<p>Do most undergrad business majors go back to get their MBA's or do something else in grad school that's business-related (like an M.Acc)? I've heard bad things about business undergrads also doing business in grad school (i.e. MBA), so I was thinking of doing an Econ B.S. undergrad and then an M.S. in Commerce for grad school. </p>
<p>Accounting majors get the M.Acc. because (most or all) states require 150 credits to become a CPA. As for other business students, most that I know do not go back. The problem with an MBA is that there really is very little value added if you were a business major unless you go to one of the top MBA schools. If you get the econ degree from the school of arts and sciences, the MBA from a good school can add value but you might find working is just as valuable.</p>
<p>I’ve seen articles saying that if know stats and Microsoft Excel, then you may be better off than getting an MBA. Analytics in every industry is a growing critical operation so it could be accurate.</p>
<p>Most undergraduate business majors would benefit by doing a graduate degree in a specific business subject. The MBA is more for people with a bachelor’s degree and no previous business background. I am a BSBA student (bachelor of science in business administration w/no concentration) and have no plans to go to grad school. ever! If in some dream world my great understanding of microeconomics, price floors/ceilings, and classical economic theory (those are skills I really have btw) were enough to get me into grad school, and my employer helped pay for it, then I would consider an MA in economics. But never mind the fact that I have no experience with regression analysis and the highest math course I’ve taken is college level ALGEBRA 8-> Don’t fool yourself though, an economics degree is excellent preparation for grad school. To get to your question, as far as I can see, it’s like a coin toss. 50/50. some business majors go back and some don’t. guess who’s in the “don’t category” hahaha.</p>
<p>It’s misleading to say that an MBA is for people with no previous business background. Many (if not most) MBA programs are geared towards working professionals with at least a few years of experience who are coming back to get an MBA for specific career goals (often with an employer footing the bill). </p>
<p>You’re correct Dmitri. I should have specified. An MBA is designed for people who have a bachelor’s degree in a non-business subject. Many MBA programs do require at least 2 years of business experience or more.</p>
<p>Also, an MBA is often a baseline credential in many industries. If you get into the work world and everyone at a level or two or three above you has an MBA, I can almost guarantee that your promotability will be limited by your lack of an MBA. And maybe you can go 20 years before you need an MBA but why wait that long if you know you need it after a few years of working. I really think that for some people the MBA offers little in measurable skills but much in just being able to progress upwards in some industries/companies. I always say it’s better to have and not need it than to need it and not have it. Don’t let yourself get caught flat-footed in your middle age when the lay off axe comes down and the lack of an MBA is the dividing line between who stays and who goes. Don’t learn too late that there is very little fairness if any at all in how these decisions get made. In fact fairness will get a company sued. It’s far better to select a criteria like education level as the basis for huge layoffs than actual job performance. I can’t go into why because it takes too long but trust that I’m right and you’ll make better decisions about your career.</p>
<p>An MBA would be useful for someone with an undergraduate degree in business who wants to change the direction of his/her career. For example, my H is a CPA, went to a great undergrad business program, and worked for a Big 8 (now Big 4) firm for a number of years and went back to get a MBA at a top grad school with a major in finance. The jobs he got after the MBA were likely not ones he would have got without that degree. Of course non business undergraduate majors who want to start a business career would also benefit by going for a MBA.</p>
<p>And yes people on a CPA track who need 150 credits often go on for a MS or MBA in Accounting, but that is typically done the year after the undergraduate work is completed.</p>