Hi all, really fortunate to have gotten into some great programs and am genuinely still conflicted as deposit deadlines for some of the schools are looming. I've talked to a bunch of alums and current students at the schools but am hoping to get a few more thoughts on here, especially since I 1) couldnt attend in-person admitted students weekends because of COVID and 2) a lot of my conflict is about the financial aspect, which is hard to always get people to talk candidly about.
I don't have a particularly well-defined career goal. I'm coming from consulting (non-MBB) but enjoy the Excel/modeling part of my consulting job, so I'm interested in exploring PE, but I realize it will be extremely difficult to get. Also open to recruiting back into consulting (preferably MBB) or maybe even IB if I really feel committed to shooting for the buyside down the road, but the lifestyle gives me pause. In the long-term I'd like some good WLB, so corp. strat and tech appeal to me too.
For those curious, stats are 740 GMAT, 3.9+ GPA, and non-URM male.
Wharton
(+) Best prestige and brand and honestly, since I didnt expect to get in, feels like a genuine accomplishment
(+) Students all seem extremely sharp and driven. Every school had impressive people, but there is definitely a noticeable difference in backgrounds of Wharton students vs. the other schools (with Kellogg coming close)
(+) Keeps every recruiting door open. Great consulting, the best finance, strong tech, etc.
(+) Seemingly endless clubs, treks, trips, etc.
(+) My partner and I both really like Philly
(-) No money and it is the most expensive school and cost of living of any option to begin with. Loans would be massive
(-) Taking on so much debt would be that much worse if 25% of the experience ends up being virtual and internship recruiting sucks
(-) Heard the big class size can make it competitive to actually get to participate in various clubs, treks, etc.
Kellogg
(+) As good of consulting recruiting as Wharton, maybe even better in tech
(+) Gave about 25% scholarship
(+) "M7" prestige and branding
(+) PE/VC Lab (and truthfully all their experiential learning opportunities) sounds awesome
(+) By far the best building and I really liked Evanston
(-) Still a lot more expensive than the non-Wharton options
(-) I know this might be petty, but I don't love that it has a part-time program that is much easier to get in and the recent stuff with waiving GMAT, allowing appeals, etc. is slightly concerning
(-) Grade disclosure
(-) Furthest away from my partner's family and my family
Tuck
(+) Love the uniqueness of the program and the type of bonding it can produce. Would likely be last opportunity to live outside a major metro for a while
(+) Legendary alumni network
(+) Offered about 50% scholarship
(+) Partners were super friendly and accommodating to my partner
(+) Nearly as strong of consulting recruiting as W/K
(+) Only offers the fulltime MBA
(-) Has been sliding in rankings and isn't quite the level of brand of W/K
(-) Partner would have no network outside of Tuck due to remote location
(-) I like college towns, but Hanover was reallllly tiny
(-) Might miss out on key part of the experience not being in the dorms 1Y
Fuqua
(+) Most everyone I've spoken to in the program has been really friendly and helpful
(+) Offered about a 70% scholarship and is a cheaper program and cost of living than the ones above
(+) Good consulting and tech recruiting, even if not to the level of W/K
(+) Seems like a fun place to be for two years and has better weather than what I'm used to
(+) Probably my favorite interview visit
(-) Less regarded brand and network than W/K and at least traditionally, Tuck
(-) Grade disclosure
(-) Same comment as with Kellogg about offering other less-selective programs
Tepper
(+) Gave over 75% scholarship and Pittsburgh is really cheap - would be comforting to save money if classes are online or economy remains poor
(+) I've lived in Pittsburgh before and partner and I wouldn't mind ending up there someday, so network would be good locally
(+) Consulting recruiting is picking up with opening of BCG office in town; always had strong tech recruiting
(+) I like the curriculum's focus on analytics and leadership
(-) Less likely to land MBB, top IB, PE, etc.
(-) Least prestigious, smallest network, etc.
