Good undergrad prep for MD/MBA?

[rams1986]

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So I'm currently a sophomore, and I'm interested in applying to combined MD/MBA programs when applying to med school. Are there any specific majors that I should consider (IE econ, etc) because of the MBA focus of the program? What sorts of extracurricular activities should I focus on? I've been involved in biomedical research for aa few years, and would like to continue with it, since I really am enjoying what I'm doing there, and also because research is almost expected of most MD applicants these days anyways. Am I required to have "business internship experience" a la Goldman Sachs, etc? I feel like any of these would be pretty tall orders, seeing as how I'm already busy with my research, and am working on developing a community outreach program on top of that.
Basically, I'm wondering what sort of background makes a good MD/MBA applicant?

 

[avantsp]

From what you posted, you seem to be developing yourself to be a competitive applicant. Keep doing what you're doing. There's more to business than investing! For instance, developing that community program could be sold to interviewers from many different directions. I did my MBA separately from my MD (doing that now) so I can't comment on specifics of an MD/MBA combined program. Though, if you're doing sciences, you shouldn't have problems with the business courses. I did a Human Physiology undergrad and was fine with the MBA course work. Best of luck.

 

[ASDIC]

I was an economics major and is currently very helpful in some of my mba classes such as strategic management, global business, organization structure, etc.

It would be a good idea to major in a business related field so that the adcoms understand ur motivation for the md/mba

 

[mshheaddoc]

You could always do a business minor that way you have basic finance, accounting, econ so its not completely new to you in the MBA program. I was an econ major with a business minor. Just an idea. I know a few bio/econ majors who went into medicine.

 

[DrBowtie]

You could always do a business minor that way you have basic finance, accounting, econ so its not completely new to you in the MBA program. I was an econ major with a business minor. Just an idea. I know a few bio/econ majors who went into medicine.

That's what I'm doing. Physics major/Biz minor.

 

[mshheaddoc]

That's what I'm doing. Physics major/Biz minor.

See Brett's a smart man! Follow him 😉

(Although crazy for physics major but to each his own!) 😀

 

[DrBowtie]

See Brett's a smart man! Follow him 😉

(Although crazy for physics major but to each his own!) 😀

Haven't you heard of the newest PhD in economics?
Physical Economics!!!!! Since the market is has a "nature" they are utilizing the ideas in physics to try to create new models.

 

[Shredder]

econ major with a business minor

seconded

 

[bluejay68]

I don't know if a major/minor combo with no hard sciences would really leave enough flexibility to take all the required pre-med coursework; I did a biology major and econ minor and I thought that worked well. If you are planning on going to B-school, I don't know how much a business major or minor would add since you would end up with some significant overlap and you would miss an opportunity to study areas that you won't have time/access to later in your education (granted the dynamics of an MBA course in global strategy work very different than in an undergrad class, but there is a considerable overlap in the basic principles).

I would try to take advantage of this rare opportunity to take whatever classes you want and be a bit creative. For example, if you like neuroscience, couple that with a double major or minor in econ and you have a pretty cool combo. You should also consider that every school has departments that are better than others when you narrow down where to focus your studies. Take advantage of the strengths that you and your school have to offer and you'll end up a much stronger candidate by the end of undergrad.

 

[Shredder]

i agree with bluejay--ive looked at mba curricula and there is considerable overlap with undergrad business in the fundamentals. it would probably be better to take undergrad to develop into a more multifaceted person. but i did enjoy my business minor classes, and econ as well. so i personally didnt just do them for mba prep. at my school econs a light major so it allowed easy completion of premed classes.