Does it matter what type of BA before your MBA?

Most MBA programs dont state that its manditory you have a Business BA right? Or does it matter?

I ask because I was thinking of getting my BA in Psyhology and then head off to school to get my MBA.

  • Charles
 

Schools are looking for diversity. I know a guy that majored in Opera at a midwestern, non-ivy league school and was able to get into Harvard MBA straight out. I also have a family friend who majored in agricultural economics, worked as a corn seed manager a few years, and got into Harvard MBA. I wouldn't bet on being able to go straight in, since schools definitely prefer several years work experience.

 

gotcha. i understand they want experience first, no prob. I just didnt know if my degree would matter.

psychology has always interested me, but due to very very LOW income, Im thinking an MBA might fit me better (as well as career wise - i think big business would be more interesting).

ps: when I say low income, i dont know from personal experience - im still in school. just wanted to clarify.

  • Charles
 

degree doesn't matter, they want diversity. and it's an easy story to tell why you want an mba if you don't have a finance or acct background.

 
Best Response

Hi Charles,

MBA programs do not require a BA in business, or economics or any specific major.

They do want the diversity but top MBA programs do have more common and less common types of candidates.

When people tell me they want to do, somthing, to be able to do something, to be able to do what they want I get worried. A lot can go wrong and if you want to do something why not just do it! Maybe consider behavioral economics (economics and psychology) is a more practical answer.

When applying for MBA, a quantitative degree puts any questions about your analytical ability to bed, assuming you did ok, but that is about it.

When I looked at MIT they had some higher requirements like you should have studied statistics, micro, macro, and something else before enrolling, but I am sure that can be dealt with then.

Cheers

 

For business school, your major doesn't really matter much - Engineering generally has a bit more slack in terms of GPA, but in general, you need a strong GPA - don't worry about majoring in Econ.

Regarding work experience, there is no "right" work experience - if your work experience is challenging, offers opportunity to step up, and you can point to an impact made on the company/group and personal growth, you are in good shape.

 

I found this website through google. But basically to get to a top biz school w/o a finance or something related to that major you need to graduate from a top undergraduate school. And my school isn't that great, what should I do?

 

School brand helps, but isn't essential. As I said before, it is more about your GPA, GMAT and your professional experience than ugrad major and ugrad name. Focus on keeping your GPA up, and landing a FT position of quality (in terms of professional growth opportunity, leadership opportunity, and so forth). Additionally, if you have time, look into volunteering for a non-profit that holds meaning to you - all of this will help to boost your candidacy when it comes time to apply to B school.

 

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