727. BUSINESS VS ENGINEERING MAJORS FOR TECH-MINDED STUDENTS

727. BUSINESS VS ENGINEERING MAJORS FOR TECH-MINDED STUDENTS

Author: Amy Seeley & Mike Bergin May 19, 2026 Duration: 27:57

High schoolers who show advanced aptitude and interest in science and math often seem destined to concentrate on STEM in college. Surprisingly, though, many choose a more financially focused track. Amy and Mike invited college counselor Mike Hammer to explore business vs engineering majors for tech-minded students.

What are five things you will learn in this episode?

  1. If a student is talented in math and science, and interested in both business and engineering, which one should they go for?

  2. If a student is interested in engineering but might do better in business, should they go for a business major in college?

  3. What are the major differences between business courses and engineering courses in undergrad college?

  4. What kinds of intellectual curiosity suggest business or engineering as ideal majors?

  5. Engineering majors can be competitive; are business majors as competitive?

  6. Will it be a problem for the college application if a student's high school did not offer any business classes?

MEET OUR GUEST

Mike Hammer earned his Business degree from the Haas School at UC Berkeley. Besides higher ed, his background includes work in for-profit, non-profit and consulting sectors. Mike's 25 years at Cornell University included working closely with admissions directors and reading admissions for 14 cycles. He was responsible for helping administrators understand changing trends in applications and helping the university adapt to serving increasingly diverse applicants. Mike also served as a mentor for STEM student groups including the McNair Scholars, helping students navigate the complex environment of higher education. His experience gives him a comprehensive understanding of the importance of matching each student's talents, goals and dreams to the environment that is right for them, and how to communicate a student's unique story to the admission readers.

Mike first appeared on the podcast in episode 463 in an IEC PROFILE.

Mike can be reached at mikehammer@stemadvising.com.

LINKS

The 10 most in-demand bachelor's degrees—No. 1 isn't engineering

Global Essay Prize | John Locke Institute

RELATED EPISODES

HOW BUSINESS-MINDED STUDENTS CAN STAND OUT IN COLLEGE ADMISSIONS

NAVIGATING THE COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE OF COMPUTER SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING ADMISSIONS

HOW COLLEGES ADMIT BY MAJOR

ABOUT THIS PODCAST

Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page.

ABOUT YOUR HOSTS

Mike Bergin is the president of Chariot Learning and founder of TestBright, Roots2Words, and College Eagle. Amy Seeley is the president of Seeley Test Pros and LEAP. If you're interested in working with Mike and/or Amy for test preparation, training, or consulting, get in touch through our contact page.

 


Navigating the complex world of college admissions can feel like a maze with ever-shifting walls. Tests and the Rest: College Admissions Podcast, hosted by Amy Seeley and Mike Bergin, serves as a reliable guide through that maze. Instead of generic advice, their conversations delve into the nuanced realities of testing, admissions strategies, learning differences, and broader educational trends. They bring in leading experts to provide depth and clarity on the issues that matter most right now. Whether you're a parent trying to support your student, a counselor shaping guidance, or an educator within the system, this podcast offers substantive discussion that goes beyond the surface. Each episode aims to demystify the process, offering practical insights and thoughtful analysis. You'll hear honest talk about standardized tests, application essays, financial aid, and the many factors that shape decisions on both sides of the admissions desk. For anyone invested in understanding the journey to higher education-from students to consultants-this is a vital resource. Tune in for a consistently informative and straightforward take on an industry that affects so many futures.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Tests and the Rest: College Admissions Podcast
Podcast Episodes
656. HOW TO PLAN A GAP YEAR [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 25:23
Most students matriculate directly from high school to college. But what if you're not like most students? Amy and Mike invited education consultant Julia Rogers to explore how to plan a gap year. What are five things yo…
655. TEST PREP PROFILE: Kristen Lefebvre [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 16:37
Ready to learn the history, philosophy, and practice of an experienced professional in the test prep industry? MEET OUR GUEST Meet Kristen Lefebvre, the National Director of Education at StudyPoint, an educational servic…
654. TEST PREP PROFILE: Allen Tsao [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 17:18
Ready to learn the history, philosophy, and practice of an experienced professional in the test prep industry? MEET OUR GUEST Meet Allen Tsao, who started out as an Electrical Engineer (BS at UC Berkeley, and MS at Stanf…
653. TEST PREP PROFILE: Margaret Duden [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 16:00
Ready to learn the history, philosophy, and practice of an experienced professional in the test prep industry? MEET OUR GUEST Meet Margaret Duden, Founder of Twin Cities Test Prep Tutor, is a full-time test prep and writ…
652. TEST PREP PROFILE: Ren Abraham [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 17:01
Ready to learn the history, philosophy, and practice of an experienced professional in the test prep industry? MEET OUR GUEST Meet Ren Abraham, the founder of Telos Tutors, a test prep and academic tutoring company servi…
651. GAME PLAN FOR THE ENHANCED ACT [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 46:47
The unfolding changes to the ACT take effect everywhere in September. Are you ready? Let two nationally recognized experts in education–your hosts of the Tests and the Rest podcast–help you understand both the ACT enhanc…
650. HOW CAN PAST POOR DECISIONS AFFECT COLLEGE ADMISSIONS? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 25:24
To err is human, which makes adolescence a particularly intense expression of the human condition. Yes, we all make mistakes, but some are more glaring and likely to impact acceptance than others. But which ones? Amy and…
649. AI AND THE COLLEGE ADMISSIONS PROCESS [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:38
In a process with as many steps as choosing, applying to, and being accepted at a target higher education institution, small improvements in efficiency at any point can compound dramatically for both applicants and admis…
648. EXTEMP WITH AMY & MIKE: May 2025 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:25
The Tests and the Rest podcast has always been relentlessly focused on exploring important topics in testing, admissions, education, and learning with amazing expert guests. Sometimes, though, we enjoy an unstructured op…
647. THE PREDICTIVE VALIDITY OF TEST SCORES IN COLLEGE ADMISSIONS [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:39
The last thing anybody wants to do is sit for a meaningless test. Entrance exams like the SAT & ACT should be able to inform both test takers and target institutions about the likelihood of success at the next level. So…