Can I get a MBA and a MSc?

Question

I am an recent graduate from the University of Wisconsin- Madison where I graduated with a bachelors in Finance and Human Resources. After graduating I got a job in accounting and want to pursue my CPA. The problem is I am missing around 20 accounting credits that I need to get my CPA. I am planning doing this through WGU or the local technical college to get these credits. The problem is that these credits will pretty much take me through a undergraduate and a masters of science in accounting program at these schools.

However, I want to pursue my MBA later in life when I have 5/6 years of experience, will I be looked down upon as a candidate at a top 1-15 MBA program/MBB if I have this masters degree (MSc) already? Am I able to hide it from my application/remove from resume when applying? I guess I am scared of the decision to apply for an MBA right after the MSc or going to a school like WSU/Tech college to get these credits will be taken negatively by most admissions committees ('why go for the MSc at all if you want to get an MBA right after?'). Also, if its even possible to get both? I didn't want to disqualify myself from getting an MBA later in life.

Answer 1

Hi there!

I do not see a reason why they are mutually exclusive. I for once have both an MSc and an MBA and I know several people that have the same.

Your MBA application will be very different than your MSc one - focus is way more on your (early) career achievements than your educational pathway + on your future motivations. Also the things you learn at an MBA will be different than your masters (with only small overlaps).

To conclude, you would not disqualify yourself for getting an MBA later in life.

However, I want to clarify something else from your question, respectively your potential "decision to apply for an MBA right after the MSc" >> Any top MBA would require at least some relevant work experience and would not accept candidates straight out of the school, regardless if that is a bachelors or a masters.

So the actual trade-off is between pursuing a masters and delaying getting work experience, and thus delaying your MBA application or doing a masters and then deciding later if you are still interested in an MBA.

Hope this helps,

Ariadna

Answer 2

Hi there,

I think you are overthinking this a bit.

No one will look down on you for getting an MSc.

Cheers,

Florian

Answer 3

Hello, its fine to have both. You definitely will not be disqualified from an MBA :)