DLEmba wrote:
As far as job placement goes, it doesn't matter where you go. If you are looking to go to Goldman for example, both schools will get you there. It's not like after a bad interview at Tuck the recruiters are gonna say "Well we didn't really like him/her, but they're a Tuckie, so we'll take them" Or a good interview at Fuqua and they say "Man, this guy is great, but he's from Fuqua so we'll pass". It took me while to understand this, but after talking with LOTS of current students, it is true. All the major players recruit at both schools, the boutiques may vary slightly, but a quick look at employment statistics will show just how small that difference is.
The job you get will be based on you, not your school (when comparing between two top b-schools). Go where you will have the most fun. Or as everyone says, where you "fit" the best.
Generally, I agree with DLEmba that you should make the decision based upon what fits better for you.
In this and other threads, I see a good portion of posts stating subjective opinions about how one school is generally 'better' than another school when both programs are clearly in the same tier with respect to reputation and career opportunities.
With respect to reputation, an easy litmus test here is to pretend you are interviewing two candidates that come from the programs you are considering. Would you pick one over the other based upon 'reputation'? I interview MBA candidates for a strategic planning internship we hire for annually and to me the difference between these schools is negligible. The rest of your resume and your interview performance will determine the hiring decision -- not the school. Assuming both the schools will get you the interview, it's up to you to get the job. Different people will have different biases regarding Duke versus Tuck, and the way you dress/carry yourself will probably matter more unless they are a Tuck alum or Duke sports fan (or got rejected by either school and are resentful about it).
While I hold the reputation of these two schools equally, I would bet IB guys on average would prefer Tuck because bankers drop their panties for ivys and industry/F500 execs would prefer Duke because of sports / you would be considered more down-to-earth (the ivy connotation can be negative in some industry gigs).
While both will offer you comparable career opportunities, the on-campus recruiting options and alumni network in different companies won't be the same mix. You could generalize and say that Tuck is slightly better for IB and Duke better for the breadth of industry/F500 options for on-campus recruiting, and I wouldn't disagree with you. However, I suggest going deeper. What company do you REALLY want to work for? Is it on the recruiting list of firms that interview on-campus or regularly make offers? Go to LinkedIn and see how many alumni of Fuqua/Duke versus Tuck/Dartmouth are listed. For example, if you want to work for Apple, clearly Duke is better. Goldman Sachs? It seems like Tuck from the placement numbers. Do your homework specific to your interests. Some companies like Amazon/J&J will hire at both. Look to other companies that have a strong edge in either Tuck or Duke and determine which mix is a better fit for you.
You originally said that location didn't matter, but you also mentioned your family might prefer warmer weather. I recommend thinking beyond the 2-years location and instead look at the geographic alumni network footprint vis-a-vis where you want to settle down with your family. Do you want to move to NYC (Tuck) or would you prefer a lower-cost, better weather location in the Southeast (Duke)? Look at LinkedIn and compare cities you are interested in with where the alumni are.
Regarding Fuqua alumni, I work with one and he is awesome. However, a sample size of one is obviously too small
I recommend reaching out to some existing Fuqua and Tuck alumni, tell them you were admitted and are deciding between Tuck and Fuqua. See how many of them get back to you and how engaging they are. Ask them about the culture, for tips, what they liked most, etc. I expect these conversations will highlight some differentiating themes about the school cultures that will help you decide which program is a better fit for you and your family. I haven't talked to many other Fuqua alumni myself, but from what I understand from phone calls with Tuckies, the culture generally conforms to northeastern social norms. Does Duke have a southern hospitality vibe going? (I have no idea). Some people like that -- others don't.