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rhyme
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Help mNeo pick a school 08 Oct 2007, 19:50
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The answer is so obvious: chicago gsb.

I do want to work on their powerpoint essay. But that'll be such a wrong reason to apply to a B-school :roll:

rhyme, any pointers to Chicago's offerings in entrepreneurship and in 'making connections with VCs'?
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I'm just starting to get involved with those groups now... I know they are strong here, but I'm not yet really in a position to comment.
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Help mNeo pick a school 08 Oct 2007, 20:08
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deepuaries
I understand the "geek" factor at Sloan with lots of engineers in the mix.
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Well, if you look at their stats, only about 30% of incoming MBAs come from a tech backgound, and the rest -- don't.
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Help mNeo pick a school 08 Oct 2007, 20:16
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Well, 30% come from engineering. But science and computer science are also technical. So, including those fields, 50% of people come from a technical background.
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Help mNeo pick a school 08 Oct 2007, 21:24
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Well, 30% come from engineering. But science and computer science are also technical. So, including those fields, 50% of people come from a technical background.
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add to that people who are from arts and other backgrounds who were into tech cos.

But what is wrong with geekness? I think they are the people who have in-depth knowledge (usually and relatively), and most probably come up with some new idea or start a new venture.

Michael Porter was an aeronautical engineer to start with. Look at his contributions to strategy.
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Help mNeo pick a school 09 Oct 2007, 01:23
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When I recruit or assemble teams I often go by the "smartness" of the person rather than the "skill" or "background". Last year, when I had to hire "business" oriented analysts for a project, I went with a couple of "geeky engineers" who turned to be more business savvy than any MBA that I ever worked with.

I guess what I am trying to say is there is such a thing as a "business savvy enginner" and I have seen some "nerdy liberal arts" folks as well.
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Help mNeo pick a school 10 Oct 2007, 10:39
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No question about it. To me a "geek factor"--in its truest form--is a positive trait.

Maybe it's just empirical analysis, but I've seen the most positive results on my consulting gigs when there have been more quant focussed--read coming from a math/engineering background--guys.

Every field of academia has it's own "hot spots" and "black holes" - but eventually it's one's personality that triumphs. Especially in a highly interactive, client facing role, the "geekiness" more often than not shows up only when it is, rightly, needed. And the mix of rational analysis and client-schmoozing skills, of course, allows for those 300 bucks an hour billing rates!

ncprasad
When I recruit or assemble teams I often go by the "smartness" of the person rather than the "skill" or "background". Last year, when I had to hire "business" oriented analysts for a project, I went with a couple of "geeky engineers" who turned to be more business savvy than any MBA that I ever worked with.

I guess what I am trying to say is there is such a thing as a "business savvy enginner" and I have seen some "nerdy liberal arts" folks as well.
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Help mNeo pick a school 10 Oct 2007, 14:33
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My thoughts...

Kellogg: the brief mention of Entrepreneurship in their brochure is alarming, but the alum at the San Diego infosession mentioned that entrepeneurship is alive and well there. I still find Kellogg to be the most friendly and best fit for me out of all the non-CA schools.

UCLA: Why aren't you looking at UCLA, which is probably better than a Haas-PT (I still think you should apply Haas-FT!)? After visiting there twice and talking to their entrepreneur association member and center, they have an AMAZING entrepreneurship program, connecting you to tons of VCs and startups through weekly events and a lot of other specialized events. They even let you take 2 quarters to do an Applied Management Research (AMR) Business Creation project to start your own company if you like. There are so many Entrepreneur programs there for me to list. After seeing all this support, I would be very happy if I got into UCLA!

Chicago: As I mentioned in my GSB infosession, *they* think they're the #1 in entrepreneurship and put a lot of money into the center/program. But no one could give me a direct answer when I asked them about VC and startup connections out on the West Coast.

Haas: I think you should still try the FT. The support there is amazing, similar to UCLA.

Hope that helped!
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Help mNeo pick a school 10 Oct 2007, 14:45
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I guess mNeo is applying to Haas PT in the worst case situation that he gets dinged from every school he applies to. As if thats going to happen!!!
I think applying to a PT program coz it will be easier to get in is a bad approach.

