Starting To Panic Again
I'm not sure if you recall, but not too long ago (I think beginning of summer), I posted a thread asking for your guys' help on how to achieve my goals (which are to eventually get into consulting, hopefully working internationally, and with a great firm). At first I was concerned that my school isn't good enough for that, but now, I'm starting to panic about other stuff.
I've decided that I think I'm going to major in either EE or Chemical Engineering (leaning towards Chem E because I want to work in the energy industry) after I transfer to the engineering school because I have a huge interest in math and science, it will prepare me for the quant jobs, marketable skill sets, etc., but I'm worried now that b/c engineering is so difficult, I won't be able to get into consulting in the first place because I'll have a lower GPA. Now the good news is that I'll be fine career-wise because I can still get a great engineering job even with a less-than-stellar-for-consulting GPA (my guess is that I'll be somewhere in the 3.3-3.5 range knowing me), and then my dreams will be shattered. Because work experience will be important, and I won't get into M/B/B, I won't get into a top MBA, and can't do consulting. I'll be stuck as an engineer for a long time, and then have to switch to becoming a manager or something.
So I guess my question is, how badly will not going to M/B/B right after undergrad hurt me? I know it's a slim shot and probably not possible, but can I still do banking or consulting after working as an engineer for a few years, and getting an MBA (I'll do a MBA no matter what b/c even if I do engineering, I'll want to be a manager for the company ASAP)? How would I go about doing that?
thanks, and sorry. I know I should relax, but I'm just really worried about my future because I really want to get into consulting, but I know it's going to be really, really difficult
sorry, I meant to say that I'm leaning towards EE, not Chem E
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consulting is overated, dont fall in love with the "traveling lifestyle" ... I have a relative that works at MBB and he is sick of the constant traveling, most of the time to shithole places that no one wants to go to
If you go to a MBA business schools ">M7 school, your background is really irrelevant to getting a good sell-side job. There are a few exceptions from what I've seen (e.g. Kellogg to S&T) but by and large the hardest part is getting in.
If you want to do consulting out of undergrad, I would tell you unequivocally to not do engineering. Do the major that will give you the highest GPA that isn't total fluff. Of course, this doesn't take into account actual love of learning.
Dude... MBB isn't the only way into consulting; just relax... you're not even a freshman yet.
@Ideating - A couple of questions: 1) Why do you say "unequivocally"? I ask because it seems like your phrasing suggests that there is no worth in the engineering major itself (relative to the goal of getting into consulting). 2) What fields are you generally referring to as "not total fluff"? I tend to (unfairly) dismiss most arts / humanities / social sciences in the "total fluff" category but at the same time regard most anything else as fairly serious/viable.
I ask this because it feels like (at least to me) that there must be some inherent value in the field of study itself (relative to the goal of getting into consulting out of undergrad) outside of just how easy it is to get a 4.0 in that field. I am currently under the impression that engineering-type majors are a good preparation for consulting work because they stress problem-solving skills that are generalizable to most subject areas... which is certainly worth something for consulting. All else equal (other than the difficulty of the major), would you really take the 3.8/3.9 not-total-fluff major over the 3.5/3.6 engineering major?
For what its worth / full disclosure, I'm a computer science major at Carnegie Mellon (hence the defense of engineering in general).
First, you're not trying to convince me, you're trying to convince the recruiting team. If you are positive you can do VERY well, by all means, do engineering. However, there are far more 3.8+ English majors in consulting than you can imagine. The education itself has very little benefit in my opinion (though others will disagree). Consulting firms play up the benefits of the major because they are hoping to snag those few very smart, socially aware engineers. From a recruit's perspective, much easier to do an easier major, get better grades.
The biggest mistake students make is they think firms give a fuck about majors/minors. They only care enough to bucket you, no more. "Oh he's an engineer, quant isn't a problem." "Oh she's a psychology major, soft skills aren't a problem." Fair? No. But that's the way it is. If you can demonstrate analytical skills (build a model in an internship, test scores, a few quant courses with good grades, etc.) your major really doesn't matter as long as it's not too fluffy.
English, history, literature = not fluffy. Women's studies, theater, cultural studies = fluffy. Hope that clears it up. As a point of reference, if you are an economics major, your quantitative ability will not be questioned despite a lot of econ majors being horrible at it.
Ideating,
Thanks for the input. What do you make of a Psychology major as an undergraduate and a masters in organizational psychology (with a major focus in statistical analysis)? Would that be considered fluffy to consulting firms? I was hoping to go for a combination of interpersonal/soft skills with quant. skills.
So you guys recommend econ over engineering then? See the problem I have with Econ is what can I do as a backup career if I don't get into the top banks or consulting firms, which is already going to be hard with an econ vs finance degree? This is assuming I don't make it as a transfer to the business school
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