Physics AM on the way to MBA possibility

[QuantKid]

<p>Dear Harvard students,</p>

<p>I’m just a USNews top 10 college undergrad taking my chances talking to those who lead the HYPSM acronym. I am guessing the admissions department didn’t want to entertain my request so anything other than a nil response is appreciated.</p>

<p>I would like to please ask for your opinion on the following: Is it possible to get a Physics AM on the way to a MBA? Requirements for the former is 8 half course credits. So I figured I could explore the possibility of going for the MBA, do the first year required curriculum, and squeeze into these 8 credits in the second year through a combination of electives, overlap courses, transfers credit, overloading. Pop by the GSAS and say “Hey, I got 8 credits of grad level physics.” </p>

<p>I’ll be honest. My chances of a Physics PhD is one-tenth that of a Harvard MBA, and that’s already small enough. As for my motivation for pursing this, well, my career and background does tally with this program. I’m now in the hedge fund industry and I thought it’ll be cool to be able to understand both finance and physics. And yes, I aspire to get the Harvard name behind me. I won’t lie.</p>

<p>Thank you in advance for your responses. It’s good to know some Harvard kid took the time to reply me.</p>

[JHS]

<p>From the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences at Harvard:

The Department of Physics does not admit students whose sole purpose is to study for the master of arts degree. However, the AM degree is frequently taken by students who continue on for the PhD degree. For those who do not attain the doctorate, the AM degree attests to the completion of a full year’s study beyond the bachelor’s degree.</p>

<p>The requirements for this degree are:</p>

<p>Residence. Minimum of one year.

</p>

<p>So, no. You wouldn’t be a degree candidate in the Physics Department. You wouldn’t meet the residence requirement based on your enrollment at HBS.</p>

<p>And it’s pretty hard to imagine how you plan to “squeeze into” your second-year MBA program a full year’s worth of graduate-level physics courses.</p>

[LastCall]

<p>I don’t think you can even enroll in GSAS classes as an HBS MBA student. That would make no sense.</p>

[QuantKid]

<p>Hey LastCall and JHS,</p>

<p>My motivation for some sort of Business/Physics academic endeavor is to prepare myself for a future role, in say a Private Equity firm, where I have to invest in Energy R&D or high tech firms. I thought it’ll be good to be equipped with a knowledge of physics so as to gain a better understanding of what these firms are working on thereby making the correct investment decision.</p>

<p>Thank you for your replies. All right, I’ll revise some of my academic plans.</p>