won't be able to go back to school because you'll be caught up with a company. I've talked to three people about this. Two of them got their MBA while they were working for Motorola, because they used to offer a program that allowed you to get your MBA while you were with them and they would pay for it. The other transferred schools after getting an undergrad in business and then got his MBA.

[themeparkman25]

^^Doing rides, games, shows, marketing??

 

^I have heard about programs like that, but with companies slashing costs left and right, it just seems a little less likely now at least. I guess we will see right? I completely agree with you though that experience can be just as valuable as more pieces of paper, and that it would be worthwhile to at least get some experience before an MBA to relate back. Thanks for your advice!

[the ghost]

You might try the Disney college program.

 

www1.epinions.com/content_2246418564

 

This is a review from someone who did the program, and although you wont nececarily work in management the seminars sound beneficial. However, keep in mind that most of the seminars are from a specific disney park perspective, but it sounds like it would be beneficial. This is something I am looking forward to in the future(It probably would not even benefit me, I am planning on majoring in linguistics) but it might be able to help you. The review is pretty in depth, and gives a lot of info.

 

The only potential "downside" would be living in Florida for a few months, but unless you are really attached to Colorado this sounds pretty awesome. Also, there are threads on TPR for the same topic as well as numerous members who have participated.

 

Hope this was helpful.

[themeparkman25]

^I mean, naturally I would assume that the background in business would make the MBA worthwhile. Plus I am sure there are some undergraduate classes that you truly would need to take to grasp the concepts at the graduate level. At some level, education is education and you can use that to expand your understandings of the world, but I would say largely the MBA would only benefit you if you come from a business undergraduate background.

 

As an update, I did drop Econ as my second major and added it as a minor. This does come as a disappointment though as I truly do love economics, but I also love accounting and business, and ultimately it is that which will allow me to achieve my dreams. So, as it stands, Finance and Accounting Majors, Economics minor and that certificate in entrepreneurship. I cannot believe how fast time is flying in college, seems like just yesterday that I was walking in to my first lecture.

 

As another update, the IAAPA ambassador program was easily the best week of my life, both socially and professionally. If you have the opportunity to apply for the program, I HIGHLY recommend it. I have stacks of business cards from the biggest names in the industry, and got to speak with them about their careers, my career and of course some of the dorky aspects of the industry. It was a lot of work, say 15 hour days, but it didn't even matter. I am not even kidding you in the slightest when I say it was the best week of my life. Riding the rides, learning a ton, talking with a great number of people and meeting some truly phenomenal friends. Unbelievable. If any of them are reading this, this is Jordan, and I miss you! If you are thinking about doing it, shoot me a PM and I would love to talk about it further.

 

Lastly, I am hoping that I get to do it again this upcoming year (Nov 2010) in Orlando. With that in mind, I also hope to have my Manta model done by then and see if the park would be interested in showing it.

 

 

Great year thus far, and it will undoubtedly only get better.

 

Edit: I could have sworn this thread used to be in the "ask alvey" division, am I making things up?

[strider8829]

I just recently graduated from Penn State with a business degree I hope to do the same and be the CEO or COO of an amusement park. I have researched and found the best thing to do is get with a company and work your way up. Penn State does however have a program as a part of their heath and human development called recreation, park and tourism management which offer both a B.S. and a graduate program. Within that is a Commercial and Community Recreation Management major which notes that the private/commercial focus will be of interest to students seeking careers in a variety of commercial settings, including resorts, theme parks, convention centers, sports and fitness facilities (including arenas and stadiums), tourism promotion/planning agencies and employee recreation departments within corporations. I was also looking at UCF for potential MBA programs which they also offer part time as you could work at one of the many amusement parks in the area. My friend is in engineering and did the Disney program operating a monorail while working for Kennywood during the summer though again you will have to start by doing the grunt work. Most important is gain experience and hope for a little luck....so good luck