Calling Stanford MSX candidates (2019 Intake) Graduating Class of 2020

Congrats on completing your interview. For those of you that get admitted, you will probably receive a call from the admissions team one day before the official decision is posted on the portal. Good luck!

Regarding the brand of MSx, everyone who enters this program should know very well that this isn’t an MBA program and you will not get an MBA. After having worked for 10 to 15 years, many people don’t need an MBA. In fact, I hire MBA graduates for my department. Around 40% of Sloan Fellows have already got an advanced degree (or two) before joining Stanford GSB. You can take a look at the profiles of Sloan Fellows ’19 to get a good sense of why an MBA wouldn’t make much sense to them.

I find this article explain adequately why MSx is a breed apart. Think about it this way, for example: if you are currently one level below the C-suite level and are earning around, let’s say $250,000 a year, would you spend $190,000 (if you go to MSx as a single) plus your opportunity cost ($250,000) to earn an MBA whose average starting salary is around $150,000? More importantly, would that MBA help you position yourself for the C-suite level in a big corporate in a couple of years upon graduation? This is why the MSx program distinguishes itself from the MBA program. I agree, though, that the MSx program isn’t as widely known as the MBA program, but that’s a separate issue and that doesn’t mean people entering the MSx program want/need to be associated with the MBA program.

For those of you who are applying to the MSx program, my advice is that you should do your research and know exactly why you apply to the MSx program and how it will help your career. This is, I believe, key to your success.

Hello everyone, I have been a secret viewer of this forum for months. Your question made me take the plunge and engage

I had my interview last week and am waiting to hear back. I specifically did not apply to MIT because it is called an MBA. I have 13 years’ experience and I do not want to be mistaken for an MBA grad. My experience is different and the programme is different.

Londoner - I do really hope we get in. It would be great to have a fellow Brit in the programme! I am from the UK but currently live in Zurich.

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Obviously you havent done your research because MBA is not the only option at MIT.

Here is my 5 cent on the topic MSx vs. MIT Sloan Fellows

Stanford is amazing but MSx is not Stanford MBA. Junior professors teach MSx students. For electives, only handful of places are reserved for MSx students.

Stanford is great if you want to get into PE/VC. MIT programme is a lot more balanced. Fellows programme is taught by senior faculty at Sloan and they live teaching in this programme.

At MIT you have huge number of electives across MIT. You also have the option to cross register at Harvard. Another huge benefit.

At MIT you can choose either an MBA or MS. I dont think having an MBA from Sloan Fellows is a disadvantage. This is a brand on its own. It is like telling me EMBA is jot worth it because they all have lots of experience.

You need to go to MIT and see what Fellows prigramme is about. They put this at the core of the schools strategy.

Again, stanford brand is amazing and whoever choose to go there will jot regret it. It is not what I am saying...

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It looks like this topic has been taken to a very different direction. I don't think we should go down this path. It's important to correct some information you put up there, though:

1. Courses in the MSx program are taught by the same tenured faculty members who teach in the MBA and PhD programs. You can find more information about this on the MSx program website if you don't have a chance to talk directly to the MSx office.
2. You can also find a list of faculty members who teach in the MSx program on its website. You'll realize that it's not factual that "junior professors teach MSx students"
3. 50% of the MSx curriculum are electives. There's no way "only handful places are reserved for MSx students"

jackjones: I wish you all the best with your application to the SFMBA program at MIT. It's undoubtedly a great program. I would have probably applied too if I'd met the requirement of 10 years of working experience

This is specifically why I did not want to engage and I also don’t think we should go down this path.

The MIT Sloan programme is a terrific programme, as is the LBS programme. The calibre of people in all three programmes is exceptional. I wish all of us who are thinking of embarking on this journey (in all the three schools), the very best.

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Again, guys I am not questioning the strength of the prigramme my observations are made through contacts with alumni, program directors etc.

I met Mike Hochleutner in London and he did say that the MSx programme is not as rigorous as the MBA programme. If one day it becomes, then they will award an MBa degree. This is the reason why They award master of science degree. I am not making things up.

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Some of the top electives have only handful of available places for MSx students. Priority is given to MBa students. Reach out to the school and ask the question and you will see.

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Hi everyone, I have talked to 6 current and past MSx Fellows and above statement was their #1 complaint. There are very few spots reserved for MSx students in popular classes, so registration becomes more like a lottery. MSx students I talked to were able to get in to roughly 50% of the classes they hoped for.

If you are fortunate to be admitted in the MSx program, please put a group together and talk to Mike Hochleutner about giving more "golden tickets" to MSx students each semester. MBA students can take the same class next year if they miss it this year, but MSx have only one year to make it happen. So having two golden tickets per semester would be very helpful for MSx experience.

I asked Allison Rouse about this in an on-campus information session and seems like the website statement is no longer true. He mentioned that many classes are taught by visiting industry faculty or non-tenured faculty as well.

Please note that I don't see this as a disadvantage in any way because some of my friends whom I consider best-and-brightest are working as non-tenured faculty in universities.

I think the interview decision would be out tonight or tomorrow?

The people who have just been interviewed or already admitted: do you know if in the case of an extremely urgent decision that needs to be made this week could one ask for an early decision? Allison said the decisions are going to be posted on March 28. However, I need to make a rather significant decision here at work which can only be made if I know of the outcome of the admission process at GSB.

Do you think gently asking for an earlier decision would be viewed unfavorably? Also - Allison dropped me his email on the zoom thingy but when the session ended it disappeared. Could someone pleaseeeee drop me a PM if you have it? I might brave asking him. Thanks!!

I wish more people would update the MSx decision tracker ))

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I don't think it would be considered a negative. You can reach out to Allison and discuss your situation, however I would recommend doing so over phone rather than over email.

Hey thanks for the response. Unfortunately I really need to know and got a message from an admitted candidate who said the adcom is quite nice and accommodating so I emailed this morning. They just came back saying they only release early decision if one has another offer on the table.

I agree you should contact the person who interviewed you in phone and ask for a gentle hint. Seems odd actually.

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Odd is - Me asking them or them responding the way they did...?

Ok guys let’s simmer down.

londoner - I can see why they don’t give an early decision. They are trying to be fair to everyone. Plus we don’t know where they are in their process. The best you can do is explain your case and accept the response. Hopefully it works out for you. Fingers crossed

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