Emory/USC w/$$$ vs Kellogg with none!

Question

So here's my story:

Male, Age 26
Hospitality / Real Estate Industries
Interested in majoring in marketing, branding, and strategy
Interested in getting a general management rotational job upon graduation, preferably with a hotel or entertainment company, but intrigued by big brands as well

I've gotten into the following:

Emory w/ 60% scholarship
- great in real estate
- loved the atmosphere

USC w/ 25% scholarship
- the company I most desire to work for is the #1 recruiter there
- LA is great

Kellogg w/ nothing
- debt

Whatever non-scholarship money is needed, I am taking out in loans, as I have no savings to speak of.

My question is this--- Is Kellogg THAT much a better name that going there is worth the extra $80,000 or so in debt?

I'm excited about all these programs, but feel so lost ! :shock:

Thanks for all your thoughts in advance!

uprightcitizen · Answer

I bolded what I felt was the only really important fact here. You have a company you're interested in, and you're accepted (with money) to a school where it recruits heavily. Go for USC! This is not a competition on who can get the best brand name, this is about going for a degree that will get you where you want. It sounds like USC can do it - and cheaper.

Now, my only concern would be is if you are not sure what you want. In the future, across a broader spectrum of companies and jobs, the Kellogg name is stronger. Much stronger. If I was you, being somewhat unsure of what I want, I would go for Kellogg. But I'm not you.

However, the hotel/hospitality/entertainment fields, from my experience, are not as familiar with the MBA rankings as other industries (I am from this field, too). So, that could be another reason to shy away from the debt of Kellogg. When I was applying to business schools, my bosses did not know Kellogg as an elite name. They knew the Ivies, but after that, it was all the same. I wonder if you've had a similar experience?

asimov · Answer

I'd go with USC in this case, since your dream company is the #1 recruitor there. It's going to make thing a lot easier for you.

IMO, the MBA brand is only good for the first job post-MBA. After that, it's up to you to build your own brand.

EChopeful12 · Answer

For your interests, Kellogg is definitely where you should go. You'll get general management/marketing roles out of USC and Emory but the quality of the companies will be much lower. At Kellogg, you'll have the opportunity to join a ton of Fortune 500 companies in more prestigious positions, which will also pay you a lot better. Your scholarships aren't that enormous, so you should definitely take the Kellogg offer and run.

method · Answer

Kellogg!

EBM · Answer

Since you mentioned marketing, big brands, and general management I think that makes Kellogg an obvious choice.

The amount of student loans you'd take to go to Kellogg are a drop in the bucket in terms of your long-term career earnings coming out of a top 5 school vs. a top 30 or top 50 school.

Money shouldn't really be a consideration, but if you're 100% sure you want to work for the "dream company" then that could be enough to sway things to USC. But keep in mind there's no guarantee that company will still be your dream company 2 years from now.

Emory/USC w/$$$ vs Kellogg with none!

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