<p>Hey, I'm a high school sophomore right now and I'm really trying to consider my options for my future and I have narrowed it down to a few fields that I think I will be interested in. I know definitely that I want to go into business or work for a non-profit but i did a LOT of research and found some articles saying that it isnt the wisest thing to learn 4 years of business as many of the skills can be learned after a while on the job. (They suggest to just take a few business classes to get a basic knowledge of it.)</p>
<p>They also suggest that perhaps getting a liberal arts degree or engineering would be better since liberal arts allows a person to learn how to write, communicate, and problem solve effectively and engineering allows a person to see the technical side of things.</p>
<p>Therefore, I think perhaps I can double major in a liberal arts, and engineering, (maybe a minor in finance) or simply a lot of summer internships for a business institution would be wise? My safety is UT in Austin and their engineering is really good, they have a good Plan II honors system, and their business program is amazing. </p>
<p>Btw, what type of engineering would be good for business? Like I am really interested in civil engineering as I love to design things but at the same time is industrial engineering better to enhance a business background?</p>
<p>Engineering and Business is like totally different field. I mean engineering (no matter which one you take) is extremely hard actually the hardest classes in college life while business is opposite- extremely easy. So, if you are good in math (U should take at least AP calc AB in your sr year and have a A-) you should go for it with Business minor. But you are ok (take hon. calc and have a B-) think about it again since IT IS ENGINEERING. I heard a lot of students drop out of engineering in their jr year of college. That’s how hard engineering is. </p>
<p>But Good Luck. Hope you will make a wise decision.</p>
<p>I’m afraid you don’t know what engineering is… your definition for a liberal arts degree matches the correct definition of engineering. Good engineers are required to write and communicate effectively, and while I may be biased, liberal arts majors do not “problem solve”. Atleast they don’t problem solve anywhere near the degree that engineering majors do. Granted you’ll learn more about writing and communicating as a liberal arts major, but engineering is not all about crunching numbers and solving equations.</p>
<p>IMHO, getting a liberal arts degree and an engineering degree is a waste of time and money. You’ll either use one or the other, not both. Try looking into getting a minor in english or some type of engineering, coupled with the opposing degree. Then, you pursue the MBA.</p>
<p>Above messages will confirm this: engineering is a ridiculously tough field (that’s why it pays so well for a bachelors degree). Its dropout rates approach 50% in some colleges and universities, partly because the math and science are just so tough.</p>
<p>Engineering and liberal arts are totally different, despite what some colleges’ 3-2 programs will tell you. Liberal arts is good prep for an MBA. Engineering is not, mostly since MBA’s don’t require much of a technical aspect.</p>
<p>If you try for both a serious engineering and a serious liberal arts degree (bachelors both), it will take you at least 6 years (with no breaks). Engineering cannot really be learned in less than 3 years.</p>
<p>I suppose if you’re some sort of genius, you could complete the mentioned dual degree in a reasonable time. In that case, there’s no way of knowing what engineering to pick. A civil engineering degree would make you good at interfacing with engineers involved in all sorts of construction… but not really ones working with machines, or chemicals/materials, etc.</p>
<p>As a final word of advice: Consider whether you already possess huge interest and talent in math and science, or if you’re just considering this path because it was suggested. Either way, hope it works out for you :)</p>
<p>first of all, congratulations in writing this post. you are already a step above your peers by taking the initative to find the perfect college program for you. </p>
<p>i HIGHLY advise you to take a look at Drexel’s Business and Engineering Major. Its literally meant for people just like you, the perfect combination of business and engineering, and a lot of technical communication and writing in there as well. The major is one of a kind and it is very competitive. I’m in the program right now and can say the benefits are outstanding and some companies alone just target students from that major only. The salaries are also much higher across the board in any type of discipline you go into. Feel free to message me if you have any questions, and also take a look at the following links:</p>
<p>Plenty of liberal arts colleges offer top flight engineering degrees - this grooms one for upper management.</p>
<p>Dartmouth
Princeton
Brown
Washington University of St. Louis
Bushnell
University of Portland
Vanderbuilt
Harvey Mudd
Columbia</p>
<p>etc</p>
<p>The kind of “cram everything into your head” and flunk out 1/3 the freshman class that Mjb347 is talking about is not representative of all engineering programs. The top liberal arts school (not 3/2 schools) with strong engineering actually have very low attrition rates.</p>
<p>Combining liberal arts + engineering is not at all silly or a waste. Engineering teaches a type of analytic thinking that you will use all of your life - a quantitative intuition that can help you with business for sure, even though the old track of ‘get your engineering degree and slide over to Wall St. doesn’t work so well anymore’. Liberal arts - a range of studies with an emphasis on cultivating right brain skills - is a great augmentation to the quantitative savvy that you will develop from engineering. Perhaps get a BA in economics, marketing, or psychology. Something you are interested in. This will be key if you want to have the power to thrive in a bunch of job environments. Basically, you have boatloads of young adults in the world with solid engineering degrees - the way to distinguish yourself and create opportunities is to have abilities in both fields, and understand the intersections. </p>
<p>Don’t plan your undergraduate experience to fit the idea of obtaining an MBA - just study a wide range of interests in undergraduate, reflect, then choose your next path based on the sum of knowledge and intuition that you have developed over your years.</p>
<p>I’m a PLS (studying for PE now) working for a top 100 civil firm & here’s how it works:</p>
<p>Professional Engineers who practice Engineering make $38-45/hr w/ $3000-6000 in annual bonus</p>
<p>Professional Engineers who practice business & supervise engineers make $55-75/hr w/ $25000-65000 in annual bonus</p>
<p>Best advice: Major in Civil & minor in business or english (yes english… you do a lot of writing in practice & those talented get noticed!) then pursue your MBA after you pass your PE exam.</p>
<p>There is always a business side to everything.
