<p>Ok, so I'm headed to GaTech this Fall and I have a little plan in my head for what I want to do, but I need some guidance. Before I start I clearly realize I may get up there and change my mind totally, but if that happens I know where to come haha. </p>
<p>But for now I plan to get a B.S. in ME. Even though GaTech has a BS/MS program, they suggest on their website that if your final intentions is a Ph.D. then to skip over your masters. I want my Ph.D. in Bioengeering and so I was told by multiple people it would be smart to major in ME, as it can be used in almost every industry so in case I can't get a job for bioengeering. </p>
<p>But here's the thing, I really want my MBA and GaTech has a duel degree program where you can earn your MBA and Ph.D. at the same time, but i've heard from different places that a MBA is just like your masters? </p>
<p>If you can you somehow piece together my situation, I would appreciate any comments/suggestions to help me figure out what I'm going to do.</p>
<p>MBA means masters of business administration. It’s not an MS and won’t get you any further along your PhD track. The dual degree program seems to be geared toward getting two masters degrees rather than a masters and a PhD, so you best look into that before you commit 3-4 years from now.</p>
<p>First, just focus on your BS work. Try to keep your grades as high as possible while getting some research experience during the year and an internship or URE in the summers. About junior year, worry about grad school.</p>
<p>Second, assuming you can get into the BS/MS program, which you don’t know right now, going from BS to MS to PhD isn’t a bad idea, specially when the MS and PhD are in different fields. Most people will tell you “skip it, it’s a waste of time”, which is true if your goal is BS ME, MS ME, PhD ME, but not necessarily the case when they’re in different fields. You don’t need the MS, but it’s a nice thing to have, especially if the PhD doesn’t work out (and many people do drop out).</p>
<p>Third, assuming you get into GT for a PhD program (and consider that most engineering colleges don’t like to accept their own undergraduates, not to mention that you have no idea what your grade will look like as an undergrad), keep in mind that an MBA + PhD is not probably going to happen. For it to work, your PhD program, which is paying you to research, has to give permission for you not to research for 2 years, and for you to extend your degree by 2 years. PhD programs are not like undergrad programs where you can take some extra classes and it works out - PhD programs are all about research and taking extra classes like that basically stops research.</p>
<p>Ok, so assuming I totally scratch the MBA idea and save it maybe for after graduate school, would the best path for me consist of doing the BS/MS program for ME and then get PhD in Bioengeering? When I applied for Tech, I originally put major as BME. As I read more on CC, though, I saw that a background in ME would benefit me a lot more in the long run than an undgraduate degree in ME. I want to end up as a bioengneer.</p>
<p>By the way, I appreciate your comments in all of my questions of Georgia Tech G.P. Burdell!</p>