<p>I have been browsing the MBA site recently and have noticed that almost every post about acceptances says something about them really valuing work experience. I am a senior in high school going to UC Berkeley next year for Computer Science and I have always planned to go get a Masters in Engineering, then an MBA and then pursue my lifelong goal of starting my own company. Is this impractical to assume that I could go straight from college to business school, or are there certain business schools that would be open to this type of plan? Would I maybe be better off taking classes in business as an undergraduate and forgetting about an MBA? Are those dual masters programs like MIT's anymore accepting of people who want to go straight from undergrad to grad?
Last summer I worked as an intern for Northrop Grumman, and if I was to continue in their or another company's employment throughout my college career, would that count as work experience? Several universitys, like Stanford for instance, also offer summer workshops for undergraduates interested in management. Would these help in admissions at all, especially to that specific school? Thank you to anyone who replies, and i'm sorry if i have repeated questions that have already been answered elsewhere.</p>
<p>Most of them really really want work experienc, though that doesn't mean its impossible to get into a top business without it....it just means it would be incredibly difficult.</p>
<p>I have actually decided to apply to one business only because it has a good reputation in accounting and it takes many students who are just out of undergrad and want to break into the business world for the first time....this program is an intensive program at Northeastern and it provides an MS in Accounting as well as an MBA in 15 months with a paid internship. It has many connectiosn with several big firms all over the world. It says work experience is something they look at, but it's not the main thing. </p>
<p>If I don't get into that program, I'll just go to regular gradschool and then, hopefully do well and get a job afterwards and work for a few years. Then at that point depending on how my career is going, I'd go ahead and try to do an MBA and I coudl apply to more schools since I'd be a more desireable candidate.</p>
<p>So what I'm saying is, work experience is a big factor, that it's not always the determining factor. It could be more so for programs that are ranked very high nationally though. If you want to give it a shot, go for it, but I wouldn't get my hopes up and make srue you have lots of alternatives.</p>
<p>Good luck.</p>
<p>So would you say the best alternative would be to get a background in business at the undergraduate level, even if I wasn't to major in it, but just take classes?</p>
<p>So experience is a big factor but not always the determining factor, but at those big name schools like Wharton would they accept other kinds of work, like internships? I know the point of work experience is to demonstrate you have management potential, but couldn't you demostrate that in a way different than work, like starting your own club as an undergrad, or going to a summer business program? Are the schools that look heavily into work experience strict about that, or do they just need assurances that the education you get will not go to waste?</p>
<p>Also, I have heard that the point of an MBA program is first and foremost the contacts you make. A family friend went to Stanford business, ended up investing in a friend's business (The Koosh ball for anyone who was a kid or had kids at this time, lol), and basically got rich off of his friend. Now, while I plan to be the guy with the company, not the one investing, lol, wouldn't it be much more advantageous to go to a big name school? Thank you so much for your advice.</p>
<p>Also, the business programs I might be interested in are Upenn Wharton, Harvard, Stanford, programs on that caliber, anyone know how those schools would look at a person like me?</p>
<p>the students admitted to those schools have 2+ years worth of work experience, or at least 99% of admitted students do.</p>
<p>How about a consecutive 4-year internship throughout undergrad years?</p>
<p>yes, thank you newyorker, thats what I'm trying to get at. I wanna know if there's anyway to skip those two years of work, because I'm rather impatient to start doing my own thing, lol. Anyone????</p>
<p>the numbers are obviously against you but maybe with great grades and great GMAT score you can be one of the 12 out of 1,200 people that Wharton admits to its MBA program who lack the full time work experience.</p>
<p>from harvard:
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I am still an undergraduate student. How long do I need to work before applying?**</p>
<p>Traditionally, we have admitted a small number of applicants directly from university each year. We strive to find outstanding leaders at different points in their professional lives. Some applicants may meet this criteria while still in or immediately following undergraduate school, while others may need several years of full-time work experience before they apply. We want outstanding applicants to consider Harvard Business School as an option when they feel that the time is right for them and they can demonstrate the criteria we are looking for.
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Also, the business programs I might be interested in are Upenn Wharton, Harvard, Stanford, programs on that caliber, anyone know how those schools would look at a person like me?
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<p>Don't hold your breath. While obviously a tiny few do manage to get in with no work experience, the vast majority do not.</p>
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Are those dual masters programs like MIT's anymore accepting of people who want to go straight from undergrad to grad?
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<p>If anything, they are probably even LESS accepting than the regular MBA programs are. The MIT LFM program is a specialized program that keys heavily on work experience, particularly in the manufacturing and operations area. </p>
<p>
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the numbers are obviously against you but maybe with great grades and great GMAT score you can be one of the 12 out of 1,200 people that Wharton admits to its MBA program
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<p>I wouldn't even say that it's really a matter of getting great grades and a great GMAT score (although you would certainly need that). I know a couple of veritable super-geniuses who completed their PhD's at MIT and who then immediately applied to a bunch of top MBA programs... and didn't get in anywhere. Why not? No work experience. It's hard to imagine that too many people are going to be able to compile an academic record that would be better than these people.</p>
<p>About the only examples that I know of of people that got into top MBA programs with no work experience are those who accomplished impressive leadership and/or business activities while they were in college. No, internships and co-ops won't cut it. I'm talking about things like starting their own successful business while they were in college, or creating and leading significant social or charity organizations while they were in college. Or being a key leader of a prominent college sports team. Things like that. The key is to prove that you have significant management and leadership potential. </p>
<p>So is it possible? Yes. Is it likely? Probably not. Just consider the odds.</p>
<p>What I would also say is that if your goal is to start your own company, then just start it. Don't wait to get an MBA and then start it. Just start it immediately. Think of it this way. If you start it and it is successful, then you may not need the MBA. If it is not successful, then you've picked up some valuable business and leadership experience that you can leverage into trying to get you into B-school.</p>
<p>Thanks sakky and dcfca.
Sakky: Thats kinda what I've been thinking of doing. Just taking undergrad business classes for my own personal education at Berkeley Haas so I know what I'm doing and then going off and doing my own thing. An MBA is looking more and more impractical for my life plan. Thanks again, its good that I'm not going off to college assuming i'd put off my business education till later. Now I can jump right into the fray!</p>
<p>dolitwak - I hope you're not assuming you can just take classes at Haas at your leisure. It's competitive for people to get in there, so I'm sure that the classes are always full and space is at a premium.</p>
<p>I did not know that thank you, alicantekid. Is there any way to take elective business classes? I know that you have to apply for Haas and enter in your third year, don't the kids who are planning to do that have to take some preliminary business courses before they apply that I might be eligible for? Maybe i'll just have to get my business expertise through summer programs. I know Stanford has one, and have heard of one at NYU Stern also. Has anyone heard of any other ones that are good, maybe with a focus on entrepreneurial skills? Thanks again.</p>