<p>@TransferStud3ent. James Madison is now giving you downright false and misleading information. Shift through his advice carefully for nuggets of truth and discard the rest.
An MBA (or its equivalent) can be an excellent route to management in an engineering career. A significant portion of my colleagues in my MBA program were engineers who wanted to understand and master the business side of their companies. Both engineering and business skills are vital to making a major contribution to your organization and maximizing your career potential.</p>
<p>Here are a couple of mildly successful Cal Poly grads with MBA’s or who have completed Management Development programs at a major business school:</p>
<p>William H. Swanson, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Raytheon Company. Swanson graduated magna cum laude from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo with a bachelors degree in industrial engineering. He received his MBA at Golden Gate University.</p>
<p>Richard A. Bergquist is Chief Software Evangelist and Board Member at Locus Technologies, the industry leader in web-based environmental compliance and information management software. Mr. Bergquist gained renown as a visionary technologist in his position as Chief Technology Officer of the former PeopleSoft, Inc. He holds a B.S. in Computer Science (with honors) from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo and completed the Program for Management Development at Harvard Business School.</p>
<p>These are only a couple of star examples of Cal Poly engineers with business backgrounds. There are many, many more in middle and upper management in engineering, tech, aerospace and or defense firms all over the US.</p>
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Pure elitist drivel and poppycock. You will never be labeled a 2nd rate engineer by attending Cal Poly.</p>
<p>Well, I have observed in the 4 large companies I have worked for, that none of my managers (or managers managers) had an MBA. Therefore, I don’t find it very useful for someone seeking to become a technical manager (as opposed to working strictly in the business side of things). </p>
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<p>I just don’t think the fact that you have an MBA makes it automatically useful. Or the fact that your son goes to SLO makes it a great school. It seems your personal experiences shine through giving advice to others. Listing 2 successful people with MBAs does not mean it is a useful degree…or at least more useful than an MS/PhD. </p>
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<p>Outside of California, Cal Poly is an unrecognized state school. Fresh graduates of unrecognized state schools are labelled 2nd rate engineers. A few years after graduation it may not matter much… but why would you put yourself through that if you have clearly better options?</p>
<p>Well, the level of recognition is relative. I just don’t think SLO has that much weight if you’re in boston or new york. How much this matters is also subjective. </p>
<p>For what its worth, it seems quite recognized in California, which is where many jobs are. I met many SLO guys in the bay area…</p>
Bravo JM. You have finally espoused a nugget of truth by making an observant distinction. I agree with you that if you want to be a technical manager then maybe you do not need a MBA. However, even if you limit your role to technical management, business skills are vitally important. Any true manager, even in a technical capacity, has at least some profit and loss responsibility and hire/fire authority. Thus, the more business skills you have the greater the impact you can have in your company. Even the most wonky R&D managers that I know, those that have no interest in business at all, still have learned to sell themselves and their projects based on cost/benefit analysis and potential profitability to C-level upper management. Even R&D needs to present a feasible case to get or continue to receive funding.
Here I agree and disagree. For those that want a promotion to management at their current firms or are looking to interview for new positions at other firms, an MBA and the alumni organizations that accompany them, can be of great immediate use. Every meaningful position I have ever had including my current profession came via my alumni network in one way or another. However, I also agree with you that an MBA may not be immediately useful if you have little work experience prior to that. Thus, I suggest that no one get an MBA immediately after graduating with an undergraduate degree. It is very important that you get at least 3-5 years of work experience first.</p>
<p>The rest of what you say, as eyemgh points out is just completely untrue.</p>
<p>I do appreciate the replies and the healthy back and forth exchange with your guy’s valuable experience and input.</p>
<p>What do you guys think of financial engineering ?</p>
<p>How is CPSLO’s business program reputation for undergrads ? I usually only hear/read about Engineering, Agriculture, and Architecture being CPSLO’s bread and butter.</p>
<p>For an MBA, is there specific work experience they prefer to see over others ? i.e. more of management/operations role vs. working in what you received your undergrad in ?</p>
<p>Cal Poly SLO has one of the best undergraduate business programs nationally and consistently ranks in the top handful of all schools (both public and private) in CA. Here are some links:</p>
<p>Cal Poly Business, Engineering Produce the Best Hires In the Nation,
According to Wall St. Journal Report</p>
<p>Cal Poly is among the top universities in the nation at producing the best graduates to hire in business and engineering, according to recruiters polled by the Wall Street Journal as part of a special report. Cal Poly business grads are on par with Stanford, Harvard, Penn State and UC Berkeley, while engineering grads top those of UCLA, Rensselaer, Carnegie Mellon and more. The rankings are part of a Wall Street Journal report on “Paths to Professions” released earlier this fall.</p>
<p>Of special note: UCLA and most UC’s do not offer an undergraduate business major. They offer Econ and Accounting. Notable exceptions are UC Berkeley that offers a well established comprehensive business education and UC Irvine that started its ambitious brand new program quite recently. The link below includes schools that offer Business or Econ. I do not consider Econ to be a true business major. It is a Social Science.</p>
