<p>I'm still a little while away from graduation but I'm looking towards applying to an MBA program in the future. Is it pretty much a requirement to have several years work experience in order to be admitted to the top schools? Or do some even accept students right out of undergrad?</p>
<p>Among the top schools, it’s pretty rare because few college students will have achieved the level of professional accomplishment and management experience that a top business school would want to see while they are still in school. Those who do get in often come from families who either can buy them a library or who own businesses that they are grooming their kid to take over (both, in other words). </p>
<p>Frankly, you’d be doing yourself a huge disservice if you went directly. So much of business school requires you to draw on your prior work experiences. Most of the students will have 5 or more years in the workplace and a track record of achievement so you’ll feel out of place. And you are going to be a lot less interesting to them because you won’t have much by way of personal experience to offer.</p>
<p>Thanks. Also, I’m able to graduate early and was thinking about doing a double major in finance & accounting to keep myself in school (kinda don’t want to leave early). Or, should I stick with a single major in accounting and get my masters in accounting. ( I can graduate one semester early, so winter instead of spring)</p>
<p>This is just personal bias now, because neither of the paths that you’re considering is better or worse for business school or for your professional future - but this is the last time in your life when you will be a college student. Enjoy it! Take some classes outside of accounting and finance - when will you ever again have a shot at art history? philosophy? sociology of sports? Yoruba? Make time for the people you care about at school - you may not be seeing many of them for a very long time! Take full advantage of your career placement center - do the mock interviews, polish the resume, do the informational interviews with alumni in your potential industry, take the Meyers Briggs, etc…treat your job hunt as if it were another course so you end up somewhere that really fits and with a list of contacts who will be useful.</p>
<p>S graduated early and after his first week on the job, I got a text saying “I miss my school.” I think he’d taken for granted how easy it was to hang with friends, to explore a casual interest, to meet new people. He’ll be fine, but it can be a culture shock.</p>
<p>Definitely get a few years work experience before you go for your MBA.</p>
<p>Harvard has the 2+2 program in which you apply as a senior in college and if you are accepted, you essentially defer matriculation for two years to gain work experience. It’s my understanding that Stanford is trending younger in terms of applicants as well.</p>