Double undergraduate major vs MBA

Career Opportunities & Internships
1

I am a junior in high school and starting to narrow down my college choices. My passion is computer science, but I also enjoy aspects of business such as finance and economics. I may eventually want to open up my own software development company and I think a background in business would be extremely beneficial in helping me succeed. I could also see myself working in finance if for some reason computer science does not work out. Would it be better to obtain a double major in computer science and another business related major, or should I just stick to computer science and get a job after I graduate without having to attend more college. Going straight into the job market would likely help me return to school sooner and get my MBA rather than having to work more before returning to school because I earned a double major. Or, are both things valuable enough that I should plan to earn both a double major and an MBA. The reason I am curious is because I am looking at some colleges that are very strong in engineering, but do not have a business programs. As a result I want to know if I should avoid them because I wouldn’t be able to double major.

Thanks in advance for your help!

2

I’m very curious as well

3

A business major does not give you a background in business; only work experience can do that. If you are passionate about computer science, then pursue that; at the same time, if you have a particular interest in business courses, go for it; at some universities it is relatively easy to double major, and you don’t even need to plan it out all that much before your junior year. In other universities, it is nearly impossible to double major if you didn’t plan from the start. The important thing is to know your school’s policies.

The MBA is losing value at a rapid pace as businesses start to realize that the extra credential doesn’t necessarily guarantee a higher quality candidate, and if you plan to start your own business, an MBA would be nearly meaningless. With that said, if you do get an MBA, you will probably get some background in financial instruments (understanding how complex markets work) and accounting, which can help a burgeoning entrepreneur. It’s all about what YOU want, however. There is no one way to success in the business world.