<p>Cal Poly’s Orfalea College of Business Among
Bloomberg Businessweek’s Top B-Schools for Fourth Year Running</p>
<p>SAN LUIS OBISPO — For the fourth consecutive year, Cal Poly’s Orfalea College of Business has been named to Bloomberg Businessweek magazine’s list of the nation’s top undergraduate business colleges. This year, Cal Poly ranked 69th nationally and was one of only three public universities in California on the list.</p>
<p>Eight California business colleges made the cut for 2012: UC Berkeley (11); USC (33); Santa Clara University (35); University of San Diego (40); Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo (69); Chapman (87); Loyola Marymount (93); and UC Riverside (124). </p>
This is an excellent question and there is no blanket answer. Each school has its own admissions criteria. For example, my MBA program specialized in international business and required a combination of fluency in a foreign language in addition to business experience (preferably international or in multicultural markets) and demonstrated experience living overseas, etc.</p>
<p>My best friend from childhood got his MBA from UCLA and he got in based on his international business experience in the entertainment industry.</p>
<p>Some schools prefer experience in entrepreneurship, some corporate and some the Peace Corp. Depends upon the program.</p>
<p>However, what I can say is that most schools look for demonstrated evidence of strong leadership, unique abilities and/or experiences, and financial results. Most schools worth your money will prefer graduates with 3-5 years of business experience at a minimum.</p>
<p>With your military background and an engineering degree under your belt, all you need is work experience and something that sets you apart from the competition.</p>
<p>One real difference in the market today is the pace of business. Few can afford to put their careers on hold for two years while they go back to school. At 26, you’ll be 30 by the time you graduate and then after 3-5 years of work experience you will be in your mid-30’s. I do not suggest that you stop mid career and go back to school. What I do suggest is that you look for companies that offer incentives to get an MBA on a part time basis. Some engineering firms will actually pay for you to get your advanced degree part time. Also, these days the MBA market is very crowded and some of the best business schools in the country offer reputable executive MBA’s or part time MBA’s. That way you can keep your career on track, use what you learn on the job in real time and possibly get reimbursed by your firm with a promotion when you graduate.</p>
<p>Not sure how your logic flows. Silicon Valley, not Wall street/NYC, is the epic center of tech industries for the globe and the US. I just don’t see how not having the biggest name in NYC is going make that much difference for Cal Poly engineering. Everyone in tech wants to be in Cali, even my friends from CMU or Cooper Union want to move to CA after graduation. And in the Valley, Cal Poly is a household name. </p>
<p>Also, even if Cal Poly’s name might be obscure today by your standard, I don’t think it will stay obscure for long. Why because Apple’s CFO is a Cal Poly graduate, the president of Lionsgate Entertainment (maker of Twilight, Hunger Games, Saw series) is a Cal Poly graduate, the chief designer of Virgin Galactic spaceship is a Cal Poly graduate.</p>
<p>Besides engineering, Cal Poly’s school of architecture and agriculture both have nationwide name recognition. Both are ranked in the top 5 nationwide for undergraduate. </p>
<p>You mention losing something as the result of choosing SLO, I would partially agree with that if SLO was a bad fit for the incoming student. But I would say the same if UCLA was a bad fit for the aforementioned student. </p>
<p>I also agree that choosing UCLA will also translate into a loss of ROI.</p>
<p>BTW, Claremont Mckenna is a liberal arts school. It didn’t need a “engineering” handicap offset to crush everyone (most definitely including UCLA) in earning power.</p>
<p>The thread had been very educational. The beauty is in the eye of the beholder. It looks like that OP can’t go wrong with either school.</p>
<p>Just a comment about ROI, if this is the link - [College</a> Education Value Rankings - PayScale 2012 College ROI Report](<a href=“http://www.payscale.com/college-education-value-2012]College”>College Education Value Rankings - PayScale 2012 College ROI Report) , Claremont McKenna College’s ROI is higher than Yale and a lot other schools, including UC Berkeley. But it would be hard to image that students would choose Claremont McKenna College over Yale because of the higher ROI. For the same token, Harvey Mudd College is on the top of the ranking, but I don’t see students flocking there instead of going to more prestige schools or schools with more reputed majors with a less ROI. One really needs to make sure it’s a fair comparison among different schools.</p>
<p>Well, what can I say. If your heart is set on California, then SLO may be a fine choice. I believe there is a world outside of California, but that’s just me…</p>
<p>In any event, your university matters only for your first job out of college anyway, unless you’re an academic.</p>
<p>If the MSEE program at UCLA has a 50% admit clip, then that more-interdisciplinary M.S. in Engineering at UCLA must have at least a 50% admit clip.</p>
<p>I wished I would have known that when I was considering grad schools. I am happy with my plain 'ole M.S. Engineering (no major) from University of Wisconsin, but I would have considered UCLA just for visits to California.</p>
<p>This last year, EE and CS were both at around 40% for domestic applicants, but in previous years it was closer to 50%. Some fields such as Aerospace Eng. and Civ. E admit closer to 70%. </p>
<p>Bear in mind that this is for both MS and PhD, so its possible MS rates alone are even higher.</p>
Wow, you actually said something that I completely agree with! Well, to a point. The alumni network that you affiliate with can be of extraordinary assistance over a career. However, you are correct that after graduation and a few years on the job – especially in engineering – it actually is all about your skills and what you can do in the field. You may not be a ■■■■■ after all!</p>