<p>I will be a freshman at the University of Georgia Honors Program this fall. One of the supposed benefits of the honors program is the ability for undergrads to actually pursue a joint bachelor/MBA without having to have several years of work experience in between. To me this sounds good because I would love to enter the business field at a higher level after graduating. However, the MBA program at the UGA is only ranked at 40 something on most B-school lists and I realize that if I do work for a few years, then return and get an MBA, I could ultimately go to a much better B-school. </p>
<p>Would it be wiser to still go ahead and get the MBA from University of Georgia or would it be in my best interest to enter the career field and return to get my MBA at a later date. Also, would it unwise to get an MBA without work experience to begin with?</p>
<p>I would forget the B.A/MBA option at Georgia. I know you may see this work experience idea as a turn-off. However, working for a major company like Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, Lehman Brothers, Deutsche, etc.. will allow you to get your foot in the door for a potential job afterwards. Also, an MBA from a top 10 place will vastly improve your employment opportunities afterwards, and trust me, the actual sacrifices will be outweighed by your success coming from a Wharton, Harvard, Columbia, etc..</p>
<p>I wouldn't be so fast to dismiss the option entirely. Getting an MBA from Georgia doesn't preclude you from getting an MBA from another school later, even an elite school. Some elite schools will not allow you to get an MBA if you already have one, but others have no problem with that. </p>
<p>Clearly, you have to weigh what you'd be giving up to get your Georgia MBA. If you can get a good job at one of the companies that bball87 just mentioned, then you may well be better off forgoing the Georgia MBA and taking that job. But what if you can't? What if all you can get are mediocre jobs right after your bachelor's? In that case, you might be better off getting that Georgia MBA.</p>