Is it a good idea to pursue an undergraduate business degree (BBA), then apply to a top
business school for an MBA, or should I get a degree in something else such as engineering and then try and apply to a top business
school? Is a BBA even worth it?
You can have any undergraduate major and apply to top MBA programs. I know engineers and business majors who went on to excellent MBA programs. But keep in mind that for the top MBA programs you will need: 1) an outstanding undergraduate GPA 2) typically 2-5 years of significant/meaningful work experience 3) great recommendations 4) very high GMAT scores 5) a strong overall application including essays etc.
It all depends on what you want to do after college.
What do you want to do? The BBA may be all you need, especially if you go to a top school like Wharton or Ross for it.
If you look at the profile of the MBA students at top schools you will see that it is older than you think.
The trend is to go to a good undergrad program,work for a top firm about 3 years then apply to a highly ranked MBA program.
Look at the MBA programs you like, look at the data set and info of their first year students and you will be able to answer your own question based on those facts
Good luck
Having attended a top MBA program, as did spouse, I can reassure you that the majority of our classmates were not business majors. There were lots of engineers and econ majors and some business majors, certainly, but also…psych majors, art history majors, English majors, etc…In fact, you can study anything you like and still get an MBA.
What the business schools look for is a strong academic background (good grades) and, more importantly, what you’ve accomplished professionally since leaving school. We had classmates who fit the ‘usual suspects’ profile: analysts from investment banks and consulting firms - but we also had military personnel, a lawyer, a doctor, an opera singer, a baseball player, a school teacher and lots of people who worked in a wide range of industries from all over the country usually in significant leadership roles. No surprisingly there were also a lot of people whose parents owned companies too…but unless you’ve done an unusually good job of choosing your parents, you are probably out of luck there. (If your folks do own a sizable company, then congrats. Nice job.)
Another way to think of this: You will have the rest of your life to work in your chosen profession. Why not spend 4 transformative years studying something you really love right now? It will enrich you forever and may even play a role in your future career (Courtesy of a former humanities major.)
What are you after? Do you want to progress to a management position? Do you want to start your own business? If yes, then a BBA will be helpful.
If you’re only going for a more technical role then a BBA will not be helpful in your career path.
Hope that helps.