Dual Degree Value for Recruitment

Both coaches nailed it so I won't repeat the "it depends on what you do with it" point. But one thing I'd add from the engineering side specifically, the biggest value isn't the signal it sends to recruiters. It's that engineering genuinely changes how you approach case interviews and consulting work. You get comfortable with ambiguity in quantitative problems, you learn to break systems down into components, and you develop intuition for when numbers feel wrong. That stuff is harder lo learn later on vs. business fundamentals.

The main thing to watch: a dual degree where your GPA tanks below 3.5 is worse than a single degree with a 3.9. The workload is real, so make sure you can keep your grades strong and do the internships, extracurriculars, etc. 

Yes, but not in the way most people think.

MBB firms do not have a checklist that rewards dual degrees. What they care about is structured thinking, clear communication, and evidence of high performance. The dual degree helps if it reflects that.

The engineering plus business combination does add value to your story. It signals analytical depth plus business judgment, which is a strong combo. It also opens doors to tech and operations practices like McKinsey Digital or BCG X where that background stands out.

The risk is GPA. A 3.9 with one major beats a 3.5 with two majors every time. MBB resume screens are ruthless on grades at undergrad level. If the dual degree pulls your GPA down, it works against you.

Ross is already a strong target school. You are on the radar. The question is whether the combination sharpens your story or just adds workload.

If you genuinely like engineering, do it. That interest will come through in interviews. If you are doing it purely for the resume, the risk is not worth it.

Hi there,

I like that you are thinking about this early — but I’d be careful not to overestimate how much a dual degree by itself moves the needle in recruiting.

Having business + engineering is definitely a strong combo. It signals you’re quantitative and also understand the commercial side. That’s attractive for consulting, tech, product roles, etc. So yes, all else equal, it can make your profile a bit more interesting.

But in reality, recruiters don’t sit there and say:
“this person has two degrees, so hire.”

They care much more about things like:

• what you actually did (internships, projects)
• how you think and communicate
• whether you’ve shown leadership or impact

I’ve seen candidates with “perfect” academic profiles (including dual degrees) who struggled, and others with simpler backgrounds who did very well because their experience and story were stronger.

Where the dual degree does help is if you use it well.

If it just sits on your CV as: “BBA + Engineering”, it doesn’t add much.

But if you can say: “I’ve worked on problems at the intersection of tech and business — for example…” then it becomes much more powerful. That’s when it actually differentiates you.

Also worth thinking about the trade-off. A dual degree takes time and energy. If it comes at the expense of internships, networking, or leadership experience, it might not be the best trade.

So the way I’d think about it is: do it if you’re genuinely interested in that mix and want to build a profile around it — not just because you think it will boost recruiting chances.

If I had to summarize it simply: it’s a nice plus, but it won’t replace strong experience and a clear story.

Best,

Soheil

Hi Anonymous,

Echoing Soheil's great answer: the degree itself doesn’t move the needle; what matters is what you make of your education.

For what it's worth, I’ve sometimes noticed an inverted rule regarding "perfect" majors: many students over-optimize by choosing the track they believe offers a slight statistical advantage in placement. However, this often backfires by creating a bottleneck. When 100 students with similar interests follow the exact same "optimal" strategy, you end up competing against a massive pool of nearly identical profiles. Paradoxically, it might be easier to stand out as one of only five applicants from a less traditional path :)

Good luck for your career! And congrats for March Madness, if you are a UMich basketball fan

Best,

Tom

Hi, 

as already covered by other coaches, it can be valuable, but it’s not a game changer for recruiting on its own.

From what I’ve seen (including years in consulting), firms don’t select candidates because they have a dual degree vs a single one. What really matters is:

• academic performance
• internships / experience
• how you position your story

That said, Business + Engineering is a strong combination because it signals:

• analytical skills (engineering)
• business understanding (Ross helps a lot here)

So it can definitely be a plus — especially if you’re targeting consulting, tech, or more quantitative roles.

Where it really helps is in your narrative, for example:

• “I can bridge technical and business topics”
• “I’m comfortable both with data and with clients”

But if you pursue it just as a “checkbox” to look better for recruiting, the impact is limited.

One thing to be careful about:

• don’t sacrifice GPA or internships just to add the second degree

If you can manage both well, great. If it comes at the expense of performance or experience, it’s usually not worth it.

So overall:

• yes, it’s a nice plus
• no, it won’t make or break your application

Focus first on building strong experience and a clear story — that’s what really moves the needle.

hey there :)

yes, a dual degree in B&E at UM plus engineering can be quite strong for recruiting, especially for consulting and strategy roles, because it signals both structured analytical thinking and business awareness

from a recruiting perspective it can help you stand out a bit, but it’s not a “major advantage” on its own, what matters much more is internships, case performance, leadership experience, and how clearly you can explain your story and motivation

the main trade off is workload, these programs can be very intense, so if it reduces your ability to get strong internships or high grades, it can actually hurt more than help

so I’d think of it like this, it’s a nice differentiator if you genuinely enjoy both fields, but it’s not necessary to be competitive for top consulting or finance roles

happy to help you think through whether it fits your longer term path

best,
Alessa :)

Coming from a non-target school is definitely an uphill battle, but you’re asking the right question. In the MBB world, a referral isn't a "golden ticket" to an offer—it’s a guaranteed human review. Recruiters at top firms handle thousands of applications, and if you aren't at a target school, your resume often sits in a "general pool" that rarely gets touched until the target school slots are already filled.

When a consultant submits you through the internal portal, it effectively moves your resume into a priority pile. The recruiter is usually required to at least open your PDF and, in many cases, provide a brief status update to the person who referred you. That internal accountability is the only reason a recruiter will take 60 seconds to look at a non-target profile instead of the "safer" Harvard or Wharton resumes.

To make this work, stop chasing the "referral link" and start chasing the "blurb." A referral where a consultant actually writes two sentences about your specific spike or analytical rigor carries ten times the weight of a standard system entry. Focus your networking on senior consultants or managers who share a niche background with you—they have more social capital to spend with the recruiting team than a first-year analyst does.

Hope it helps!

Hi there, 

This is a good degree, but what are you comparing it with? As in, compared to what is this a good choice?

On its own, it's great to combine business with engineering, because you'll signal that you're good with numbers, understanding complex systems, and that you have advanced topic knowledge (which could make you a more attractive profile for manufacturing-related projects, for instance). 

Best,
Cristian 

Hi there,

How much more value it is to have a dual degree vs. a single degree depends on what you want to do. There are many people in consulting who only have single degrees so I wouldn't say it is significantly more desirable - that being said, it would definitely not hurt you in anyway. If you're genuinely interested in both areas, then go for it. 

Hi there,

Yes — genuinely valuable. Business + Engineering from Ross is a strong combination.

Honest answer though: it gets you on the shortlist. Not the offer. The offer comes from your GPA, your networking, and how you perform in the case.

1) Protect your GPA across both programs

2) Network early — sophomore year, not senior year

3) Start case prep well before you think you need to

Worth doing. Just don't assume it carries you.

Good luck!