How does your daughter feel about what Alabama has to offer? Is she excited about the STEM to MBA and other opportunities that it may bring?
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Originally Alabama was not on her radar but now she is getting excited about the offerings.
The personalized programs in the Honors College give her a lot of options. She enjoys studying biology and is good at mathâŠbut needs practical applications for her studies. The STEM to MBA program at Alabama allows for that, along with a lot of mentorship and perspectives on career opportunities.
We will need to visit to see if she gels culturallyâŠI would imagine she would.
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Only thing Iâll caution you on getting an MBA so earlyâŠManderson is a fine school but most âtop MBAsâ go back after years of work experience and then come out into 6 figure roles.
The STEM to MBA will have higher than normal undergraduate salaries but for a strong student who might decide to get an MBA later, theyâll leave a lot of starting salary on the table by obtaining it without prior work experience.
Itâs too early to tell anyway. My son says a lot start but finish. Itâs a great opportunity to have.
If your daughter is interested aim Bama and likes the unique programs, have her also look at Randall Research, Blount Scholars, and if any medical desires (even non md) the MCCullough medical scholars.
What if at Alabama you were a biology major in the Honors College and had come in with enough AP credits to qualify for sophomore status. You have a 4 year scholarship that covers both graduate and undergraduate coursework. Why would you not marry your biology major with practical business knowledge that ultimately results in an MBA in 4 years (maybe 4 1/2)? Wouldnât you come out with far more career path options, a more well rounded knowledge base, and opportunities to enter the workforce right away (without needing to pursue additional graduate studies unless you needed to go for something very specific in the biology field)?
This notion of going back for your MBA is very conditional. Not everyone has time to do it on a part time basis and not everyone would give up a high earning middle level job to go full time. Things like motherhood, etc. can sometimes also get in the way.
So why not come out with a very marketable combined biology BS, business MBA degree in 4-5 years for FREE? Where is the downside in that?
Really appreciate your perspective!
I get it. Thereâs many variables and I know many people that were making $85k, $90k that it didnât make sense to leave for two years.
In my case I went back at 28. I didnât make more money when I graduated although it led to a career switch and better outcome for me.
I just remember when we hired a kid who went straight from Mississippi State to Middle Tennessee State or maybe it was vice versa . We offered him like $2 or $3k more than we would an undergrad.
When I went to ASU, everyone in my class but one Stanford kid had work experience. Most top programs today wonât look at you without work experience.
When you get a summer internship that helps defray the costs.
But today thereâs exec MBAs, online MBAs, and so many others.
I guess Iâm just a traditionalist or at least wanted to point out the risk. But your scenarios are all valid as well. Thereâs also, Iâm told, many kids who start but donât finish.
You could always go down the path and decide later if itâs not right. Itâs certainly a neat option.
As for AP credits, my son started as a Sophomore. However whether it helps or not is major dependent. He needs to take 9 credits next semester to graduate but is taking 12. The reason - need 12 to keep the scholarship. He signed up for a PE class too. In engineering, there a 4 year path so the APs didnât make it quicker. For bio, it depends on the course sheets. An advisor can help with that.
Of course life is long and things play out over time. Your daughters adventure will be her own !!
My husband did a combined 5 year BS/MBA program way back in the day, but he was an industrial engineer with very clear career goals and loads of summer work experience. I believe there were only 5 people in his entire MBA class that came straight from undergrad, and they were all engineers. Heâs advised our daughter (a chem E) to wait and work for at least 5 years before going back. He believes the MBA coursework and collaboration is much more impactful after working full time.
Is there a reason your D wouldnât be interested in doing a MS in her field? To me that would make more sense for a student wanting to do bio/genetics.
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She can definitely still pursue a specialized graduate degree in genetics after completing this BS/MBA program. In fact some biology majors from this program go to medical school (testimonials on the program page indicate that).
But this combined program provides some flexibility in career options in case she didnât want to pursue the genetics track. I donât think she would go for her MBA 5 years down the line without having a job in industry first and a BS in biology doesnât really get you very far (maybe a lab research role, etc). However a BS/MBA in biology and business makes you more marketable day 1. It opens up a lot more networking opportunities and does provide a greater range of internship opportunities.
Biology is a very difficult track to pursue and is often ranked as âmost regrettedâ by students. Many biology majors also lament the fact they never took business courses. I think this program diversifies her skill set and knowledge base somewhat and if she decides biology isnât for her she has the opportunity to transition to another path of study.
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I think part of what leads to post - grad success is internships, etc. Hopefully after her sophomore and junior years, she can attain one. You never know what the future holds.
