Question: Sounds like a complex question but this is what it boils down to. I am in high school and I'm trying to figure out what i want to major in during college. I think that I am ultimately going to go into business/finance but my parents tell me that an undergraduate degree in business will not distinguish me from other students and would rather that I major in engineering. I am definitely going to graduate school so i was wondering if i got an undergraduate degree in engineering, would it improve my chances of getting into an elite business school (assuming i got all A's) or would that be better if i got my degree in business. I am good in both subjects, am currently first in my high school class and would eventually like to get an MBA from a highly thought of school like Wharton or Harvard (just examples). If anyone has some advice for me i would greatly appreciate it. Thanks.
Answer: i think you are putting the carriage in front of the horses. You first have to find a major/field that you are passionate about, then decide if grad school is for you.
As for grad school in general, they have alot of pre-requisites classes from the undergrad degree to get enrolled. Plus the graduate exam to get in is going to be based on the the undergrad material for that field.
For example, to get into medical school, you have to take a certain amount of science classes in math, biology, and chemistry. The MCAT, which is the graduate entrance exam, is based on these courses. So someone with a different background, engineering, business or whatnot is going to be lost.
A compromise might be to go dual majored.
Others:
Either of those degrees would be fine. However, the quality of the school and the difficulty of the degree do come into effect. An undergraduate business degree and a high GPA from Wharton, Berkeley or MIT would certainly make B-Schools consider you. An engineering degree from the same schools (Penn, Berkeley or MIT) would also impress admissions at an MBA program. I suspect that you could get in with a slightly lower GPA and an engineering degree.
On the other hand, a business degree or an engineering degree from a school like Slippery Rock, Coppin State, Central Michigan or any of the schools in the California State University system will make it difficult to get into an elite MBA program no matter how well you do.
Bottom line -- engineering or Business are both good for getting into a good MBA program. The quality of the school you get your BS from is more important.