Hi guys,
I'm trying to sort out the deluge of information on the three reasonably respectable admits I have in hand: Stern, Darden, and Johnson.
For me, personally, factors that matter most, in that order are:
1. Recruiting/Access to top jobs
2. Calibre of classmates
3. Resources/Opportunities to bolster my skills and resume outside the classroom
4. Friendly culture and chance to build strong bonds and networks
My goals:
I'd most likely opt for a an investment banking/management role post-graduation (75% probability) but I'm reluctant to already eliminate the option of a McK/BCG role (contingent on location - 25% probability).
My takes on the schools in a nutshell are:
Stern:
Pros:
- Finance recruiting is very strong
- Finance faculty is excellent
- NYC location would offer excellent opportunities to proactively build myself outside the classroom
- NYC would be a great place to spend 2 years
Cons:
- Consulting, from what I hear, is quite weak and I'd essentially be minimizing my shots at a McK/BCG role
- NYC and Stern are expensive, albeit in the big picture and medium term, it evens out
- It might be difficult to build strong bonds with classmates with everyone scattered around the city
Darden:
Pros:
- Strong recruiting in both banking and consulting, but doesn't 'excel' in either
- Case method is engaging
- Cheaper cost of living
- Would probably leave me more time to decide on IB vs. MC
Cons:
- UVA brand not as strong outside the US, were I to leave (could be mitigated with grade A firm)
- Not entirely sure how well it places into the big metropolitan areas in the US (Chicago/NYC etc)
- Charlottesville might not offer a lot of opportunities for non-school facilitated initiatives for me to pursue in order to stand out
- Charlottesville might not be a lot of fun (I have no basis to assume this)
Johnson:
Pros:
- Cornell (ivy league) brand name piggybacking off the university
- In NY state, so could offer decent opportunities to place into NYC
- Seems to have performed well in banking over the last couple of years
Cons:
- Seems to be regarded in lower esteem as a b-school than the other two
- Could translate to classmates of a slightly lower calibre
- I have never been to Ithaca but I hear it's dead and quite a difficult place from a recruiting standpoint
- LinkedIn searches do not show many Johnson grads in senior positions in MBB or BB (though this is hardly a very robust indicator, it is a data point)
What do you think? I'd really appreciate your insights. If any of my points are badly reasoned, call me out on it.
I'd also love to hear from any students from these schools (especially those who've had exposure to the recruiting).
Cheers,
Arnav