lb2015 wrote:
I think you basically hit on the crux of the matter: Vanderbilt is better ranked, but BC has a location advantage (for you at least).
So this is what I think you need to ask yourself: what's more important to you in an MBA program, location or strategy consulting?
As someone who looked into BC and who lives in Boston, my impression of the BC program is that it's good, but not extremely strong. It's certainly well-recognized in the area, but the recruiting is largely self-motivated (as is typical for schools outside the top 30 or so). Vanderbilt, on the other hand, is a solid top 25 program, which places the largest portion of its class in consulting. Couldn't tell for sure if MBB goes there, but it looks to have Deloitte as a major recruiter, for instance.
However, the consulting firms who recruit are likely to be from southern offices. That said, there is a chance that you might be able to network your way into a northeast/west coast office (3 of the top 6 cities for grads looked to be LA, SF, and NYC). Just saying, there's a good chance you may have to "compromise" on a southern office for a few years.
Still, if I were you, I'd probably pick Vandy. You're probably not going to have the opportunity to even interview at top consulting firms at BC (though you could get lucky), and you certainly have the possibility of networking to get to one of your desired areas at Vanderbilt.
Thanks a lot for the detailed analysis. It really helped! I am probably going for Vandy, a decision which was in no small measure assisted by your post.