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Where should helg go?

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ncp
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Help helg decide: Chicago GSB vs Ross 28 Mar 2008, 07:14
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helg, you have got a really tough decision on your hands. I would say that any consulting job you can land out of GSB, you can probably land it from Ross. And having a fellowship on your resume is nothing to scoff at and also consider the 100K debt + interest accumulated.

But, you seem to fancy GSB a lot and as RED says its a dream come true. So, if you feel comfortable with giving up a whole lot of money, then that is VERY important also.

I only hope that you are not swayed into one direction or the other by a lot of different and somewhat partial opinions on this thread. In your specific case, I think there is a lot more riding on this decision compared to kryzak and nervous's scenarios. I personally dont want you to feel pressured into losing a lot of money for benefits that are not readily apparent. Similarly I dont want you to give up on your dream school.

So, I am not going to vote for either school. Good luck!
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Help helg decide: Chicago GSB vs Ross 28 Mar 2008, 07:19
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It appears that both of your options, Chicago and Ross, are amazing. And both make a lot of logical sense for your goals. But if one school (Chicago) lets you pursue your dreams, and makes a lot of logical sense too, then you should go with that school. I agree with Kryzak and Kwam that money should not be a prime factor in choosing your school.

EDIT: I see that prasad took the high road on this one. He is absolutely right. Just in case you didn't already know (yeah right!), we are all biased. So take our suggestions with a grain of salt.
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Help helg decide: Chicago GSB vs Ross Updated on: 28 Mar 2008, 08:04
Originally posted by Irishfan on 28 Mar 2008, 07:25.
Last edited by Irishfan on 28 Mar 2008, 08:04, edited 1 time in total.
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Something I don't feel that anyone has addressed yet:

Ann Arbor rent is actually VERY expensive. Almost as expensive as Chicago. Not sure if you mean school-sponsored housing.

Ann Arbor isn't "quiet," by any means. It's a HUGE state university. Kids will be puking in your bushes weekly.

EDIT: Admittedly, this may or may not be a good thing. Apologists for the post-grad-yet-undergrad college lifestyle would be all about Ann Arbor.

You know how sick you get of hearing a song on the radio when it gets overplayed? What if that song went on for two years? And it wasn't playing on the radio, but everywhere else? And it really wasn't a song, as much as it is 4 bars of the same notes played over and over and over by a 1,000-piece brass band? That's "Hail to the Victors."
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Help helg decide: Chicago GSB vs Ross 28 Mar 2008, 07:58
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Irishfan
Something I don't feel that anyone has addressed yet:

Ann Arbor rent is actually VERY expensive. Almost as expensive as Chicago. Not sure if you mean school-sponsored housing.

Ann Arbor isn't "quiet," by any means. It's a HUGE state university. Kids will be puking in your bushes weekly.

You know how sick you get of hearing a song on the radio when it gets overplayed? What if that song went on for two years? And it wasn't playing on the radio, but everywhere else? And it really wasn't a song, as much as it is 4 bars of the same notes played over and over and over by a 1,000-piece brass band? That's "Hail to the Victors."
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Do you have any source for the high cost of living in Ann Arbor?
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branson
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Help helg decide: Chicago GSB vs Ross 28 Mar 2008, 08:02
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<I am saying this with a big grin ony my face so dont take me seriously>

Nervous is right, given the wifey, Ann Arbor with its puking football cheerleaders will have too many distractions and could put your marriage in danger... At GSB you can choose to live in quiet neighbourhood (white fences anyone?) and be surrounded by the same people you will be surrounded for the rest of your life. ;)



nervousgmat
helg,

I vote for GSB and here are my reasons:

