<p>Right now I'm shooting for a transfer into Haas but I am currently not sure if it would be a good idea to get that undergraduate business administration degree if I plan on getting an MBA from a top school. But an undergraduate business administration degree from Haas and a Masters in Financial Engineering would be a good combination correct? Or what it just be better to major in something quantitative like Mathematics or Computer Science and then get either degree?</p>
<p>Oh, the job prospect here is either Investment Banking or Trading.</p>
<p>I would suggest you to NOT do an undergraduate business degree. It limits your options. Someone who majored in engineerng and got an MBA at the same exact place you did is eligible for everything you are and then some.</p>
<p>Nah, it certainly is not pointless. I've known plenty of people who have done exactly that. You must remember that a business degree (especially the MBA) is really more about networking and access to the career office than anything else. Sure, you may have to repeat classes as an MBA student, but the fact is, classes were never really the main point anyway.</p>
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I would suggest you to NOT do an undergraduate business degree. It limits your options. Someone who majored in engineerng and got an MBA at the same exact place you did is eligible for everything you are and then some.
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<p>Well, I wouldn't go so far as to say that you suggest to not get an undergraduate business degree. I would say that a Haas BS degree is far more marketable than most of the liberal arts bachelor's degrees you can get. Furthermore, plenty of people just can't hack a real technical degree (but can still do just fine in a banking or consulting career). Let's face it. If your interests like in marketing, strategy, or organizational behavior, then you really don't need to have a technical background. </p>
<p>But perhaps the biggest advantage that such a BS Haas degree has is that such graduates have dedicated career services resoruces that no other undergrad can access. Furthermore, Haas is arguably the best place at Berkeley to do networking. You know how the saying goes about business success - it's not what you know, it's who you know. </p>
<p>Don't get me wrong. I still think that an undergraduate engineering degree is the most flexible degree you can get. But I recognize that it is a quite poor fit for certain people.</p>
<p>The College Placement Council (2001) reports that the average yearly salary offers is $53,810 to those with a Master's degree in Economics and/or Finance, $61,414 for those with an technical undergraduate/MBA degree, and $50,679 to those with a non-technical undergraduate/MBA degree</p>
<p>Everyone has different strategies. Mine is to get a quant degree because you'll have more breadth. Also, I think top B schools get so many applicants from ibankers and consultants, that you'll have a better chance with an industry job pre B school.</p>
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Also, I think top B schools get so many applicants from ibankers and consultants,that you'll have a better chance with an industry job pre B school.
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<p>I'm almost certain this is not true. You can't take the diversity angle THAT far. </p>
<p>The fact is, banking and consulting work very well for B-school because those are the types of jobs that tend to give people highly meaningful work that will help them get into B-school the most. There are a LOT of industry jobs that give you crap assignments that don't develop any of the skills that the B-schools want to see, nor do they give you opportunities to get the supervisor rec's that will help you get in.</p>
<p>Sakky, I'm talking about top jobs that lead to top B schools. I agree, the average corporate job doesn't compete. But I'd rather be assistant to the CEO of a shaker biotech firm than another ibanker applying to a top B school.</p>
<p>Is it really a wise decision to choose undergradute business? Even if you get a top Undergrad Business degree from Wharton, Haas, you name it, aren’t those grads still going to be working entry-level jobs?</p>
<p>What Dawgie said, choose the undergraduate major that you are interested in and will do well at. If you are successful in your academics and extra-curriculars then you’ll come out with a high GPA/GMAT.</p>
<p>I am majoring in business because I love business, strategy, and finance. I’ve done well with my gpa and networking because I’m passionate about my major and now have many opportunities open before me because of it.</p>
<p>Sure having an engineering degree is handy but I know for a fact I have no interest in the major and would do poorly if I tried to apply myself to it.</p>