Ok here is my situation:
I just recently got into HBS 2+2 program, and I have a semester left in college. I completed my requirements for a Bachelors of Arts in Physics, and have 3 courses left for my b.s. (physics courses, I have 2 other GE's left).
Does it make any difference if I skip the B.S. and get my B.A.?
Consider this: I want to end up in either PE or VC (of course this can obviously change with time). I am afraid that dropping the B.S. might cause me to lose some credibility if I were to enter a tech oriented VC field. I know that when I hear someone got a B.A. in Physics I assume they are less legit (unless their school didn't offer a B.s.).
Is this a legitimate concern? I'd rather put in the extra effort just to be safe so I am trying to come up with situations where not having a B.S. would raise flags.
Thanks in advance. Would really appreciate answers from people with a science background in particular.
won't make any difference, so long as it is a physics degree.
Doesn't getting a B.A in a hard science mean you just have to take the foreign language requirements or whatever a B.A core requires??
I know of people who got their B.A's in math and they had to take 2 years of a foreign language to get the B.A.
Either way I don't think it will matter, Physics is physics...the B.S cores aren't substituted for less rigorous courses unless the school is...different??
Firstly, wow, congrats on getting into the program!
I would say just go for the B.S. degree. I'll agree you may not have as much free time as you otherwise might in your final semester, but hey, this world is all about credibility nowadays. Nobody really knows for certain what the differences are between the two degrees as requirements more or less differ from every university, but the B.S. just sounds better. I'm working towards my B.S. as opposed to B.A. in math just because I believe it's worth the extra effort.
The GPA will one day drop off your resume. But the degree doesn't. Engineers, math majors, and other technical degree holders will look at your resume and say, "Wait, a BA in Physics" and scratch their heads. It doesn't make sense. It's like saying you're an MIT engineer but have a degree in general studies.
We have the same deal at UIUC. I like to think I don't run with snobs, but there is a certain crowd of engineers who look down on CS/Math majors who got to avoid a number of engineering requirements. They still talk about it even years and years out of school.
Go for the BS. Your next four years look pretty well mapped out, and after that, your undergraduate GPA will matter a lot less. (your degree/school will always follow you.) Take the classes, but it's OK if you get Bs. (Try to avoid anything lower than a B- though).
Thanks for the response nethaderthal & Illini. You're both right-the B.A. does seem weird. I had an interviewer brag to me how he also studies physics, so I asked more about what he studied. He responded sheepishly that he only had his B.A., and then bombarded me with excuses why.
I'm just gonna suck it up and take the classes. BTW Illini, I find it hilarious that you mentioned engineers looking down on Cs/Math types. Such a UIUC point of view! I've always heard of the other way around-the engineers get to place out of the tougher high level physics/math classes and are thus looked down upon by the "pure" scientists. Oh well.
Well this is a great question, because I am from a technical background. Honestly from my personal perspective a BA in physics is a legitimate degree, because you can't even do the most elementary of physics calculations without differential equations. With that in mind, we already know you have high technical ability, but that you wanted to expand upon your already technical background and get more experience in other areas, such as the humanities. However I will contrast this statement by saying other engineers and techy geeks that could be principles at some of these PE and venture firms with PhDs may think "What is a BA in Physics?" I have BS, MS, and PhD on my background. If it were me, there would be no way I would go for the BA because I would be finishing the HBS program and would not feel the need to take a few "BS" courses.
Chris, BS Mechanical Engineering, MS Biomedical Engineering
some of the ivies only give out BAs for math/physics. those guys would not distinguish between the BA and BS. i am one of them.
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