<p>Hi
I plan to graduate with a bachelor's in mechanical engineering next year. I've thought about going for MBA. How many engineering students get the MBA? What new possibilities does it give?</p>
<p>the possibilities the degree could give you are really in your hands. Few degrees offer the versatility that an MBA could give you. The only field that I can speak of with any knowledge is finance as I interned at a BB over the summer in S&T. One of the kids I became friends with was an MBA student at Columbia after ME at U of Mich. He did consulting prior to working at the BB. From what I could tell, engineers are really sought after and respected in any field you go into. He was in no way discriminated against for not being an economics or finance major. Quite the opposite really, a lot of managers said they love engineers because they think differently. Best of luck.</p>
<p>I work as an engineer, and almost all of our program managers have or are working on their MBA’s. If you are planning on staying in engineering, that is the most likely route for you, although other managements areas are also available.</p>
<p>If you are trying to change fields through the MBA you may find yourself in need of some additional preparation.</p>
<p>MBA sends a signal that you are ready to be and want to be more than a nuts and bolts engineer. It also can send the signal that you don’t want to be an engineer at all, it’s all about how you broadcast it. Additional prep for career changers would come in the form of internships and networking outside of engineering related industries. </p>
<p>I have been told that an engineer + MBA is a great combo, and I hope what I have heard isn’t wrong, because I have made the investment.</p>
<p>Japher, my son is going for a MS Engg/MBA next year. I also am hoping it is a good combo. What year are you in your studies? How much work experience have you had?</p>
<p>My company divides management into 4 areas: business, program, technical, and functional. If you are going to get an MBA it is worthwhile to know what you are getting into.</p>
<p>Business management handles the day-to-day operations common to all companies - logistics, financial planning, etc. Almost all are business majors or MBA’s and have never in any way participated in the technical side of our business.</p>
<p>Program management runs the programs that actually are our business. They almost all have technical backgrounds, but only on small programs do they “get their hands dirty” and even then it represents only 10-20% of their time - a little powerpoint engineering. Most have their MBA’s or are en route, and once they get it they kiss things like calculus goodbye. Generally speaking, they spent 3-5 years as a working engineer prior to getting their MBA, and have not worked as an engineer since.</p>
<p>Functional management is in charge of developing our technical resources - that is to say, evaluating and developing the engineers and other technical types. Some of these have a business degree, but almost never the MBA - usually a “technical management” degree or similar. They can spend up to 50% of their time doing technical work, depending on their level and the size of their department. Their management work is basically human resources type stuff - training, deciding pay raises, etc. Most have spent 7-10 years as an engineer and/or in grad school prior to going into management.</p>
<p>Technical management spends their time reviewing programs and acting as internal consultants - they have no permanent staff or money to manage, and are basically called management so that people know to listen to them. Most have spent 15+ years as engineers and almost none have any business degree, not even a minor.</p>