(-) Same comment about the part-time and online programs
(-) A lot of the current students I've talked to didnt seem overly engaged or driven
Tl;dr: Fortunate to be choosing between some great programs. Scholarship differentials, COVID uncertainty, and not knowing exactly what I want to do are making the choice difficult. Is Wharton worth the $$$ differential? Is Kellogg a good middle ground of brand and $$$? Would I be crazy to turn down generous offers in this uncertain environment? Any thoughts would be appreciated!![]()
I don't have a particularly well-defined career goal. I'm coming from consulting (non-MBB) but enjoy the Excel/modeling part of my consulting job, so I'm interested in exploring PE, but I realize it will be extremely difficult to get. Also open to recruiting back into consulting (preferably MBB) or maybe even IB if I really feel committed to shooting for the buyside down the road, but the lifestyle gives me pause. In the long-term I'd like some good WLB, so corp. strat and tech appeal to me too.
For those curious, stats are 740 GMAT, 3.9+ GPA, and non-URM male.
Wharton
(+) Best prestige and brand and honestly, since I didnt expect to get in, feels like a genuine accomplishment
(+) Students all seem extremely sharp and driven. Every school had impressive people, but there is definitely a noticeable difference in backgrounds of Wharton students vs. the other schools (with Kellogg coming close)
(+) Keeps every recruiting door open. Great consulting, the best finance, strong tech, etc.
(+) Seemingly endless clubs, treks, trips, etc.
(+) My partner and I both really like Philly
(-) No money and it is the most expensive school and cost of living of any option to begin with. Loans would be massive
(-) Taking on so much debt would be that much worse if 25% of the experience ends up being virtual and internship recruiting sucks
(-) Heard the big class size can make it competitive to actually get to participate in various clubs, treks, etc.
Kellogg
(+) As good of consulting recruiting as Wharton, maybe even better in tech
(+) Gave about 25% scholarship
(+) "M7" prestige and branding
(+) PE/VC Lab (and truthfully all their experiential learning opportunities) sounds awesome
(+) By far the best building and I really liked Evanston
(-) Still a lot more expensive than the non-Wharton options
(-) I know this might be petty, but I don't love that it has a part-time program that is much easier to get in and the recent stuff with waiving GMAT, allowing appeals, etc. is slightly concerning
(-) Grade disclosure
(-) Furthest away from my partner's family and my family
Tuck
(+) Love the uniqueness of the program and the type of bonding it can produce. Would likely be last opportunity to live outside a major metro for a while
(+) Legendary alumni network
(+) Offered about 50% scholarship
(+) Partners were super friendly and accommodating to my partner
(+) Nearly as strong of consulting recruiting as W/K
(+) Only offers the fulltime MBA
(-) Has been sliding in rankings and isn't quite the level of brand of W/K
(-) Partner would have no network outside of Tuck due to remote location
(-) I like college towns, but Hanover was reallllly tiny
(-) Might miss out on key part of the experience not being in the dorms 1Y
Fuqua
(+) Most everyone I've spoken to in the program has been really friendly and helpful
(+) Offered about a 70% scholarship and is a cheaper program and cost of living than the ones above
(+) Good consulting and tech recruiting, even if not to the level of W/K
(+) Seems like a fun place to be for two years and has better weather than what I'm used to
(+) Probably my favorite interview visit
(-) Less regarded brand and network than W/K and at least traditionally, Tuck
(-) Grade disclosure
(-) Same comment as with Kellogg about offering other less-selective programs
Tepper
(+) Gave over 75% scholarship and Pittsburgh is really cheap - would be comforting to save money if classes are online or economy remains poor
(+) I've lived in Pittsburgh before and partner and I wouldn't mind ending up there someday, so network would be good locally
(+) Consulting recruiting is picking up with opening of BCG office in town; always had strong tech recruiting
(+) I like the curriculum's focus on analytics and leadership
(-) Less likely to land MBB, top IB, PE, etc.
(-) Least prestigious, smallest network, etc.
(-) Same comment about the part-time and online programs
(-) A lot of the current students I've talked to didnt seem overly engaged or driven
Tl;dr: Fortunate to be choosing between some great programs. Scholarship differentials, COVID uncertainty, and not knowing exactly what I want to do are making the choice difficult. Is Wharton worth the $$$ differential? Is Kellogg a good middle ground of brand and $$$? Would I be crazy to turn down generous offers in this uncertain environment? Any thoughts would be appreciated!