The benefits of a liberal arts education, and of majoring in economics, are not limited to jump-starting one s career. Like an annuity, the payoff lasts a lifetime. As for acquiring practical business skills, many College graduates choose to enter Masters in Business Administration programs after working for a few years and gaining some business experience. There is more to a college education than preparing for a career, but preparing for a career is nonetheless important. There are comparatively few business careers that require specific undergraduate training.
Accounting is the exception that proves the rule.
If you are a UVA undergraduate and you want to be an accountant, then you must get your training at the Commerce School. But if you want to pursue other kinds of jobs in business such as marketing, finance, management, and information technology going to the Commerce School is not necessary. Economics majors in the College get these kinds of jobs all the time. To see some national data on earnings by college major, visit this website . If there are College courses you would still very much like to take, you will have more difficulty taking them if you transfer to the Commerce School than if you stay in the College.