Attending a business school

[JoeFahey]

This fall I will be attending my first year of college as an intended engineer major. I will be attending either Lehigh or RPI. The details behind which school I will attend is found in this thread: http://forums.anandtech.com/me...id=38&threadid=2192093. As of now, I think that engineering is the right path for me, but I am having second thoughts of whether business is right for me. The problem is, my high school didn't really offer too many business/economics classes compared to the number of science/math courses that I took. I am just trying to look ahead, and I am wondering that if I someday want to attend a top business school if my interests change, do I need to major in business or economics? Are there many people who graduate with a different degree like engineering that go onto a top business school?

 

[Born2bwire]

My dad got his BS in mechanical engineering from Georgia Tech. Didn't like the work and went back to school at Northwestern and got his MBA. I believe he got hired on to his first firm by a guy that ended up doing the same thing. In addition, a lot of the management that I've worked with were engineers. It seems much easier to teach an engineer how to manage than a manager how to engineer.

 

[2Xtreme21]

I think having an undergraduate degree in something other than business is BETTER than having one in business and wanting to proceed on to a graduate business school. Shows you are more well-rounded.

I'll be graduating with a degree in Information Science and I'm hoping to eventually go back for an MBA; however, the schools I'm looking at all but require a few years of work experience first. I don't think people going for undergrad business degrees realize the trend is to not immediately go into an MBA program as soon as they graduate.

 

[BHeemsoth]

Joe,

I don't have an MBA personally, but just received my BS from a mid-range B-school. I had several friends in the MBA program, many of whom had undergraduate degrees in non-business related fields. A decent school will be have ability to tailor the curriculum to your needs and provide you with enough basic business knowledge to succeed in the program. You may end up having to take an extra course or two to get a basic understanding of fundamental accounting or finance, but it's definitely doable.

-Brian

 

[sjwaste]

You don't even have an undergrad degree? It's a lot easier then, just minor in business! It'll make you more marketable in any case.

 

[Capt Caveman]

What you majored as an undergrad makes zero difference when you apply for your MBA. Your GPA, GMAT score, work experience, interview, reference letters are what matters. My MBA classes had folks from all different undergrad backgrounds, even a former psychologist. The only bonus of having an undergrad in a business discipline will be getting some classes waved.

 

[AtlantaBob]

Originally posted by: Capt Caveman
What you majored as an undergrad makes zero difference when you apply for your MBA. Your GPA, GMAT score, work experience, interview, reference letters are what matters. My MBA classes had folks from all different undergrad backgrounds, even a former psychologist. The only bonus of having an undergrad in a business discipline will be getting some classes waved.

Yes... that's exactly right. Considering your engineering background, you may want to consider Georgia Tech's business school once you get out. It's right on the 24-28 ranking of top B-Schools according to US News, and has a lot of former engineers. Entering class size is about 80 or so, so you get to know people better than at a larger school where the class is in the hundreds. Another plus: quality students--many of whom are getting another graduate degree (M.S. or PhD) in an engineering or technical field--and who have fine GMAT scores.

 

[imported_Imp]

I don't see why. A lot of engineers, a few I knew in my class, were planning on going to business school after they finished the program. If you finish your engy undergrad, you may get a leg up on everyone else without a previous business major/degree. Something about engies being able to organize, manage that's suppose to be appealing.

 

[Playmaker]

At the top schools, having something other than an undergrad business degree is beneficial. However, going to a top undergrad business school definitely helps with getting the kind of work experience b-school adcomms love.

 

[drinkmorejava]

No reason to have a business oriented undergrad. I'm at RPI now, and plan to get a MBA 3-4 years out of school. Considering my father went to Chicago, I'll probably end up there too. I'm actually going for an econ minor too, which will help, but it's not at all necessary.

?if you really want to get into RPI nuances, though ,you can't get a minor if you're doing a dual major, so aero/mech for me means I can't "actually" get a minor. Also, something to look into is RPI's new mixed management and Eng 5-year program. Basically, you take 25ish engineering credits and the rest are management. Supposedly the management school is actually becoming more known, however, everything I've seen makes it appear that it's for everyone that couldn't cut it as an engineer. I also know one kid taking the 5 year program, and for the most part, he's a complete tool. If you?d really like I could elaborate, but pretty much, he constantly talks about how easy the classes are, then ends up with a 2.5 gpa.

 

[looker001]

Having B.S. in business is not necessary but beneficial. I my self, have a finance degree. Being thinking of getting MBA, and after doing research it appears that a lot of what i learned during my undergraduate years in school will be similar if not exactly the same during MBA. In other words, it will be easy as i already know most of it.

 

[Capt Caveman]

Originally posted by: looker001
Having B.S. in business is not necessary but beneficial. I my self, have a finance degree. Being thinking of getting MBA, and after doing research it appears that a lot of what i learned during my undergraduate years in school will be similar if not exactly the same during MBA. In other words, it will be easy as i already know most of it.

Only the introductory/required courses in the beginning. Your MBA program should take you into a number of subject areas that you've never touched nor gone into as much detail.

 

[sjwaste]

Originally posted by: drinkmorejava
No reason to have a business oriented undergrad. I'm at RPI now, and plan to get a MBA 3-4 years out of school. Considering my father went to Chicago, I'll probably end up there too. I'm actually going for an econ minor too, which will help, but it's not at all necessary.

?if you really want to get into RPI nuances, though ,you can't get a minor if you're doing a dual major, so aero/mech for me means I can't "actually" get a minor. Also, something to look into is RPI's new mixed management and Eng 5-year program. Basically, you take 25ish engineering credits and the rest are management. Supposedly the management school is actually becoming more known, however, everything I've seen makes it appear that it's for everyone that couldn't cut it as an engineer. I also know one kid taking the 5 year program, and for the most part, he's a complete tool. If you?d really like I could elaborate, but pretty much, he constantly talks about how easy the classes are, then ends up with a 2.5 gpa.

Good idea on the minor in econ, you will really learn how to think business in its abstract forms that way. Also, Chicago has a world class economics program. Take as many classes as you can, more than needed for the minor if it can work, with all of the big name professors. I do wish I had the opportunity to study economics there when I was an undergrad, but I didn't even know I wanted an econ degree until my 3rd year.

EDIT: I misread, you're at RPI for undergrad. Still do the econ minor Then, once at Chicago, try to take as many econ classes w/ that faculty as you can!