<p>I was looking on collegeboard, and it says that 21% of the students study business. </p>
<p>however, only 1% continue to study for MBA, i’m curious why that is? Can anybody help me?</p>
<p>Wharton Undergrad explains it by stating that many of the Wharton UG classes are indeed very similar to MBA classes (some even have MBA students in them!), so the students don't feel the need to persue an MBA immediately after undergrad. Over time, around 50% do get an MBA.</p>
<p>That's only wharton, though. Most people that go to wharton don't need an MBA, that's why. They are usually rich sons of parents who own companies etc., and will take over the business, i.e., Trump!</p>
<p>"Wharton Undergrad explains it by stating that many of the Wharton UG classes are indeed very similar to MBA classes (some even have MBA students in them!), so the students don't feel the need to persue an MBA immediately after undergrad. Over time, around 50% do get an MBA."</p>
<p>How come they dont' feel a need for an MBA immediately, but later they feel they need an mba? is it any advantage/disadvantage to get mba immediately after wharton?</p>
<p>Because most good MBA programs require a few years of real work experience.</p>
<p>"How come they dont' feel a need for an MBA immediately, but later they feel they need an mba? is it any advantage/disadvantage to get mba immediately after wharton?"</p>
<ol>
<li><p>If you go to Wharton undergrad, you pretty much have to go to a top 10 MBA program. If you don't go to a top program and even go to a very respectable program like U of Washington (~#18 I think), people will say 'wharton undergrad + washington MBA, what the heck happened, couldn't get in anywhere better?' As said before, to go to a top program you MUST work for at least 2-3 years.</p></li>
<li><p>Wharton undergrad kind of 'brain-washes' you into thinking that wharton undergrad = MBA. Its absolutely true that Wharton undergrads take the same classes as MBAs [I was an undergrad there]; but at the end of the day, your degree says BS not MBA. Thus, wharton undergrads graduate with awesome IB jobs lined up, thinking 'i don't ever need an MBA, i went to wharton undergrad.' The problem is that after the 2 yr IB analyst program, not everyone lands the sweet private equity or hedge fund job they expected. Thus, this is when they start to think that maybe they should get an MBA [because going to H for an MBA, you go through recruiting again, with a much greater chance of landing that PE/hedge fund job due to having another degree]. This is why people don't think they need an MBA when they graduate but often change their mind.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>Also, is it really 50% that go for an MBA later--is that a published stat? I thought it was somewhere around 40%.</p>
<p>The Wharton undergrad program is ideal for establishing early connections and networking as soon as one leaves high school. However, don't think that you'll obtain a high-end management position right after four years. The B.S. in Economics by itself won't get you very far.</p>
<p>If i somehow luckily get into a strong MBA program immediately after graduation without having to work 2-3 years, is it wise to go? Or is there some advantage to working first?</p>
<p>I'm not sure what additional job opportunities you'd get with BS+MBA with no job experience compared to just BS. However, I do know that Wharton UG lets you submatriculate with Wharton MBA to get a BS and MBA in 5 years. The average MBA student is 25-27 not 22, though.</p>
<p>I'd wager however, ForeverZero, what because employers know you did take some MBA-level classes a Wharton UG degree gets you farther than the typical BS in Econ.</p>
<p>aj725, I'm not sure if it is published. It was the number given by the Wharton admissions officers this year at Penn Previews.</p>
<p>When I was visiting Penn I too was told roughly the same thing. The Wharton person we talked to said that the only reason people get it is that if they always wanted one, their firm would pay of one, or if it was needed for advancement.</p>
<p>aj- Do people seriously say that about UW? Not that I could ever go there though... for me to go there would be like Hillary running on the GOP ticket.</p>
<p>the actual published stat for wharton undergrads that go on to get an MBA is roughly 33%. Interestingly enough, if you look at the career survey posted below the wharton students that only got a B.S. are making more money at the 15 year mark (1.47x more), making the same amount at the 10 year mark, and are making 1.3x more at the 5 year mark. </p>
<p>I like how the average salary+bonus for wharton b.s. students 15 years down the line is $447,478 but only $304,393 for the ones that went back to get an MBA...</p>
<p>btw if you come to wharton you'll learn to hate the MBAs that walk around going to class in $3000 suits thinking they're hot ****.</p>
<p>Goldduck..people don't specifically say bad things about UW. Its a good school with a solid reputation particularly on the west coast. I was just making the point that many HS students don't realize [i know i didn't]--once you go to Wharton undergrad, there is a significant amount of pressure to go to a school of the same reputation for an MBA. I know many in my graduating class are considering foregoing an MBA because they know that due to their grades/scores they will be unable to get into the top 10-15 schools in the country. Thus, they feel it will dilute the value of their prestigious undergrad degree to go to a b-school ranked far lower. This is something that many don't realize until after graduation. Going to Wharton does close out some opportunities--if you had gone to a college ranked #15-20 and then got a UW MBA it would be considered a solid education. However, if you go to Wharton undergrad and then get an MBA from a school ranked #25, interviewers will always think [and many are rude enough to say it], 'wow, wharton undergrad + UW MBA, you must not have been able to get in anywhere better.' Whereas for a UNC undergrad, a UW MBA would be considered terrific.</p>
<p>Thus, there's a reason to work hard even though you're at wharton--sure, you can get a great job without being a top student but grades do matter some for MBA admissions and if you damage the gpa too much, you hurt your chances for other degrees in the future.</p>
<p>Bern, I'm not sure that study shows the whole picture. The response rates are all fairly low and it doesn't break it down by degree. For instance, I don't know if only 5% of UG+MBAs responded compared to a much larger figure for UG only. This may be because they are unsuccessful and don't answer, or perhaps they are too successful!</p>
<p>Interesting survey, though.</p>
<p>yeah the low response rate is the biggest problem with that survey but it still gives you some idea...</p>