Reputational Strength Vs. Alumni Network Strength for Career

To be honest, I think a lot of applicants (and current students) overestimate the value of alumni networks in their careers. Can it be of help? Sure, if you're a current student and you reach out to someone who graduated say 1-5 years ago (older alums tend to be less helpful to current students). But it's not some secret society or anything where you're bound by blood to help your fellow "alums" out. It's far more casual than that.

The most valuable part of the "network" is your current classmates - your friends and your friends of friends. Not some random person who happened to graduate at the same school you did, but is like 20+ years older than you.

As a current student, you will likely get way more job leads from your fellow classmates (and friends you may have at other b-schools) than you will by calling up alums who are complete strangers. In fact, beyond traditional on campus recruiting, a good chunk of your job leads will come from your classmates/friends who have the ability to make mutual introductions to people they know.

That's why alumni networks aren't as important as your classmates - when it comes to schools, you want to choose the ones where the environment is best suited to your personality and needs - in plain English, the place where you feel you can make the strongest friendships (not necessarily the "most" friends, but the "strongest" friendships). And also, it's because these friendships and relationships will hopefully endure beyond your time in school.

It depends on the industry you want to go in. In general, the school's reputation in a certain industry will depend on the strength of the alumni network in it in terms of how many people are there and how organized they are in pushing for their school. Chicago has sent many people into finance, who then push for their school before HR come recruiting season - that's how a school becomes a 'core' for recruiting. I would say that the difference between Tuck and Kellogg in terms of reputation is minimal when it comes to advancing your career. The same goes for the strength of the alumni networks. I just think you should look at the difference in alumni networks between these schools more in terms of people who are in your target industry rather than overall strength.

Interesting advice 3underscore. Care to elaborate on the strength of alumni networks? (I'm not doubting it, I just want more information.)

I'd like to thank everyone for their insightful comments and thoughts.

Cheers, Martin.