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Cornell or UNC? Both with full scholarships

Cornell or UNC?

16% [3]
83% [15]
Total votes : 18
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Cornell or UNC? Both with full scholarships [#permalink] New post   05 Mar 2016, 07:23
Fortunate enough to be admitted to both schools with full scholarships. Admitted to Ross and Darden as well but missed on the very top schools, and have decided that the difference between my admits is not big enough to justify paying $120k more. I can apply for the Dean's Fellows program at UNC (from what I've heard you are usually accepted if you apply); would be a Park Fellow at Cornell.

I have 4 years of marketing experience for F100 companies: 2 years at a big tech company and two years at a commercial bank. Looking to transition to management consulting after the MBA.

I grew up in California but have lived in NYC for the last two years. Post-MBA I am fairly open as far as location, although I do not want to move back to the West Coast. I do like NYC but the cost of living in Charlotte or somewhere similar (Johnson places some consultants in Pittsburgh for example) is appealing too. Consulting pay is the same regardless of location so that can make a big difference.

I have talked extensively with the presidents of the consulting clubs and heads of the career centers at both schools, so have a good handle on the consulting placement. Cornell does place a few more people at MBB each year, although UNC has very strong relationships with McKinsey and Deloitte. I like my fit and interactions with students at UNC a bit more, while Cornell is slightly higher ranked (16 vs 18, although some argue there is a "tier" between the two schools) and has the institution-wide prestige I don't think UNC can match.

Interested in hearing some other people's thoughts.
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Cornell or UNC? Both with full scholarships [#permalink] New post   07 Mar 2016, 07:09
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Consider the culture of the Undergrad schools too. Cornell is an ivy league in a small liberal town. UNC has a huge undergrad population and strong affiliation with sports. Also weather!

In my opinion UNC is much more of a regional brand. If you plan to move back to Cali I think the Cornell brand will go further.

As a Boston resident I would give the edge to a Cornell MBA all other things equal.

Also, I think you are making the right decision to not consider Duke/Michigan with the huge cost difference. If you were comparing with an M7 school, then I think the difference in $$$ may be worth it.
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Re: Cornell or UNC? Both with full scholarships [#permalink] New post   07 Mar 2016, 11:39
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Swan797 wrote:
Consider the culture of the Undergrad schools too. Cornell is an ivy league in a small liberal town. UNC has a huge undergrad population and strong affiliation with sports. Also weather!

In my opinion UNC is much more of a regional brand. If you plan to move back to Cali I think the Cornell brand will go further.

As a Boston resident I would give the edge to a Cornell MBA all other things equal.

Also, I think you are making the right decision to not consider Duke/Michigan with the huge cost difference. If you were comparing with an M7 school, then I think the difference in $$$ may be worth it.



I can't add anything really to this already well-worded analysis. I would go for Cornell without reservations vs. other options that you have.
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Cornell or UNC? Both with full scholarships [#permalink] New post   08 Mar 2016, 23:04
"In my opinion UNC is much more of a regional brand"

- UNC-Chapel Hill regional? How?? The Kennan-Flagler school ranks 18th on USNews and 13th on Forbes of the best B-schools out there and has so for years. It's in the 98th-99th percentile of business schools out there. Some of the best named firms from all over the country recruit there.

I think you should ask Paul Parker Head of M&A at Goldman Sachs if UNC-CH is regional.

UNC-CH is no more regional to Cornell than Northwestern would be to U-Chicago. But I presume in your mind Northwestern would be more regional compared to a larger, more national and prestigious university such as such as U-Chicago.
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Re: Cornell or UNC? Both with full scholarships [#permalink] New post   11 Mar 2016, 23:52
alphabeta1234 wrote:
"In my opinion UNC is much more of a regional brand"

- UNC-Chapel Hill regional? How?? The Kennan-Flagler school ranks 18th on USNews and 13th on Forbes of the best B-schools out there and has so for years. It's in the 98th-99th percentile of business schools out there. Some of the best named firms from all over the country recruit there.

I think you should ask Paul Parker Head of M&A at Goldman Sachs if UNC-CH is regional.

UNC-CH is no more regional to Cornell than Northwestern would be to U-Chicago. But I presume in your mind Northwestern would be more regional compared to a larger, more national and prestigious university such as such as U-Chicago.


I agree with this. If you're arguing UNC is regionally you could also argue that Johnson is. Look at their employment report, I think the number was somewhere around 75% of graduates in New York or New England. Conversely, I would UNC is pretty strong in the south and mid Atlantic. Now, both have very recognizable brands that will help you go anywhere, but the employment report for both schools paints a picture of regional strengths. Which is why, if I were you, I'd base the decision on where you want to work when you graduate. UNC is probably more likely to get you connections at MBB Atlanta, while Cornell is probably stronger at MBB New York.


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Cornell or UNC? Both with full scholarships [#permalink] New post   12 Mar 2016, 20:36
Looking at the two employment report here are some key stats:

UNC-CH: Mean Salary: 108k/Median:110k
Cornell: Mean Salary: ?/Median: 119k

UNC-CH:
Consulting: 28%
Finance: 31%

Cornell:
Consulting: 14%
Finance: 40%

It is pretty clear if your interested in consulting your chances are better at UNC-CH. If your interested in Finance your chances are better our Cornell.

UNC is located in North Carolina, a low cost state and some of its MBA candidates will end up in southern cities such as Charlotte/Atlanta/Dallas/Houston which again are all low cost cities compared to NYC which one would presume where Cornell places more of its grads. Despite the geographic advantage for Cornell's grads to earn more in NYC it seems they are not as highly paid. There is only a 9k difference in the median wage between the two schools. NYC wages and prices are easily 30-40% higher than Charlotte/Atlanta/Dallas/Houston and yet their median salaries are roughly the same. Which means a UNC grad who chose to work in Charlotte making 110k a year is making, on an inflation adjusted basis, 154k, compared to a Cornell grad in NYC making 110k in an extremely expensive city such as NYC is really making 90k a year (not to mention the 3% NYC city tax on top of the federal & state).

Cornell's employment report didn't stand out to me. If your interested in consulting go with UNC-CH. Because its clear being closer to NYC and having more of its grads choosing finance over consulting, hasn't helped Cornell improve the starting salaries of its MBA candidates.
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Re: Cornell or UNC? Both with full scholarships [#permalink] New post   16 Mar 2016, 13:17
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I would go with Cornell, better brand, more nationally recognized in business circles, and if you are interested in consulting you can live whereever you want to secure your low cost living option. Both great choices, good luck!
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Re: Cornell or UNC? Both with full scholarships [#permalink]
16 Mar 2016, 13:17
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