If she believes thatâs the right path for her, itâs great and she can pursue. And if she decides during her studies that itâs not, thatâs great too.
I believe - an MBA without work experience - is taking classes - but not having the context of the real world to add to the discussions. And any offers will likely be muted vs. if she went back with work experience -because jobs that require an MBA also require x years of work experience - so opportunities will be less.
But I do see your thought process as well. Itâs similar to what I worry about with my International Studies/Poli Sci major - when you say it doesnât get you far.
Makes you think these kids should change the major up front if they know this. That said, I understand why they wonât and why they donât.
And to your point -there is risk she may never go back or get that work experience to get her to the point.
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I think the first step is choosing a school that she likes. She may choose Alabama and try the business classes- she may love that path, she may not. She will explore her options and figure it out. She may change her mind 5 times, or not at all.
People go to med school, GC school etc from all walks of life, all careers, majors etc. That is not unique to Alabama, but I suspect you know that.
Not all biology majors have regrets. Some do, some do not. I sound like a broken record, but the key to success as a biology major, the way to get a job where you can support yourself after college- is to develop a strong resume. I know biology majors who not only supported themselves, but also saved money. That might not be the norm, but it happens.
It sounds like your daughter will have plenty of opportunities to explore her interests, and thatâs a good thing! Obtaining an MBA right away seems to have pros and cons (not my area) - she will do what is right for her. You have been given good advice from people who know way more than I, if she is interested in that path.
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Agree with this. Iâve interviewed dozens (maybe hundreds, over the last few decades) of new grads with an undergraduate degree in Business who claim they should be paid on the MBA scale, not the BA/BS scale because âI took the same courses as an MBAâ. Which in some cases is actually true- Managerial Accounting, Operations Research, Valuation, Micro/MacroâŠ
But itâs generally irrelevant as far as the job market is concerned. Someone with an MBA (who has taken those exact same courses) typically has actual and real life work experience, which means the theory and the âtextbookâ are interpreted and applied in very different ways. Someone with no work experience is going to learn how to interpret a balance sheet based on âplug and chugâ. Input here, output there. Someone who has worked in an actual, physical enterprise understands that every single number has history and nuance and context-- itâs not just the arithmetic of âDo these numbers add up to 100%â which frankly- a fourth grader could do. And nobody is hiring a fourth grader for a financial analyst position, no matter how good they are at addition and subtraction. Thereâs more to an MBA program than knowing the formula and correcting your math.
Iâd leave the entire MBA decision off the table for now. Key consideration- getting as rigorous an undergrad education as possible within the confines of what is affordable and what meets the other needs- social, artistic, whatever.
Kick the MBA can down the road. These accelerated programs are not as valuable as an actual MBA-- post- work experience-- and shouldnât be viewed as highly additive, especially for a 17 year old who could take many different pathsâŠ
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Fair enough. Appreciate the feedback.
Alabamaâs STEM to MBA program includes one 1.5 credit class per semester during the freshman and sophomore years. These classes count toward the Honors College requirements. They are group project focused and include a lot of guest speakers from industry and academia as well as field trips and networking events. Donât see any harm in at least doing that. Itâs a great experience. Junior and senior years include 3 online classes in the summer. Then there is one full year of full-time graduate business study. Students can drop out of the program at any time. So plenty of option value in doing this program.
I understand recommendations calling for doing a full-time MBA after 5 years or more of full-time work. Have to get the entry-level job first! Employers value students with STEM backgrounds that also understand business dynamics. Again, my daughter may not like the business curriculum and career paths and may stick to biology. Or she may decide to forgo graduate study in biology and enter the workforce in some related or unrelated field after graduation. Just love the optionality and exposure to other career paths and networking that this program provides.
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I think itâs two plus years most top schools require - of work experience. That may be a Starbucks barista or typical corporate or non-profit job, etc.
I will say - when I was an MBA, the STEM, especially engineers, were the most sought out kids by employers. I managed to wrangle 6 or 8 offers as a liberal art guy, but it was hard work and lower payingâŠas it was non-tech industries I was able to obtain and tech paid better.
Itâs good youâre thinking all this through - and itâs great your daughter can nibble and see if itâs for her and make the right decision for her later.
I would also, from the school, seek career outcomes. They show mixed on the website but I would ask specific to the STEM to MBA vs. full time MBA, etc. And I would compare those with top 40 US News schools.
Lots to think about - but you have lots of time til you really need to dig in much deeper.
