<p>I just need a concensus. </p>
<p>I am going to ASU...majoring in business (hopefully getting into the business school as a junior), specifically in Supply Chain Management (unless I decide to change it or something).</p>
<p>Anyways, after I get my undergrad degree, do I go straight into a grad program or have to have work experience before that. Also, if I need work experience, do I just quit the job I have to get the MBA...Im pretty confused about the whole process.</p>
<p>Most MBA programs recommend for you to have around 2-5 years of full time work experience, and expect to see some leadership potential. </p>
<p>In terms of your job, if you go into consulting/banking and be successful, they will want you to get your MBA in order to promote you to associate. If your not going into consulting/banking then I guess you will have to quit your job, unless you go for a part-time program.</p>
<p>as another option, a number of workplaces will themselves pay for you to get your MBA, if (1) It is relevant and useful to your continued service to the firm, and (2) Either A) you will do it part-time and continue to work for them during the day, or B) you commit to returning to the firm after getting your degree, for a period of several years (typically 2-4), or else face mandatory repayment of their investment in you. Getting your MBA paid for will make your financial life a lot easier.</p>
<p>The trouble is that if 2B is true (you promise your firm you'll return after getting the MBA, and do so), you miss out on the recruiting opportunities offered to 2nd-year MBAs, because you can't go back 2-4 years later and tell the career office "uh, actually, could you help me find another job now?". So there's a tradeoff. But having it paid for is not all that uncommon.</p>
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as another option, a number of workplaces will themselves pay for you to get your MBA, if (1) It is relevant and useful to your continued service to the firm, and (2) Either A) you will do it part-time and continue to work for them during the day, or B) you commit to returning to the firm after getting your degree, for a period of several years (typically 2-4), or else face mandatory repayment of their investment in you. Getting your MBA paid for will make your financial life a lot easier.</p>
<p>The trouble is that if 2B is true (you promise your firm you'll return after getting the MBA, and do so), you miss out on the recruiting opportunities offered to 2nd-year MBAs, because you can't go back 2-4 years later and tell the career office "uh, actually, could you help me find another job now?". So there's a tradeoff. But having it paid for is not all that uncommon.
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<p>That same problem is also largely true of option A. For example, I know that the part-time Haas MBA program specifically bars you from using the career services office unless you present a formal document from your current employer attesting to the fact that they have no problem with your doing so. That is to prevent any issues with your employer paying for your part-time MBA, only for you to use the program to look for another employer. I believe other part-time MBA programs have similar policies. </p>
<p>The other problem is not just specific to 2nd-year recruiting. It's to ALL recruiting, including the first-year summer internship recruiting. The easiest way to get a full-time offer from a company is to do a summer internship with them. For example, at the leading consultancies and investment banks, a highly disproportionate number of full-time job offers are handed to those who had interned with them in the previous summer. And even if you didn't intern with that specific company, as long as you interned with a similar company, then that still increases your odds of success. If you are tied to going back to your employer, then you probably have to return to them for the summer to work, which means that you never get that internship opportunity. For example, if you want to get into consulting in the future, and you have no prior consulting experience, it is recommended that you at least get a summer consulting internship. If you don't even have that, then you're really behind the 8-ball when it comes to competing for a full-time consulting offer. </p>
<p>Personally, I would say that one of the main reasons for even doing an MBA in the first place is to get access to the career office so that you can switch employers (or, often times, to switch entire industries). If you're just going to stay at your current employer anyway, then, unless we're talking about consulting or banking, there is often times not that much need to get an MBA. Maybe you can use it to increase your skills and therefore increase your promotion chances, so in that sense, it still has some value. But the fact that you won't be able to entertain offers from other companies eliminates much of the value of the MBA experience.</p>
<p>Thanks a lot...really helps!</p>
<p>My sister is a junior at the ASU business school and got an internship to Avnet over the summer...they said that they would usually hire their previous interns over other applicants. </p>
<p>Has anyone ever gone straight from a business undergrad to a masters program? Also...let's say I get an undergrad degree in Business, can I go to grad school for some other major and still be able to find a job in business after a master's degree?</p>
<p>My concern is, I would love to stay in college longer than the original 4 years, but would want to pursue business....not sure how to do it.</p>
<p>"My concern is, I would love to stay in college longer than the original 4 years, but would want to pursue business....not sure how to do it."</p>
<p>Take 150 credits (Get a MAcc if you want) and take the CPA exam. Work a couple years and then apply to MBA programs.</p>
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Has anyone ever gone straight from a business undergrad to a masters program?