I’ve seen ex-civ egrs developed products such as piping, manholes, air valves, rubberized asphalt, flex concrete, steel fabs, etc etc which they sell to gov’t. If you really like the technical aspect of civils, you can also become a consultant, and that’s considered business. You could also become a contractor… Bottom line is, engineering is very broad… Figure out what you want and then go from there.</p>
<p>Hey, I read that you are interested in attending The University of Texas at Austin. I’m a Senior double-majoring in Aerospace Engineering and Government. I also completed my Business Foundations Certificate. UT is one of the best institutions in the nation. Most of the engineering programs, with the exception of Biomedical Engineering, are ranked in the Top 10. In addition, the Red McCombs School of Business is also one of the most prestigious business schools in the world. If you are a native Texan, stay here. It’s worth the money, the experiences, school spirit and traditions, and of course, the EDUCATION! If you think about it, UT comprises the overall best institution balancing great academics with great athletics and a great social/fraternity life. Not to mention, Austin is also a great city that offers A LOT to do, and probably has the best college atmosphere -ACL, SXSW, Zilker Park, & the downtown nightlife is awesome!</p>
<p>Any engineering degree will suit you to work in various disciplines. For example, many mechanical and aerospace engineers work on the same projects together. In fact, the core engineering classes for most engineering majors is the same until you reach upper-division standing, and by then, you would be able to switch into another engineering branch if you do not like your field. You can also do the business foundations program (like I did) and get certified. You will need to have credit for an economics course (Microeconomics or Macroeconomics), a statistics course (which Calculus can satisfy—and you’ll have it because of engineering), principles of managerial accounting, management information systems, principles of finance, legal environment of business, management, and marketing. As you can see, the curriculum is broad and allows you to gain credentials for a potential MBA program in the future. Also, any liberal arts degree will enhance your writing and qualitative analytical skills. I chose Government because I would like to work for DoD or a similar agency in the future. Good luck, and Hook 'Em Horns!</p>
<p>Don’t go to MIT. At least I didn’t go there because I am not a fan of shoveling out snow. :D</p>
<p>it would be a great double major, and i personally think it would help your mba cycle down the line. admissions committees view engineering majors with skepticism towards their social and communication skills, and a liberal arts degree could go a long way to mitigate that. the committees view liberal arts majors with skepticism towards their hard math skills, and engineering would mitigate that. so otherwise, you would be the perfect candidate :P</p>
<p>Really? A liberal arts + engineering degree is a waste of time? What about engineering and math? That is what I plan on doing. Is that a waste of time?</p>
<p>To be honest, most would say that that is a waste of time. At least, that is the general consensus among professionals in engineering. Most say that it would not get you ahead at all and would only be detrimental towards your GPA and such. I’m just repeating what I have encountered…</p>
<p>That is what I was thinking also… But the only real reason I am thinking about dual majoring in math is because it would help me get into top graduate programs.</p>
<p>I am transferring into Michigan in the fall, which is of course a top engineering school, but I would like to push even farther. I am aiming for Stanford or Berkeley (MIT doesn’t allow outside graduate students into their computer science program), but is it crazy to dual major in math just for graduate school purposes?</p>
<p>I am also waiting for admission into the honors math program as well, and hopefully I can get some graduate math credit before graduation.</p>
<p>I see where you are coming from, because I am going to an average engineering school but am striving to attend MIT for graduate school (except you are coming from a very good undergraduate school). If anything though, the double major might hurt your chances. It could lower your GPA and also most say it doesn’t even help much for grad school. I’m not positive though.</p>