UPDATE: This post was originally published on June 27, 2019. It has been updated with new tips and information below.
If you sit down to speak with your grandparents about their career development, you’ll likely notice a trend emerging. Gramps dedicated his whole career to a single company, diligently moving up the ranks until he retired at a predetermined age.
How things have changed!
Now, the average person changes jobs 12 times over their career. More often than not, these changes also represent forays into new functional areas, as the modern professional seeks to build a career that not only satisfies financial goals, but that also generates more impact.
Nonetheless, with increased globalization, the modern workplace is more competitive than ever, meaning professionals must differentiate themselves to reach their career goals.
For many, the MBA is an excellent tool to do so.
With a focus on helping professionals build the skills and network they need to get ahead, business school is undoubtedly a significant and powerful investment in your future.
However, an increasing number of professionals are looking to differentiate themselves beyond what the MBA offers.
Perhaps they want to stay in management consulting but want to generate more social impact by focusing on public sector projects. Perhaps they want to transition from IB to Private Equity, but see a law degree as a great tool to help portfolio companies navigate complex regulatory frameworks. Perhaps they want to return to corporate banking, but want to learn how to launch innovative digital products. The reasons to do a dual degree are truly endless.
Yet navigating the dual degree application process (and deciding if the extra time and money investment is the right choice for you) is more complicated than normal.
That’s why we’ve compiled our top tips on MBA dual degrees to ensure that you’re fully prepared to take the next step in leveraging your education to build a life and career you love.
What are MBA dual degrees?
Unlike the MBA program, which allows you to take a variety of core classes and then specialize or “major” in an area like finance, social impact, or technology, the dual degree allows students to deep dive both into management education and in a complimentary area, like engineering or international relations.
(Former clients Axel and Caio enjoy a trip to India as part of their Lauder dual degree, photo courtesy of @lauderinstitute on Instagram)
Unlike MBA majors, another benefit is that students graduate with two full degrees from two separate institutions, adding additional credibility to your CV.
As such, dual degree programs are a good choice for students who want to go beyond elective courses and want to further build their personal brand in a specific area of the business world.
How do MBA dual degrees work?
Though each dual degree program follows a slightly different calendar, most dual degree programs can be divided into two types: concurrent programs and complimentary programs.
Concurrent programs, like Wharton’s Lauder program (which allows you to obtain a Master’s in International Studies) and Kellogg’s MMM program (which allows you to obtain a Master’s in Design Innovation), require you to attend classes for both your MBA and your second degree at the same time. Though this means you can expect to spend more time studying than if you were just completing an MBA, this style ensures that you can complete both degrees within the space of 2 years and do not need to spend additional time outside of the job market.
Complimentary programs, like Chicago’s MBA/MPP dual degree (which allows you to obtain a Master’s in Public Policy), take place over the space of 3 years, with students dedicating their attention to one degree at a time.
(Photo courtesy of the Harris School of Public Policy)
Though this style of program does last longer, it does allow students to dedicate greater focus to each degree individually.
(Photo courtesy of the Chicago Booth website)
Though this style of program does last longer, it does allow students to dedicate greater focus to each degree individually.
As such, when considering if a dual degree is right for you, make sure to take a closer look at the schedule employed by your target programs to ensure their format matches your personal and professional goals.
Who are MBA dual degree programs designed for?
According to Harvard Business School, “In collaboration with Harvard University graduate schools, Harvard Business School has created joint degree programs designed to prepare individuals for complex leadership challenges that balance expertise with effective management skills.”
Though many dual degree programs do not require you to have extensive experience in the area of study (for example, to attend Wharton’s Lauder program, you don’t need to have experience as a diplomat!), you should be able to demonstrate why your background and career goals require you to pursue this extra degree.
As such, it’s good to demonstrate that you either have relevant professional experience, relevant extraprofessional experience, or a strong desire to move your career in a new direction. Simply adding an extra degree “because you can” will not win any points with the admissions committee and will most likely get your application rejected.
Some programs, however, do require you to have relevant professional experience to apply for their dual degree. As such, make sure you carefully research the application criteria before applying.
What are the most popular MBA dual degree programs?
Though there are more types of MBA dual degree programs than we can cover in this post, there are four types of dual degree programs that the vast majority of our clients who are interested in a second degree focus on. We’ve outlined each below to help you understand if you fit the profile.
Public Policy/Public Administration
Though business school is traditionally thought of as a place where students learn to maximize shareholder results and help companies become more profitable, they are increasingly places where young professionals prepare themselves to engage in more purpose-driven careers that allow them to do good and do well.
As such, we have seen a marked increase in the number of students looking to pursue a joint MBA/MPP or MBA/MPA degree.
Though there are key differences between the MPA and MPP degrees, both are designed for students who are interested in working in the public sector or working closely alongside the public sector.
As such, if you see government work in your future but still want to grow as a business executive, this dual degree may be perfect for you.
Notable dual MBA/MPP or MBA/MPA degrees include Chicago Booth/UChicago Harris, Harvard Business School/Harvard Kennedy School, and Columbia Business School/Columbia SIPA.
Law
When I spoke with my client Guilherme about why he planned to leave his high-paying job at one of Latin America’s most elite private equity firms to pursue an MBA/JD dual degree, his answer was two-fold.
First, he said, doing business in emerging markets means navigating complex regulations that could easily cripple a company if not accounted for. Since he planned to return to his firm and continue focusing on mid-market companies, he felt an understanding of the law was essential to his success.
