Booth ($$) or Kellogg??

Question

Hi everyone! I am in the fortunate situation of having been accepted into both Booth and Kellogg, and received a partial scholarship from Booth. My plans after are b-school are scoring a job with one of the big 3 consulting firms (hopefully) or potentially going into marketing. I haven't fully decided what I want to do yet, which I guess isn't uncommon. I have always ranked Kellogg at the top of my list because I am looking for a school with a very collaborative culture, but have also been increasingly drawn to Booth. It seems Booth also has a pretty collaborative culture, based on my limited interactions with Boothies. However, I constantly hear the stereotype that Boothies are much less collaborative and fun-loving than Kellogg students.

Ultimately for me, the culture is most important, since both schools are equally prestigious in my mind.

Can anyone comment on this? Or has anyone had to make the decision between the 2 schools?

Ultimately for me, the culture is most important, since both schools are equally prestigious in my mind.

Can anyone comment on this? Or has anyone had to make the decision between the 2 schools?

merper · Answer

I'd say head to both schools and decide. I know the admit days overlap, so maybe you can just extend a day or two and ask one or the other admissions office for a guided tour, sit in on classes and the like. There's no better way to get whether the culture is a fit for YOU or not.

wmay · Answer

they are rather peer schools and you will definitely achieve your aims at both, so I'd say go with the money unless u particularly feel for Kellogg.

wmay · Answer

I realise we have the same admits!

Shakandbake · Answer

Congrats on the admit! For your goals, it seems that Kellogg is a better fit, however, as for the scholarship you received, it would make Booth a better bang for the buck. There is always a certain aura around certain schools. For instance, Kellogg = collaborative students, Booth = Finance geeks, MIT = Tech nerds. When I visited Kellogg and Booth last year, I actually had better interaction with Booth students. I feel you should pick the school that resonates more with you while also evaluating how much that scholarship means to you. Also, one last thing, if you want to do consulting, you will be competing against your peers as Kellogg sends substantial portion of the graduating class into consulting, whereas, Booth does not send that big percentage into consulting, so perhaps competition might not be as stiff.

DCTech87 · Answer

Often popular opinions of schools lags recruiting from admissions departments, so balance the choice less on popular opinion and more what you see at admit weekend and visiting the school. "Collaborative Culture" at both programs should be fairly strong or they wouldn't be M7, and both place equally well in MBB. Collaborative culture can also have multiple meanings, but maybe you are referring to the effect of urban v. suburban? Anyways don't underplay the value of $$ (scholarship goes on your resume, tend to get included in alumni events, etc., obviously borrowing less). Talk to graduating 2nd years not in the welcome weekend to figure out the worst part of the programs. People here are mostly grasping at reputation.

princessmaryam · Answer

same

cantrollmyrs · Answer

I would pick Booth, if admitted with money. I have also been accepted to Booth but with no money, waiting to hear from kellogg.

mgg234 · Answer

How much is the scholarship?

There definitely IS a cultural difference between the schools, and it shouldn't be underplayed. A lot of the closed list dinners I went to for recruiting were a mixture of Booth and Kellogg, and the difference in student cultures was palpable.

Booth people like their school for the most part, but they definitely are geekier. If that's your personality, you should have fun there though. Likewise, Kellogg is mostly extroverted people who like to party and socialize 24/7, if that's not you, you may not like it. A lot of self-segregation goes on when people apply/choose among cross-admits.

For the bottom M7 schools (Kellogg, Booth, Columbia, MIT, + Tuck), the recruiting is exactly the same for consulting, so don't worry about that aspect.

Booth ($$) or Kellogg??

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