PBateman
Something of a tangent from admits/dings/etc., hoping to get some feedback from the solid knowledge base here.
Kellogg is last of the 4 schools I'm applying to as far as current preferences. (I do realize I could very well be dinged here, but just run with me...) This is based on my own impressions from school visits, chatting with people, and other research. However, I feel like I've probably neglected to do truly adequate research, and I'd like to sell Kellogg to myself a little more over the next few weeks (especially if I'm accepted). Obviously, part of it depends on what one is looking to do, and as I'd like to focus on finance, that gives Wharton and Booth an advantage there. As far as fit, I felt each school had something that "felt better" than what the others had to offer, but I didn't feel one was far superior to any others. I think H and W lead in strength of brand name / alumni network.
Ignoring geography, would anyone here pick Kellogg over the other schools I'm applying to? If so, which, and why?
Thanks!
I agree with what ACNguy said about the reputation of other schools with regard to finance. That said, there are plenty of Kellogg students that go into finance jobs each year. From what I've heard from faculty and administration here, the feedback from recruiters (not sure if finance recruiters or other industries) is that Kellogg students are not as quantitatively skilled as students from peer schools, but make up for it by being very strong on the general management and leadership/teamwork side of things. I'd say the biggest difference between Kellogg and the other schools you're applying to is cultural. Obviously I'm much more familiar with Kellogg's culture than the other schools, but from what I've gathered from friends at other schools and my own research when I applied, there is a different feel to Kellogg. I can't really describe it or put my finger on exactly how, but it's different.
At the end of the day, it's a little premature to be making decisions about schools at this point. I'd say wait to see where you get accepted, go to the admitted student events, then make a decision based on not only where you think will prepare you best for your career, but also where, based on the admitted student event, you think you'd be happiest spending the next 2 years of your life. Believe me, bschool can be plenty stressful - you'll go insane if you're trying to deal with the stress at a school where fundamentally you're not happy to be there.
While I agree with everything the guys above me wrote, I think you should apply to backup finance schools. If I am reading this correctly, Kellogg only got on your list because of its high ranking and despite the fact that this ranking is generally attributed to its strength in fields that are less interesting to you.
If that is the case, my opinion is that you would gain more by applying to some of the other business schools that are very strong in finance. NYU and Columbia are glaringly missing from your list. They are ranked very high in finance and overall and it will provide you with unlimited access to financial institutions simply based on location - something very few schools can do. Also, of the alumni network - more people will work in finance which is always a plus. Trust me, no one in the finance industry will look down on you because a school was ranked one or two places below his own - rankings lose their meaning in business school and you realize how irrelevant they are. You will be judged on your abilities.
Oh, and if you do end up at Kellogg, do me a favor and waive finance 1:) (you finance guys are pushing down the curve!)