1) Since you are going to MC and not non-profit or even marketing, you will be able to pay off $80-$90K of debt after graduation easily. While this amount of money seems like a huge sum, your sign-up bonus will cover 30% even before you start your job!
2) You have a wife! And hence, it's no longer a decision that will only affect you. I am not sure what your wife's career field is but I am 99% sure that she will find something to do in Chicago. Ann Arbor - i'm not so sure. If she is a home maker, than she might be bored to death in Ann Arbor while you are studying with you classmates, interviewing, going to company presentations. But she will have so many things to do in Chicago! Plus, Chicago has a very large Russian community.
3) Chicago GSB will get you further in Europe that Ross will (just my opinion) due to a better brand name recognition.
4) Yes, it is great to have a "full tuition fellowship" on your resume and it will draw recruiters to your resume. However, you will still have to prove yourself during the interview. In other words, while the fellowship will help you get in front of the interviewers, it will not help you get the job.
5) My reservation about Chicago is its culture and a commuter school feel. These are two reasons that are keeping me from sending my deposit to GSB today. However, since you've researched GSB and love the academic feel of the school an don't mind the location, I don't see a reason for you to be in doubt. Just go to GSB! It's obvious that that's where your heart is anyway. And your wife will thank you for it :-)

Piece of advice: ask GSB for some $. You have a very good leverage in Ross, so who knows - you might end up with some dough from GSB as well!

Good luck!
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Help helg decide: Chicago GSB vs Ross 28 Mar 2008, 08:02
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My Sister in law and her roommate pay > $2K per month to live in a not very nice 2 br, 2 bath apartment, not including utilities.
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Help helg decide: Chicago GSB vs Ross 28 Mar 2008, 08:05
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Most of the apartments that I have researched at AA seem to be ~$900-$1000.

Woodburry Gardens, nob Hill etc. I dont know anything about them except that a bunch of MBA students live at these places.
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Help helg decide: Chicago GSB vs Ross 28 Mar 2008, 08:07
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Whoops. That's harsh.
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ncp
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Help helg decide: Chicago GSB vs Ross 28 Mar 2008, 08:14
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Can you tell me the name of those apartments? The rent you quote seems really high. Usually decent 2BR apartments are around $1000.

Irishfan
My Sister in law and her roommate pay > $2K per month to live in a not very nice 2 br, 2 bath apartment, not including utilities.
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Irishfan
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Help helg decide: Chicago GSB vs Ross 28 Mar 2008, 08:17
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No idea. She's actually visiting us today for my wife's b-day, so I'll ask her then.

$1,000 for 2 bedrooms sounds like a great deal.

I know that most people there actually rent out entire houses, so that may be driving the cost a bit.
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Help helg decide: Chicago GSB vs Ross 28 Mar 2008, 08:24
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Helg - Love the thread as I'm basically making a similiar decision (75% tuition at ross vs nada at GSB).

I think its tough taking $$$ out of the equation - but I really think you need to go where your heart leads you. You never want to second guess your decision. Both are great schools.

A couple other notes on the other comments:

As a Detroit area native: You can find 2 bdrm apts there for $900-1200 that are decent. Woodbury is a good example. The key is a willingness to be a mile + or so away (take the bus) from the school or the downtown. Rents go up a lot the closer you get to the campus and downtown for 2 reasons: 1) AA is a desirable suburb in the detroit metro area and lots of younger professionals live there 2) Undergrads don't like to walk far to the bar and are willing to stuff a ton of people into more expensive apts / houses for the ability to stumble home easily. :lol:

As someone mentioned: Asking for $$$ never hurts - the worst they can say is no (just do it nicely). I did the same with ross (using a cornell full ride as leverage) and went from nothing to 30k/yr just by asking. (But no luck so far at GSB besides being told to self nominate for the fellowships).
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Help helg decide: Chicago GSB vs Ross 28 Mar 2008, 09:36
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wallspotter, thanks for sharin your experience!
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Help helg decide: Chicago GSB vs Ross 28 Mar 2008, 10:07
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Although Ross is a really great school, Chicago GSB is one of my dream schools, so my vote will be biased toward GSB. :lol:

The scholarship at Ross would be nice, but I think if you prefer one school over the other without the money as a factor then that should be the school of your choice. I think the initial tuition cost should not determine the choice of school since it will be minimal in the long run.
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Help helg decide: Chicago GSB vs Ross 28 Mar 2008, 13:18
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I don't think I could give up coming out of school with 80K less in debt. However, I think it really depends on what you want to do. I do think that if you go to GSB that the rest of us GMAT clubbers should get to split your Ross full ride. :)
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Help helg decide: Chicago GSB vs Ross 28 Mar 2008, 13:42
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I completely understand your love of GSB after last year, but in a purely non-swayed opinion there are several things to seriously consider. Ross is a strong stable brand right now, its one of those borderline top 10 schools and there is a lot of positive things being said about it lately. Obviously GSB has the better brand but Ross is no slouch in management and consulting...it actually is a highly regarded management program. For me it would be a no brainer for finance, Ross is good there but cant compete with GSB...few schools could. But since you want MC, it requires a little more internal debate.

