<p>There is little point trying to get into an expensive, highly selective school for liberal arts if you are mainly just trying to jump hoops to get a job. Students who get into highly selective schools are likely to be rather driven people who want the best possible academic experience as something valuable in its own right, not just for the job prospects at the end of 4 years. If you don’t see yourself as that kind of person, just go to the best in-state public school you can get into, then choose a marketable major such as Computer Science. You don’t need an Ivy League CS degree to get a decent, well-paying job in this field straight out of college. You do, however, need some aptitude for and interest in the subject. </p>
<p>Liberal arts have little value if they are taught in big classes by disinterested professors straight from a text book to bored or reluctant students. So at some schools, you might be better off just getting an undergraduate business degree. If you do want a liberal arts major, then your “midcore” university + MBA plan could work, too. Look for schools with good internship opportunities.</p>