Science major to MBA, what pre-MBA experience should I get?
Hello all,
This is my first time sending a post on WSO, but I can really use your advice!
So I will graduate in Dec 2021 (in 2 months!) with an MS in Chemistry from UPenn. In the past several years I spent most of my time doing research in the lab and only recently did I realize I want to do more business/consulting/managerial things. Since my bachelor's and master's degree are all science majors, I believe that getting an MBA is a good way for me to be a more competitive candidate for consulting/business/finance. Do I have to get a finance job in order to get into a top b-school (with my major and my background it will be VERY HARD)? Or should I just find an R&D job and then apply to b-school after 3-4 yrs? Will b-school appreciate their candidates coming from an R&D background?
R&D background puts you in a smaller bucket of candidates to be compared to (that's a good thing). Also you never know, you may stumble upon opportunities and plan not to leave. My friend went this route with the plan to get an MBA eventually. Now he has equity in a biotech company valued around 6-7 figures (with the potential to hit 8).
Thank you for sharing! Maybe I should also consider the 2+2 program!
Given your background @Penn, I don't think you would necessarily need to do an MBA. You could probably break into a life sci boutique consulting firm and then stay the course there if you like it or go get your MBA to then go to MBB OR go straight from life sci consultant firm to MBB. I don't know the probabilities of each of the scenarios if the goal is MBB. In terms of friction, yes an MBA creates the least friction in your path, but I would also say that you should account for the opportunity cost (2 years tuition + 2 years foregone salary) when contemplating to get your MBA.
you should do your best to do whatever it is you think you want an MBA to do.
you go to UPenn, it shouldn't be impossible.
want to be a strategic executive? try to get into consulting
want to be in banking or PE? try to get a banking job (even if its a small boutique because you're late to the game)
want to be in marketing? try to get a marketing role
the MBA is a reset, not a goal
Totally agree. It's not necessary if you're already on the path that you want to be on. It's great for folks who are like doctors, teachers, engineers, etc that are trying to literally pivot their career that they already have like 5+ years of experience in.
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