Although I haven't fully settled on a specific career, my degree completely caught me by surprise. I never once in my high school life thought I'd wind up in a business school. Hell, I don't think it ever even occured to me back then that they existed.
I am a first-generation college student from my family, so I had virtually no exposure to the varied options out in the world. My grades and test scores were always well above average in every area, and any career/interest surveys I took just my test scores: I had an equally strong disposition at all sides of the spectrum. Although my English and reading scores were much higher than my math and sciences, I never particularly liked it. I always loved computers, so when I went to college I figured "why not computer science?". One intro to computer science class and countless C++ debugging sessions later, and I said screw that (I later found out that my particular school's CS program is notoriously terrible). I then seriously considered software engineering, which I realized was more in line with what I enjoyed doing with computers. I happened to work that summer at a campus IT department, and after observing the day-to-day of software engineers, I decided it'd make me go bonkers doing it for years.
What did I enjoy so much about computers? It was the problem solving process; not so much the programming aspects. What didn't I like about computer science? It was the lack of practical application and the intense amount of required mathematics that wouldn't ever actually be applied, combined with a general dissatisfaction with how I was utilizing my skills. Sure, I could do the math, but it was just so boring.
So I did some deep introspection and came to the following list of criteria for my path:
1. It needs to be practical. If I'm in a class that I can't apply to my life or projected career, I can't subject myself to it.
2. Not math averse, but definitely not straight number crunching for the rest of my working life.
3. Utilize my natural predisposition towards making everything efficient. Whether it was finding the most efficient route to work/school/girlfriend's, or finding the most efficient way to make a pizza when managing a Domino's, I always actively analyze everything to be sure it's being done the most efficient way possible.
4. (Optional) Be able to tell people what to do. I've always been a team player, but I've never been one to follow direction blindly. If I think a decision is ineffective, inefficient, or downright stupid, I enjoy having the ability to effect that decision.
I found my way to a program called Business Analytics that is offered through the Statistics department in the College of Business at my university. It's main focus in the undergraduate realm is on predictive analytics and (minutely) process control. It fit all my criteria:
1. It's very practical. Predictive analysis is used in virtually any field that tracks historical/usage data: customer loyalty programs, supply chain optimization, advertising, business process optimization, market research, census bureau, credit card companies, insurance companies, etc.
2. You have to understand the underlying math that supports the statistical principles being utilized, so that the resulting analysis takes into account the particular caveats of the statistical method utilized, however most of the computations themselves are fully automated by software. So it utilizes my mathematical understanding, but I don't actually have to crunch numbers all day. I simply interpret them instead.
3. Predictive analytics and process control is the embodiment of efficiency. After applying statistical process control principles, you can then apply predictive analytics and simulations to find the optimal method of whatever you're working on.
4. Even within companies, the role is generally consulting with other business units. So I get to be opinionated (via sound recommendations) without risking pissing off the wrong person.
The graduate degree, if I pursue it, further enhances the predictive analytics knowledge while focusing heavily on management sciences principles such as process flow diagramming.
As for an eventual career itself, my degree is as broad as my interests, so I haven't decided on that yet. I've actually had opportunities to do work via my student position managing online advertising campaigns, and find it really interesting. I even have a standing offer after graduation with a web design and marketing firm as an entry-level account manager at 36k/year, sight unseen. With my 2+ years experience (by graduation) managing campaigns for the school, that will probably be closer to 50k/year. However, that itself doesn't really utilize my degree. I'm looking at website usability testing as a possible career path (which does utilize my stats background), but have limited experience in that area. If I can gain experience there, combined with previous web programming experience and the advertising experience, it will be relatively easy to make 75k+/year in a self-employed consulting position within 2-3 years after graduation.
Or I might stay for my Masters; which generally solicits entry-level salaries starting at 75k with a medium of 100k/yr across the board (e.g. not industry-specific).