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<p>Of course. Generally, this tends to happen at only the lower-ranked master's programs. Yet even the elite MBA programs such as Harvard take a very small number right out of undergrad. </p>
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Also...let's say I get an undergrad degree in Business, can I go to grad school for some other major and still be able to find a job in business after a master's degree?
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<p>Theoretically, you can find a business job with any kind of degree. I know people who have gotten advanced degrees in engineering and then taken jobs as consultants or investment bankers. Obviously a business degree, especially the MBA, is the most straightforward path. But if you're good enough, you can get a business job with any sort of degree.</p>
<p>i'll say, however, that a non-business degree makes sense in udnergrad (ie if you want to "grow as a person by studying the liberal arts". For grad school why would you study something else (except law)? if it's non-business it better be something technical (phd in physics, eng. or an md or something along those lines). a master in fine arts or african studies will not get you too far, even if from an elite grad program--having said that, if you make the right connections at the elite institution you may still do well. it also depends on the state of the economy and whether banks are massively recruiting or not. </p>
<p>also, graduates from non business grad programs usually come in as analyst or senior analyst. phd can enter as associates.</p>
<p>Alright...so I have found out that I will need at LEAST 2-3 years of full time work experience before entering an MBA program that is somewhat prestigious.</p>
<p>Another question (Sorry, I just want to get all the facts)
Let's say...hypothetically, I apply to an MBA program after an undergrad degree and get rejected. I can apply again after I acquire some work experience right? Will the fact that I applied before and got rejected be a consideration the second time I apply?
How does applying to an MBA usually work? Obviously some applications, but are the applicants commonly interviewed, or go through any other processes?
What MBA programs would be considered non-prestigious? State schools? Would having an MBA from a state school significantly decrease the chance of getting a decent job? </p>
<p>Thanks a lot for everyone's help.</p>
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Let's say...hypothetically, I apply to an MBA program after an undergrad degree and get rejected. I can apply again after I acquire some work experience right?
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<p>Of course.</p>
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Will the fact that I applied before and got rejected be a consideration the second time I apply?
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<p>Depends on the school, but probably yes. </p>
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How does applying to an MBA usually work? Obviously some applications, but are the applicants commonly interviewed, or go through any other processes?
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<p>Again, depends on the school. But generally, the stronger candidates are invited to interview, and the results of that interview will then be a factor in your admission. If you don't get invited to interview, you have fallen into one of 2 categories. #1 (the rare category) in which you are considered to be so good that you will be admitted without an interview. Or #2 (which a great bulk of candidates fall into) which is that they've already decided to reject you, so there is no point in interviewing you. The process seems to be highly random also. I know people who have gotten admitted into some top schools who were never even invited to interview (and hence were rejected) at other top schools. I know that Harvard Business School is notorious for this - in not even bothering to even offer an interview (and hence rejecting) people who got admitted to other top schools. </p>
<p>One exception that I know to this rule is Northwestern Kellogg, which as policy, interviews all applicants, regardless of how strong or weak the candidate is. </p>
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What MBA programs would be considered non-prestigious? State schools? Would having an MBA from a state school significantly decrease the chance of getting a decent job?
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<p>It has nothing to do with state vs. non-state. Certain state MBA programs are highly prestigious, notably Berkeley Haas, Michigan Ross, & Virginia. There are also plenty of unprestigious private MBA programs.</p>
<p>Thanks so much Sakky!</p>
<p>Since I am getting an undergrad at ASU, do you have any info on the MBA program there as well?</p>