Haas + $$$ vs. HBS

Question

Hi All, I'm still torn between two schools. My ultimate goal is to work in investment management on the west coast. I've been admitted to Haas with a $110k scholarship, and to HBS with no money. I suppose I'm just fishing for any opinions people might have. Any takers?

EngineeringMBA · Answer

Congrats! 
That is a really tough one, I'm from CA myself and want to stay in CA, so Haas is also one of the schools I applied to. (Didn't apply to HBS myself)

If you're dead set on location, I think Haas gets a slight edge, and the $ is a huge sweetener. If you're more set on job function AND a more powerful network, ability to maneuver around a bit more, HBS definitely gets the nod in my opinion. It's very difficult to turn down an HBS admit, unless you really have a reason not to go.

So for me, even as someone who wants to stay in the West Coast post-MBA, I'd go HBS.

mgg234 · Answer

If you want to do investment management go with Harvard, it'll open up doors Haas can't. That said, BE SURE you're willing to do investment management and work your butt off if you do that - you won't have the opportunity to take it easy for almost a decade after graduation due to your debt (unless you have money saved, then it makes choosing Harvard easier). If you're a Type-A, work as hard as possible all the time, type of guy/girl go with Harvard, if not take Haas. You can try asking harvard for money too and wave the Haas full scholarship, they have a ton of money, and like the fact 90%+ people who are admitted choose to attend,

EBM · Answer

Wow, that is a tough decision. I was in a similar situation 3 years ago (admitted to Haas R1 with 50% tuition/fees then admitted to HBS R2 with no money) though I was still going to get assistance from the GI Bill. I was living in San Diego at the time and wanted to get back to the west coast after graduation--plus I  really  enjoyed my visit and admit weekend at Haas--so it was difficult for me to decline Haas in favor of HBS.

My gut feeling would be that the size of the HBS network and the school's strength in "traditional" jobs would give it an edge for a field like investment management, but if Haas has a track record of placing grads in the firms/cities you're interested in then it could basically be a wash. Getting to the west coast from HBS is very doable in general, though.

Also, just because HBS didn't give you a fellowship initially doesn't mean they won't offer you an attractive financial aid package--it may well include grants/fellowships in addition to loans. Have you submitted your finaid documents yet?

MacFauz · Answer

Have you tried asking HBS for scholarship.. IMO, Haas is reputed enough that 110K there could at least get 20-30K from HBS... But I must agree.. Incredibly tough decision.. All the best on making it...

Flyte · Answer

Definitely a tough call, but for IM, HBS is worth taking the short term hit.

DefyingGravity · Answer

Wow, this is a great problem to have but definitely a very tough decision. I personally don't think I could turn down HBS if admitted, but there's no wrong choice here.

I thought HBS provided need-based aid in addition to fellowships. Is the aid only in the form of loans, not scholarship money?

EBM · Answer

They do--something like 50% of each class gets grants, fellowships, or other need-based aid in addition to loans.

bdepp · Answer

Unless you're still in major debt from undergrad (or some other venture), I'd go HBS. Like EBM above me said, a traditional field like investment management is where HBS really excels. Congrats on the choice!

asimov · Answer

I could be completely off base, since I didn’t do finance recruiting. My understanding is that for investment management, the recruiting leans heavy on your existing network and reputation that you took with you to b-school. Location and school have small influence.

HBS has a great brand, but $110K would alleviate a lot of financial pressure.

HBS has a great brand, but $110K would alleviate a lot of financial pressure.

JackDaniels · Answer

HBS all the way - it's going to be worth it in the long run.

rodrigocani · Answer

I agree with asimov...

IMHO someone who managed to get admitted in HBS and Haas (with that huge scholarship) is brilliant enough to "make" it's own career. It'll not be the school brand that will give you the best job offer, it'll be you, your networking, the time of the economy etc...

You've already shown that you can be among the best. Congratulations for your offers! Why don't you go visit both schools to see which one fits you better!?

ID1995 · Answer

Do you have any impression of how many fellowships are given by HBS? I was under the impression that they gave almost none.

EBM · Answer

"Nearly 50% of the class receives an average of approximately $32,000 per year in need-based HBS Fellowships." More details here: https://www.hbs.edu/mba/financial-aid/Pa ... ogram.aspx

ID1995 · Answer

I read somewhere that you have to agree to attend before you find out about fellowships, if so that seems odd.

jdannevig · Answer

Not really. Unlike other b-schools, at HBS you apply for financial air once you are admitted (since it's largely need-based financial aid).
However, I do know of people who received were able to land scholarships when they told HBS they had scholarships elsewhere.
Having said that, both places (HBS and Haas) will be amazing, congrats!

Dan8294 · Answer

I would say HBS. I think the experience of going to HBS would be worth $110k.

deanejack · Answer

Your profile says Venture Capital, so I'm guessing you're not interested in investing in AAA-rated corporate credit. If you are, well then I guess go to Harvard.

On location -- I would not underestimate its value. Here is what you can do with location (and some other stuff) at Haas.

1) Networking. Arrange a coffee chat with a tech guy/VC/startup YOU want to talk to, let's conservatively say, once every 2 weeks. That could be 25 new "real" relationships developed over your school years, as opposed to cold-calling people in an alumni network only when you want something specific from them. This is considered perfectly normal as Friday's are off.

2) The Smarts of the West Coast. Berkeley is a hotbed of the finest graduate level talent. Go to a bar and you'll meet an engineer, a designer and an architect among the smartest in the country. These are people plugged into the center of West Coast opportunity and can form part of your network. For those who want to spend substantial time on the West Coast, this makes more sense. Plus, Berkeley is the best major university near SF (less than 30 min away on a good day). With more companies gravitating to the city, this is a strong inherent advantage.

3) University-wide. HBS, like most top B schools, is a silo. Haas is not. It is the "Berkeley" Entrepreneurs Association. There are classes across Berkeley and other UCs. There are opportunities to meet and mingle. There are opportunities to stretch yourself beyond just the B school with people who are as smart or as accomplished as you, if not more.

4) Buzz. This is something I underestimated. The buzz at Berkeley is dominated by startups/ angel investing/VCs/tech. If that's your thing, you'll be in 7th heaven. The buzz coinciding with personal interest can be a wonderful thing.

5) Lifestyle. Hiking, skiing, beaches, chilling outdoors. Need I say more?

Good luck!

Haas + $$$ vs. HBS

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