I know that this sounds like a dumb comparison but I recently got into the University of Notre Dame and University of Michigan Ann Arbor’s Engineering Classes of 2020. On one hand I love Notre Dame-its campus, students, faculty, dedication to service, religious dimension, and especially its alumni networking. However, for what I want to do I feel that it is not the best school. Mendoza College of Business is huge and very prestigious, though its engineering department lacks that same attractiveness. Essentially, I want to get an engineering degree. I recognize how valuable it is and how much job versatility it offers. Engineers can get into finance or go to Wall Street. In many cases they can do almost anything that a business major can (please I am not trying to hate on any business majors). My talents lie with the math and sciences though I have no problems with writing or public speaking. I want to get an engineering degree, although I will most likely seek a job in business or at least the business side of engineering. Notre Dame College of Engineering also has a 5 year Engineering/MBA program partnered with Mendoza. Is it worth it in this case to sacrifice the engineering education to attend Notre Dame or simply go to UMich or another better engineering school if I get in? Will it pose problems for me looking for a job post graduation if I attend Notre Dame as an engineer? Also is that program with the Mendoza College of business worth looking into.? They also offer a dual degree with Engineering/Economics with the college of Arts and Sciences. Would a company most likely pay for me to get an MBA later on anyway?
Sorry for all of the questions. I would really appreciate some insight though. I am also waiting for a few other letters that will come later on. UVA, Cornell, UPenn, Duke, Vanderbilt, and then Princeton and Stanford although they are definitely more of a reach.
*BTW I live in the Northeast close to New York City and know quite a few Notre Dame alums but also a few from Michigan.
Another option is a BSE/BBA dual degree from Michigan Engineering and Ross. That might be closer to what you want. Returning to school for an MBA is going to be a lot more useful to you ; most people need 3-5 years working to properly appreciate management challenges and issues.
Did you apply PA to Ross? If not perhaps you can call the Michigan admissions office to do so. Otherwise you will need to apply at the end of your Freshman year.
ND networking is excellent, but so is Michigan. You should attend an admitted student day to get a better feel about where to go. Ann Arbor and South Bend are only about 3 hrs apart.
It kind of sucks to be an engineering major if you are really most interested in business. Engineering is a hard core major – my opinion is that you shouldn’t undertake it unless it is really what you want to do.
@tooold4school
Thank you for the insight and yes I did apply PA into Ross, although I don’t hear back for a while. And yes I did hear that going back for an MBA after some time working is ideal, although it can be very difficult and troublesome. Working 9-5 and then attending night classes for two years would tough compared to just banging it out full time in a year.
@intparent
Thank you for replying and yes I understand that that engineering is a hard core major but it is something that I am willing to do. Honestly I’m not totally sure what I will end up doing but I think that getting the degree is worth it. Math and science are what come easy to me. I’ve taken and done well in all of my ap classes like calc BC, physics C, bio, chem. It will be difficult but it’s something I think that I could take on.
I agree with @intparent -Engineering is a pretty tough route to take if you want to go into finance. At Michigan, Ross students have the clear upper hand for recruiting (Ross recruiting > Engineering recruiting for most non-engineering jobs, and especially for finance). Although I agree that an engineering degree may give you more quantitative skills and you can do/learn business skills more than a business major could learn/do engineering things- the business school recruiting is much better. Also, business is easier than engineering for most people- and GPA matters quite a bit for many finance jobs (they may take into consideration that you are an engineering student, but I hear that they do not mitigate for this factor enough). However, if engineering is what you like and what to student- please do study it. Dual degrees are a cool option, but can be very intense (risk to your GPA) and difficult to complete in 4 years.
Here is what I understand about the MBA (from talking to MBA students, having seen people do MBAs, etc.):
-Not only is it more common to do any MBA after some work experience, it is more valuable. Companies hiring MBA grads oftentimes look for experience.
-It is tough to get a company to pay for your MBA nowadays from what I hear.
-for most business schools, their flagship MBA program is not at night or part-time, but full-time (night or part-time options may be available, however)
@jyoung8 , You could go several routes : the 5 year combined, which sounds attractive but would hurt you w/o real world experience, a evening/weekend/night program which typically takes 3-5 years while working, full-time , or if you have worked for 8+ years an executive program.
Would you be a bigger “fish” in the ND engineering pool? I.e., a tad bit easier to make higher grades?
It’s sort of counter-intuitive - just wondering.
Both schools are fantastic, with great reputations overall, but my heart would lean a little closer to ND. That being said, I know nothing about ND engineering. So take my comments with a grain of salt.
PS: What is the financial picture as far as paying for school? Does one look better than the other on that front?
Another option is to double major in math/Econ at either school. To major in engineering at ND instead of Michigan is definitely not the optimal choice.
@TooOld4School
Thanks for taking the time to comment again. I know I could either do the 5 year engineering/ economics degree at ND or the engineering/MBA one. I like the MBA program because it takes advantage of Mendoza being there; however, there are some disadvantages. The upside is that I would be doing the MBA full time during my senior and then 5th year which means that I would not need to go back to school later, it would shave off a year, and also it would open the door to Mendoza alumni and possible job opportunities that I would lack just from engineering. On the other side I’m lacking real job experience before my MBA and also I would be paying for it (although I think someone said that companies are offering to pay for MBAs less and less).
@SouthFloridaMom9 yes I would definitely consider myself one of the bigger fish in the engineering pool there so I would probably be more towards the top of the class and as a result have some better opportunities possibly for research and internships. And I know I am leaning more towards ND because I love it so much. However, I feel that I could do better for engineering and that I am not taking advantage of Mendoza which is by far NDs best asset. And as of yet I haven’t gotten anything in the mail in regards to financial aid, although to be honest it is not going to be a game changer unless the differences in numbers are huge (which is sort of doubtful).
@hzhao2004 thank you for responding. At Notre Dame I would have the opportunity to double major in engineering and economics through their dual degree program with the Reilly Center. I feel that I could do this at ND but to double major at Michigan would be a little more intense.