1) family, AA is going to be cheaper unless your wife scores a visa to work money will be much tighter at GSB. I have also heard glowing things about the significant others group at Ross. My cousin's bf is currently a 1st year and she travels there once a month and loves it. She is planning on moving there, and she is a total NYC girl so obviously AA has to have some social scene. I got the impression that GSB's spouse group is not as active from several discussions but she could definitely find a network there too. (advantage Ross)

2) all the consulting companies recruit at both. For the average student at both, GSB grads have the advantage with the big three. However, as a person with a full merit scholarship you wont be an average student at Ross. Having that on your resume really puts you at the top of the heap, its a clear indication that you are the top x% of the students at Ross. Where as at GSB you will be a typical student competing against other folks, some with merit scholarships, experience at those companies, and in the industry. In the end once you get the interviews you are going to have to nail the cases and that is whats going to seal the deal. Wherever you apply, I think these days your demographic is going to be a big help too.

I said Ross, but you definitely cant go wrong with either. I just think the that the scholarship is a clear indication that you are considered the top of the class. Economic concerns also would be an advantage here, the cost of housing and expenses for two in Chicago will be higher.

I think you should give the pros and cons to your wife let her have her vote, and that can really sway you. She will have your best interests in mind, wont be as biased for a school as we all may be, and also will be able to voice where she would be the happiest. Keeping her involved is key to making it a happy transition, and if she ends up hating where you are she cant blame you :wink:
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Help helg decide: Chicago GSB vs Ross 28 Mar 2008, 15:03
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im stuck in dallas, but intend to weigh in later :)
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Help helg decide: Chicago GSB vs Ross 28 Mar 2008, 15:23
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rhyme
im stuck in dallas, but intend to weigh in later :)
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Stuck at the airport or elsewhere? Let me know if you are in town overnight.
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Help helg decide: Chicago GSB vs Ross Updated on: 28 Mar 2008, 18:39
Originally posted by kk.iyer on 28 Mar 2008, 15:49.
Last edited by kk.iyer on 28 Mar 2008, 18:39, edited 1 time in total.
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I voted GSB...because..

You seldom get a chance to live your dream.
Blowing away that chance for money may be economically viable but I am sure you'll be questioning your decision again at some point in time. The reason could be anything, but should you get into such a situation, this thought will definitely cross your mind, "Would it have been better/easier if I was at the GSB?..."

If you go in to your dream school you will in all probablity never question your own decision. Unless ofcourse you are in desperate need of the money. But, then you never went into the admissions process knowing that someone would give you the full ride, did you? So why let that take away your chance at your dream school?

Just my two cents.....all based on the fact that chicago is where your heart is.
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Help helg decide: Chicago GSB vs Ross 28 Mar 2008, 18:17
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i think before you make a decision you should revisit this dream....take a step back away from it, go to both admit weekends (if you havent already).....give ross a real chance.....because one of the worst feelings is to find out while living "the dream" that its actually not what you want at all.....
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Help helg decide: Chicago GSB vs Ross 29 Mar 2008, 01:06
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riverripper
I think you should give the pros and cons to your wife let her have her vote, and that can really sway you. She will have your best interests in mind, wont be as biased for a school as we all may be, and also will be able to voice where she would be the happiest. Keeping her involved is key to making it a happy transition, and if she ends up hating where you are she cant blame you :wink:
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Hey, thanks River. I just talked to my wife. She told me to stop fussing about and go to Chicago :lol: :lol: :lol:

kk.iyer
If you go in to your dream school you will in all probablity never question your own decision. Unless ofcourse you are in desperate need of the money. But, then you never went into the admissions process knowing that someone would give you the full ride, did you? So why let that take away your chance at your dream school?
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That is very true, KK!
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