<p>If I wanted to get into a top MBA program, would work experience in engineering firms/research suffice? I am currently a Chemical Engineering major. Say I started doing research in labs the summer before my freshman year of college and continued doing research throughout my senior year (and was published in a textbook as a coauthor of a chapter). Would that appeal to top MBA schools even though my work experience is outside of business? All of this is assuming I perform decently on any necessary standardized tests and had a pretty high gpa.</p>
<p>So you're basically asking if you could get into an MBA program straight out of undergrad?</p>
<p>Most, if not all, undergrads that get into top B schools have had significant amounts of internship/outside business work. They just haven't had any "formal full-time" work experience.</p>
<p>I think you would be better served getting some full-time work exp before going to B school unless you have a guaranteed spot right out of B school (relative or close connection?) because you would be at a disadvantage when it comes time to recruit... and most companies that would hire you would bring you in not at the entry-level MBA level, but at the second tier undergrad level (3rd-year analyst for instance).</p>
<p>That isn't post graduate work experience..so no, they wouldn't value it at all.</p>
<p>So when people say work experience, they mean work after you graduate? I guess my question is does it matter what kind of work experience you have? Say I graduate with an engineering degree and work as an engineer for a few years. Would that work be valued even though it is unrelated to business?</p>
<p>I have an engineering degree (ChemE too), worked/working as an engineer and am now enrolled in a competitive MBA program. I can atest to the admissions of colleges liking, dare I say desiring (dependent on program), engineers for MBA schools mainly because they know we can handle the quantitative and analytical aspects of the subject matter, which other majors may find difficult.</p>
<p>The reason they want REAL world work experience (not interns, not part-time jobs, etc.) is because they are able to determine your worth to your industry and team building ability only when you are part of the team full-time and with vested interested. I think co-authoring a chapter is awesome and shows that you are very knowledgable. However, you team work ability and ability to interact in business social setting, handle the office politics, and make a meaningful contribution in a organizational setting has yet to be represented.</p>
<p>I see this question a lot on these boards, but after 2-3 years of experience you too will realize why it seems like a necessity to a lot of people.</p>
<p>Ok. So it does not matter that you worked as an engineer before enrolling in this MBA program. It is the fact that you have REAL work experience that the program likes. I am only a freshman right now, but I was curious as to how MBA programs look at work experience. Thanks Japher.</p>