Engineering/Business Double Majors

Applying to College
1

<p>Hello members,</p>

<p>I am looking for the top schools that offer both undergraduate business and engineering. I am looking to double major/dual degree in an engineering and business field. Special programs, such as Lehigh IBE or honors are preferred, however, any school that excels in the fields of undergraduate business and engineering is what I am looking for. My current ACT composite is a 32.25 (that stung a bit) with a 10 on the essay, and my GPA is 3.8, maybe 3.9, and 4.0+ weighted. I've acquired a wide range of EC, many of which display my interest in the fields I am looking at. </p>

<p>Any help is appreciated.</p>

<p>Thanks in advance.</p>

<p>-Matt</p>

2

<p>Honestly, I think it’s a waste of time and money to get a dual degree in business and engineering.</p>

<p>Your best bet would be to get an undergrad engineering degree, work 3 to 5 years, and then get accepted to a top 10 MBA program.</p>

3

<p>My only concern is I’m not sure how interested I will be in Engineering once I reach that college level. I want to be able to fall back to just business if I feel more passionate, or only passionate, about business. That being said, something like Lehigh IBE allows you to think like an engineer in the business world, which I feel can be very lucrative.</p>

4

<p>I switched from engineering to accounting in college. At a large school like Lehigh, I would imagine that you could do something similar.</p>

<p>Also, I would avoid getting a generic business administration degree. A majority of the high-paying entry level jobs in the business world are for finance and accounting grads.</p>

5

<p>Yeah Lehigh is a definite on my list. I’d want to go IBE there. I’m just wondering what CollegeConfidential community thinks are similar or better options. I know U of M excels in both fields. I’m against Berkeley, not really a fan of Cali.</p>

<p>And yes I agree, I am most likely looking at finance. My own mom actually only has a BS in Accounting, but is a CAO at a Fortune 400 Company.</p>

6

<p>I have you looked into industrial engineering, operations research, or management science?</p>

7

<p>Check out Industrial Engineering & Management Science + Kellogg certificate at Northwestern if you want a really rigorous program that truly prepare you technicall (you take grad level courses for the certificate). Also, check out their MMSS program.</p>

<p>Beware of these so called “integrated” programs. Often, if you look into the courses and curriculum, it’s more like a double-major that doesn’t have much integration. I haven’t looked into Lehigh’s yet but I may take a look for you when I got more time.</p>

8

<p>What kind of career do you want after you graduate?</p>

9

<p>Penn has the Jerome Fischer Management and Technology dual degree program… which is extremely competitive but one of the best dual degrees out there.</p>

10

<p>Yeah I don’t think I have much of a shot at M&T. </p>

<p>My career plans include a couple different paths. </p>

<p>If I find out I enjoy the engineering aspect more, I’d like to join an engineering firm, and then, with my business background, advance into more managerial positions within the firm or at a different firm.</p>

<p>If I find out I enjoy the business aspect more, I’d like to go into either finance, possibly working on Wall Street, and with my engineering background hopefully be able to think on a more critical level. I think in the business world having an engineering degree would also make me more appealing to employers.</p>

11

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<p>Not if your GPA suffers. If I were you, I’d just do engineering and worry about business (MBA) later. If you go to a solid school (target) then you can easily be recruited for finance even with only an engineering degree.</p>

<p>Of course, there’s nothing wrong in applying to PENN engineering and taking Wharton classes (though you wouldnt get the dual degree) as a supplement.</p>

12

<p>^ Yea that’s not a bad idea. Penn’s engineering school (SEAS) is less selective than both M&T and Wharton, but you could still take classes at Wharton as an engineering major. Also, to the above poster, why did you capitalize every letter in Penn?</p>

13

<p>Ummm…</p>

<p>Doing a dual business/engineering degree will not accelerate you any faster into technical management at most companies. You will just end up a little upset and scratching your head on WHY this engineering or comp-sci major with a PMP certification is managing me?</p>

<p>On top of that, to manage technical folks, you have to have done technical work for some years.</p>

<p>Best bet is to do engineering as an undergrad then do a MBA or M.S. in Engineering Management. Ever wonder why there are so many engineering management graduate programs?</p>

14

<p>" Not if your GPA suffers."</p>

<p>Bingo. Even with a 32 ACT score, Physics, Calculus, and Differential Equations are all going to be difficult courses to ace. </p>

<p>Also, you’re not going to have much of a social life in undergrad if you are trying to get high grades in engineering.</p>