Bottom line - if your daughter chooses Bama after the visits, the stress in @njparent72 house will be low as youâll have mostly dodged the financial bullet that comes with college - whether she gets a BS or more!!!
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Thanks so much for your help!
This was not the case when I was in b-school- admittedly, during the Middle Ages, but still.
B school is the reset button, which is why I caution young people to make it count. Life sometimes gets in the way, but going to the âbestâ program you get admitted to; maximizing the value of the degree, etc. all of these are important.
Iâve noted before that my employer wanted me to do a part-time program (which they would pay for) so I could keep my job. I got into a top 5 program which did not have a part-time option- you were either a fulltime student or not. I help my breath and jumped- financed everything with loans-- and it paid out. Even as a Classics major, I tripled my salary pre-MBA vs. post.
YMMV. But the lack of STEM as an undergrad didnât hurt me (now or then). The world still needs humanities majors, even if that is not the impression one gets after hanging out on CC.
The best CEO I ever worked for (a Fortune 100 company) was a Renaissance Studies major (undergrad, then military service, then MBA). You wonât be surprised how much he loved hiring folks who had studied history, art, literature, ancient languages, etcâŠ
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Perhaps itâs person by person. I guess what Iâm saying is -
HP and Intel werenât interested in interviewing the History and broadcast journalism undergrad but they loved the engineers. My better half ended up in optics with Corning - something the history major still doesnât understand.
I ended up with an auto, but had offers from pepsi and some others, that were all lower paid then the tech people.
Of course, I was a marketing focus and thereâs perhaps that - most the tech people were in finance and supply chain (which my school, ASU was known for). COme to think of it, with one elective, I got an offer in Supply Chain from Fed ExâŠbut also low paid relative to others.
Anyway, in general, my belief (right or wrong) is the tech is superior for outcomes (speaking generally, thereâs always exceptions) and that likely wonât change for a very long time.
Either way, OPâs daughter is just starting - and her world will probably change several times over the next few years!!!.
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OP I think you need to slow down. A few weeks ago you were talking about genetic counseling, and now you are talking about an MBA. Your daughter is still a senior in HS.
She needs to pick a major/double major. Many go in undecided. She may change her mind 5 times. She can stay at Alabama (if thatâs the school) and get a masters in biology. From there she can go into the pharmaceutical industry etcâŠbut she has time for this. Maybe one day she will want an MBA, who knows.
My D has a BS in biology. She had multiple job offers before graduating - not a top salary at 22, but a decent salary- high enough to live with a roommate in an expensive city and save money (fyi sheâs not a spender).
Sheâs planning to go back to school very soon, but right now (with her BS in biology) she has a good job in a highly regarded institution. They will pay for a masters if she chooses to stay- not a bad deal. My point is that you donât have to figure it all out right now, as a senior in HS.
Your daughter is 17-18 years old. I would take a step back and find a school that she loves and that is affordable for you. Everything else will fall into place.
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I donât think the program at Alabama is incongruous with everything you are saying. Itâs certainly affordable for me, would allow her to pursue a major in biology in an Honors College setting, while âgentlyâ leaning into practical/commercial oriented business coursework (1 class per semesterâŠ1.5 credits). She can still go to medical school or get her masters in genetics if she wanted to. A lot of graduates of this program do so. Or she might change her mind and pursue something in business or other disciplines. This gives her flexibility. In 4 years she can graduate with a BS in biology (or some other major) AND an MBA. All depends on what she decides she is interested in. And it would be a free education. Whatâs wrong with that?!
Yes, we will wait and see what other schools might offer, but this seems like a pretty good deal on the table for now.
I think people are just saying - itâs really too early to know anyoneâs life. And the best plans change.
But as parents, itâs never too early (in our minds anyway) to figure out our kidâs future.
Itâs human nature.
And as you note - she might change - but she has flexibility - so even you are prepared for the inevitable.
Hopefully all 17 year-olds realize they have flexibility.
And as parents, we have to love having our biggest issue with college being - but what do I do with all the money I saved in the 529 plan 
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I just deleted a long post.
I would visit the schools before jumping ahead with degrees, careers etc.
She needs to visit the schools that are affordable and decide which are the best fit for her.
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I get where @njparent72 is coming from about the MBA in that - if you do the STEM to MBA option or you even start it, it starts first year.
But as my son said to me, many start but then stop.
So I get why there is early planning.
Iâm glad OP has brought such good discussion - and OP does have other schools.
But some of us parents salivate at the Bama offers - like - did I just win the lottery?
Not sure how they do it - but they do it!!
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