Second, numerous companies are facing legal battles arising from scandals, and executives with legal training are more prepared to help companies navigate these types of tricky situations. He explained that since his long-term goal was to act as CEO of a major corporation, having this legal perspective would be a big advantage in landing the job in the first place and would help him better guide the company after assuming the role.
This article by the Huffington Post perfectly breaks down the two types of professionals (the lawyer who understands business and the executive who understands the law) for whom a JD/MBA joint degree might be perfect.
Notable dual MBA/JD degrees include Stanford GSB, Chicago Booth, NYU Stern, Northwestern Kellogg, and Yale SOM.
Master of Science
As technology careers are increasingly popular with MBA graduates, young professionals are focusing more and more on building the technical skills they need to get ahead.
The great news is that business schools are paying attention to this rising interest and offer a large variety of dual degree programs that combine numerous Master of Science degrees with the MBA.
Though the list of programs available to professionals is quite impressive, some of the most popular for our clients in the past have been degrees focused on computer science, engineering, and design innovation.
MIT LGO students visit Boeing, photo courtesy of @mit.lgo on Instagram
Top tip: Some MS/MBA programs require applicants to have taken both the GMAT and the GRE. Before applying, make sure you carefully check the application requirements for your dual degree program of interest.
Notable programs include MIT’s LGO program, Kellogg’s MBA + M.S. in Design Innovation, Harvard’s MBA + M.S. in Engineering Sciences, Stanford’s MBA + M.S. in Computer Science, and many others.
International Relations
With more and more of our clients pursuing (or wanting to pursue) global careers, the interest in a dual degree program that teaches students how to thrive in a global context is more popular than ever.
Though Wharton’s Lauder program is undoubtedly the most popular one in this category, there are also other top-rated programs that allow you to better explore the global forces shaping the modern business world.
If this sounds right up your alley, be aware that many of these programs do have foreign language requirements you must meet to be admitted.
Notable programs include Wharton’s Lauder program, Chicago Booth’s MBA + MA in International Relations, and Yale SOM’s MBA + MA in Global Affairs.
Healthcare
As one of the fastest-growing fields at the moment, healthcare is attracting an increasingly large number of young professionals. Furthermore, a great deal of healthcare work allows professionals to feel they are genuinely making an impact in the lives of others.
Thus, it’s little surprise that the demand for dual degrees that incorporate healthcare management and the traditional MBA has skyrocketed.
Whether you already work in the healthcare field, want to break into the field, or, like our client Lucas, want to specialize in healthcare-related cases at a top consulting firm, the MBA+MPH degree is perfectly set up to ensure you develop the specialized skills you’ll need to truly generate meaningful impact with your career.
Notable programs include Berkeley Haas’ MBA + MPH, Yale SOM’s MBA + MPH, Dartmouth Tuck’s MBA + MPH, and Duke’s more specialized MBA + MD program.
How do you apply for a dual degree program?
In many cases, applying for a dual degree program is as simple as noting your interest in your MBA application and including an additional essay.
Let’s take, for example, Harvard’s additional essay question for its MBA/MS dual degree program: “The MS/MBA program is focused on design, innovation, and entrepreneurship within a technical/engineering context. Describe your past experience in these areas and your reasons for pursuing a program with this focus. (500 words)”
Like the other goals essays you will write for your MBA application, you will need to clearly outline why your career path necessitates both management training and additional study in a second area of interest.
Though part of your dual degree essay may overlap with your main MBA goals essay, the benefits you’ll get from the second program should be the star of the show, rather than what you’ll get out of the MBA. It is, however, a good idea to include some mention in your dual degree essay of how you see the two degrees working together to make you a more complete professional.
If you’re not quite sure how to put your interest in the dual degree (and the impact both degrees will have on your career aspirations), feel free to reach out to us and get help shaping your story. We have helped countless dual degree applicants in fields ranging from environmental sustainability to medicine and can help you craft the convincing, compelling narrative you need to land a spot in both of your dream schools.
Strong Storytelling Gets You Admitted
It’s no secret that elite MBAs receive applications from many more applicants than they can admit.
Add a second elite degree in the mix, and suddenly being able to convince both admissions committees that your profile and career goals are suited for their program is more urgent – and complicated – than ever.
That’s why having a team of storytelling experts on your side is crucial to getting into your top choice programs. And here at Ellin Lolis, we know storytelling.
Not only can we help you develop a strong personal brand and identify the achievements that will best reinforce your brand, but our expert team of editors helps you transform your ideas into story-driven essays that cut through the noise and help the admissions committee connect with you and your ideas.
Helping clients reflect on and tell their stories in the best possible way is a strength we’ve spent years perfecting at Ellin Lolis Consulting and that has helped 98.9% of our all-in clients over the years get into their top choice schools.
As our client Giulia, who was admitted to all of the schools she applied to, including multiple M-7 schools, said:
“If you talk about storytelling, you must think about Ellin and her team in the first place! They were dedicated to making every element of my application shine, helping me look at my own challenges and accomplishments through new lenses.
Working with Ellin was the best decision I made and having her support at every step along the way was a game-changer.”
So if you need help putting the finishing touches on your essays or want to get a head start on developing a winning profile for your upcoming application, apply to work with us and ensure you get into your top choice schools.
Real MBA Essays That Got People In
School-specific sample essays that got our clients accepted
