1) Location...since my wife works in software the school had to have a job market for her. This immediately eliminated a lot of schools and slowly weeded out others as I thought about it. She is giving up a lot already, I cant ask her to give up her career too. We preferred a larger city but considered a few others where there were strong job markets for her. Didnt really want to go west coast or down south.
2) Fit. I immediately eliminated some great schools just because of their reputation. These may not be 100% accurate but more often than not they have a reputation for a reason. That said one of the schools I did apply to (I only did 3 since I had an early admit to a top choice) I think that one of the schools I applied to would no longer be on my list. I was torn between MIT and Kellogg, but after a lot of discussions with a few people I think had I gotten into MIT I would have taken Kellogg. Since I am an engineer, I have been told that MIT while its a great school would not round out my image as much. I would be pegged as a quant geek, and when everyone thinks of MIT they think engineer not business.
3) Reputation. Within the employer world not necessarily for what the school is like to attend since thats fit. We are all going to school to improve our career opportunities and hopefully give us a boost. That said any top 10 school will provide exceptional opportunities. Name recognition definitely helps open doors. Since I am not going into a traditional field post MBA having a well known brand name definitely will help. That said I think that some names would be more of a hindrance than advantage because of the image they have in some peoples minds.
4) Career Services. Since the companies I am hoping to work for arent going to be the ones showing up on campus. I will be calling and pursuing opportunities on my own. I have heard great things about some career services and negative things about some. Some go all out for you and others pretty much leave you on your own if you want to do anything different.
4) Diversity. Having a rather unique background, having a school that really appreciates that was something I was looking for. All schools preach they love that but that may or may not be true.
5) Strengths in majors. I want GM so I was looking for schools that were strong in that, and also what activities and extras available that would help round out my education. At MIT they have an energy research center which intrigued me greatly, if I could get a research position there second year it would be great on my resume. Kellogg has a very strong GM and marketing program, which I think combined add a great perspective for people heading in the corporate world...more so than for someone heading into IB.
6) Facilities. Not that it is necessarily important to me...which is obvious since I am going to a school that has notoriously crappy facilities. BUT, I think that for what schools have for endowments and what some alums are willing to pay to have a building with their name on it. There is no reason not to have a very nice building. It improves the image of a school. I know that if a recruiter goes to GSB and then goes to Kellogg its a start contrast in what the schools offer in terms of facilities.
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Kellogg Class of 2010...still active and willing to help. However, I do not do profile reviews, don't offer predictions on chances and am far to busy to review essays, so save the energy of writing me a PM seeking help for these. If I don't respond to a PM that is not one of the previously mentioned trash can destined messages, please don't take it personally I get so many messages I have a hard to responding to most. The more interesting, compelling, or humorous you message the more likely I am to respond.