<p>I just finished my first year of college as an aerospace major: I like engineering, and am doing pretty well, but I have considered switching to business, as I've become more and more interested in investment banking and tech entrepreneurship.</p>
<p>So, my question is, should I stick out this engineering degree? I know there are several schools that have MBA programs for sciency majors (Harvard comes to mind).</p>
<p>Also, are there any specific strategies I should employ in looking for internships?
I am currently involved in an in-school research program, but during the summer I have no idea which would benefit me more: a strictly technical internship, or something like tech business consulting, or even a pure business internship.</p>
<p>IF possible, I would like to leave the door open to a Masters in Engineering.</p>
<p>Thanks in advance to those that answer.</p>
<p>EDIT: also I am minoring in engineering leadership</p>
<p>As far as I know (correct me if I’m wrong), no school has an MBA program that is geared towards “sciency” majors. Harvard 2+2 accepts any major, if that’s what you’re referring to.</p>
<p>I’m rather uninformed, but it seems to me that if you would rather be doing business than engineering, why don’t you just major in business instead? The only exception I can think of is for tech entrepreneurship, in which case engineering would be better. However, I have no idea what kind of scalable, low-capital aerospace product you could make. Then again, that’s your field, not mine.</p>
<p>Yes, I meant the 2+2. It says they “encourage” science/ engineering majors, my bad.</p>
<p>I don’t mean to pursue aerospace products in particular.</p>
<p>In terms of switching to business, my main issue with it is the fact that I wouldnt be able to finish my degree in 4 years, and my scholarship would expire.</p>
<p>I guess, maybe more of what Im asking (Im quite uninformed as well), is if I can be a competitive MBA candidate with an engineering degree and move on to whatever I want to do in the business world without an economics degree.</p>
<p>Might I suggest you to a little research? Check out corporate governance boards of large companies you might like to work for. I am not saying you have to work for a large company, it’s just that they tend to put out more information on their websites… Check out what the board members on their board majored in, and select a few to model and research thier career paths. Also, search LinkedIN with keyword searches for jobs you might like to have and/or majors you are looking at and see where they ended up.</p>
<p>I suggest this because I think you will be surprised at what you might find. Investment Bankers with PhDs in Physics, Tech Entreprenuers with engineering and JD degrees, etc… Personally, I think a BS Engineering + MBA is a slow way to get to the top of these fields; it is what I have afterall.</p>
<p>I will definitely go out and do some research!</p>
<p>However, if I might ask for some clarification, what do you mean by “slow”?</p>
<p>Are you talking about “after” one gets the MBA, in which case tech undergrad mba’s are less in demand? or before?</p>
<p>Of course, if I am not accepted into a program like harvard’s (I can only hope…or instead, try like hell), then work experience might be a quasi-requirement to get into to some of the more prestigious B-Schools, which takes time.</p>
<p>I’m sure the same could be said for business majors though.</p>
<p>I think what he means is that if you want to do business, you should major in business and then get a job in business, obviously. It is rather circuitous to get a major in engineering, get an engineering job, and only manage to get a business job after another two years of an MBA.</p>
<p>Companies pay and advance you based on the value you can add to the bottom line of the company. From my experience, business folk view engineers and science types as a highly supplimental workforce. They, the bosses, value strategy more than they do execution, believing execution is a layman’s job and can be done just as well by anyone with an engineering degree. This may not always be the case, but again this is just based on my experience.</p>
<p>If this is true, and engineers represent execution and upper management represents strategy you can quickly see why engineers would experience a slow climb up the ladder. Especially if they are a good engineer; why promote them if they are more valuable where they are?</p>
<p>Engineering will give you an edge because of the education, not because of the experience. Experience is required to get into a decent MBA program. If that experience is in engineering then your most likely resultant of that experience + education will be in engineering management which will be slow in advancement (in general). </p>
<p>If you can find a way to get into something more relating to strategy, with an engineering degree, this will certainly make you more competitive then with say a History degree. Just be carefull that you show more value as a doer rather than a planner. It’s the planners that make the bank and take the credit.</p>