<p>Hi guys...rising college senior in engineering at the University of Michigan. I'm looking to get my Master's in Engineering (MSE) here as well since we can get it in a year since we carryover some of the grad classes we take as undergrads. After an MSE, I'm looking to work for 2-3 years before applying to top 10 business schools to get into the hedge fund industry. I've heard and read a lot of contradictory info about whether an MBA really is worth it and that the $100,000+ is better used invested in your own business or in investing. I haven't come to a conclusion on that yet BUT if I were to get an MBA, I was wondering what kind of work experience is deemed "quality" by top 10 MBA schools (primarily Stanford and Columbia and maybe Harvard). I'm currently an R&D intern at 3M for the summer, and if I perform well, there's a good chance that I'll be asked to come back next summer as well (summer before I start the 1 year master's) and then potentially start as a full time engineering employee fall of 2014 after I complete my MSE. I also have a co-op this fall (taking the semester off) with Unilever where I'll be working in a supply chain/operations role, and same deal, if I perform well, there's a good chance I could get a full time offer from there too.</p>
<p>Both 3M and Unilever are both renowned global corporations...would working at either of these for the two years after I graduate be considered good work experience when applying for an MBA? I know "quality" work experience is a major thing they look for, so I wonder if these will be good if I can land full time positions at either. If it works out at 3M, it would be an engineering role in R&D/product development. Unilever would also be an engineering role, but in supply chain/operations/process improvement.</p>
<p>Any thoughts would be welcome. Thanks again!</p>