<p>I have a strong interest in Business and Wharton is my top choice. However, I have also hold strong interests in the future of technology and would love to leave my options open in that industry.</p>
<p>Investment Banking is a goal, but the "business of technology" is also something I would loved to get involved in. (Tech start-ups, maybe aspire as a future CEO of a big tech company like Google or Apple etc).</p>
<p>Would the Bachelor's in Economics from Wharton be sufficient? Or will I have to forget my tech aspirations unless I go with the Jerome program in Management and Technology? Part of this dilemma is whether I would need an engineering degree or not. Can I get anywhere in the tech world without a B.S.E?</p>
<p>Any anecdotes, comments, or advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks</p>
<p>In my experience, as a Wharton graduate, I have no problem finding tech work. If your resume shows you are decent with certain engineering concepts, I think you’ll be fine.</p>
<p>wharton is pretty quantitative, and you’re allowed to sample SEAS courses without getting a degree in engineering. so no, it’s not necessary, as shown by legendofmax’s experiences.</p>
<p>Sampling a few introductory courses does not give you the skills to replace Steve Jobs or start a tech company. With only a B.S. in Econ from Wharton, you can probably get a position in finance or lower level management at a tech company, but that can hardly be considered “tech work.” </p>
<p>How is Wharton quantitative when students don’t go any farther than single variable calculus?</p>
<p>Without an engineering/science degree, you are limiting your options in the tech industry.</p>
<p>^ first off, wharton students are sought after by a broad range of industries, not just banking/consulting. clearly there is no educational path that will guarantee becoming a CEO in big-tech(google, microsoft, apple…) but that’s a stratospheric level of achievement. can wharton get you started in the tech industry with a good job? yes.</p>
<p>and as for starting your own company, you can teach yourself a lot on your own. ivy degrees aren’t necessary.</p>
<p>I’d say my “engineering” background is largely hobby-derived. I can code in a ton of languages, and I am familiar with many concepts of computer science that you’d learn in SEAS, and well-versed in the kind of math you’d learn in CAS. Wharton is great by itself, but I wouldn’t say it would give you an adequate education for a tech firm at all. You can still get tech jobs if you’re good at what you do.</p>
<p>If you’re really interested in business and tech, though, go for M&T. I personally kinda wish I had (I woulda rocked that **** hard).</p>
<p>So the current CEO of Google, Eric Schmidt, has a BSEE from Princeton. However, my current impression from what some of you say is that a Wharton B.S Economics could help you get a good starting job in the tech industry, while the rest is up to the individual. One could always get an M.S. in engineering anyway, right? I just want to make sure I’m not cutting any bridges.</p>
<p>Basically, how well-versed in the specifics of programming and engineering would one need to be for eventually reaching a high-level, slightly non-technical position in a big tech company? (Along the lines of setting up new strategies for the business as a whole or innovating new improvements to the product, etc…) I’m assuming the extremely technical knowledge would be useful rather than required?</p>
<p>I just don’t know what education the industry demands for filling those management positions, as well as also leaving room for climbing the ladder. So I guess, asking if “Jerome is necessary”, I actually meant to ask, “What degrees would I need for this type of career future? (Or at least leaving it’s possibility open)”</p>
<p>Sorry if I appear ignorant in this domain but I just want to understand what would be expected and necessary.</p>
<p>of course it’s not necessary. penn isn’t necessary. ivy league isn’t necessary- Bloomberg went 2 jhu. college and everything is what u make of it. i’m going 2 wharton but it’s not necessary and i could end up behind someone who went to the university of texas or no college at all.</p>
<p>Sorry I wasn’t clear enough haha. I’m really just asking if the engineering education is necessary for what I want to do. I am not necessarily interested in the extremely technical aspects of technology… my passion lies within the innovation/imagination/strategy/direction that is involved with running a tech company. Since that’s not hyper technical… could I get up there without an explicit engineering degree? Assuming I would still keep myself well-versed in most aspects of current technology.</p>
<p>Hmmm…Truman and Perelman are not that technical, but maybe it would help if u looked into what they’re doing to see if u would like that b/c both went to wharton to study just straight business. if u wanna do something along the lines of what they’re doing, then who needs engineering!</p>
<p>^ Hmm… Ronald Perelman? He seems to be more of an investor, and I don’t think he’s really involved with the tech industry… but hey, $10 Billion ain’t shabby, and he’s a really interesting businessman. And Truman who? I can’t find who you’re talking about sorry</p>
<p>“my passion lies within the innovation/imagination/strategy/direction that is involved with running a tech company”</p>
<p>You can get there with a Wharton degree. Engineering degree isn’t essential for this, and if you’re already well-versed in tech to begin with, you’ll be on your way.</p>
<p>However, something like M&T wouldn’t hurt if you can get in. But if you’re asking what’s necessary, I would say no, an engineering degree is not necessary for what you’re describing.</p>
<p>Getting a minor in something like Systems or CS won’t be too hard, and a concentration in OPIM will help you get on your way. M+T isn’t necessary but sure helps with things like internship funding.</p>
<p>Wow flyingllama, you hit my concern right on. I actually trying to decide if I want to Minor or Dual Degree in Computer Science. I doubt I can join M&T since I am a transfer student. </p>
<p>But just like you, I am interested in the tech industry and in programming, but have no desire to work strictly as a programmer.</p>
<p>Glad to be of help Javous, lol. And thanks for the replies everyone.</p>
<p>Now Javous, you say you are still interested in programming, while I am not, so I would say you should still consider that CS degree/minor. It won’t limit you, it can only help. good luck</p>
<p>The question is, why would a tech company hire you (the OP) over another candidate who actually understands the technology to run the business (especially if it’s a start-up)?</p>
<p>Sure, you can get into a tech company without an engineering degree; you can even do it with no degree at all. That’s not the point. Like astonmartin explained, without an engineering or science background, you are putting yourself at a disadvantage. How many founders of tech companies had a business rather than a technical degrees?</p>
<p>Besides, when you consider the upside of a dual degree with engineering, what do you really have to lose?</p>