I agree with Kryzak. Why not UCLA? mNeo, if you want a truly world-class program for entrepreneurship, you should look more closely at Haas and UCLA. Their e-ship program is in some ways better than other UE schools. Out of the other schools you listed, in your position, I would look at MIT as well.
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Help mNeo pick a school 10 Oct 2007, 14:55
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Yes, one of the biggest reasons why I'm applying to so few UE schools is because of the entrepreneurship/VC connection I need on the West Coast and which schools can provide that for me. Wharton is probably the only school that can reach all the way to the West Coast in terms of Entrep/VC connections. Kellogg/Chicago have some, but definitely won't be as strong as Haas/UCLA if you figure in geographical advantage. MIT/Columbia are mostly East Coast, if you want to work there instead.

I would strongly urge mNeo to visit UCLA, do an infosession and sit in their Entrep. Assoc. club meeting. Here's the link to the EA for UCLA and Haas. They have some amazing programs there. I can also refer you to some people I met there if you are going for a visit.

https://www.uclamba.com/
https://groups.haas.berkeley.edu/ea/

Sad to say, in comparison, Stanford, as great as their entrepreneurship program is, is somewhat disappointing in the excitement, support, and activities that the other two UC schools have.
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Help mNeo pick a school 12 Oct 2007, 11:13
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Thanks for your comments, guys. This is the kind of response I was hoping to get. Just to answer a few questions:

riverripper: While I agree that going to a big-name school and/or making connections with VCs doesn't guarantee me any VC money, I don't think that having a great idea automatically leads to big-money (I am sure you didn't intend to say this anyway). The connections with the VCs, the art of creating business-plans, the evolution of the idea/business-plan through discussions with experienced VCs are equally important. That is why I want to ensure that the school that I go to lets me connect with VCs very well. Look at this blog of an MIT Sloan student, and you'll see what I am saying: https://mitsloanblog.typepad.com/inaki/

aurobindo/prasad and others: First of all, technical background and "nerdiness" are different things (Is "nerdiness" a word, BTW?). When I said that 50% of people at MIT Sloan come from a technical background, I was only correcting xerox's statement. Now, what is wrong with nerdiness anyway? Perhaps our definitions of the word "nerd" are different. I define a "nerd" as someone who is boring and is not very proficient at communicating with others (Most of the dictionaries also define the word this way). This is different from being good technically or being good with computers. While I agree that being technically proficient is becoming more and more important for an entrepreneur, nerdiness still has no place in entrepreneurship, IMHO.

prasad/kryzak: I wouldn't say that I am keeping Haas PT option open only because it is easier to get into (In fact, I feel that for Indian applicants, applying to Haas PT in R1 is very important. But I intend to apply to Haas PT in R2 -- Only if I don't get into my FT choices). I am keeping Haas PT option open because this is the only program that lets me study even if my green card process goes down the drain for some reason and lets me keep working while studying and still take part in all of the school's activities and events (I intend to follow prasad's idea and drop my work-hours to focus on studies). Now, why not Haas FT? Because then I won't be able to apply PT. And Haas PT is the only program (Out of all the ones that I've explored) that will let me immerse in the school's offerings even if I go part-time. Remember that there was a thread about the lowest ranked school that you are willing to go to? Well, for me, there should be a lowest ranked FT school that I would be willing to go to (And take that 'opportunity cost' hit), and failing that, I should turn my focus to PT programs and save on the 'opportunity cost'.

Finally, why not UCLA FT? No wayyyyy .. I am just no fan of LA. I don't see me living there for 2 years.

Tell me that this is not the most nonsensical post that you've ever seen :(
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Help mNeo pick a school 12 Oct 2007, 11:32
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mNeo, I agree with your reasons for Haas PT. But you gave me the impression that Haas was a backup to overcome possible rejections at other schools, by talking about ur Columbia ED and Haas PT in the same breath. Re-quoting you...

Quote:
Now that Columbia has put me on the dreaded waitlist, I need to add one more school to my portfolio
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If u are considering Haas PT because of ur GC, then you should apply irrespective of ur results, not because of it. Just my 2 cents...
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Help mNeo pick a school Updated on: 12 Oct 2007, 14:37
Originally posted by mNeo on 12 Oct 2007, 11:44.
Last edited by mNeo on 12 Oct 2007, 14:37, edited 2 times in total.
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"Haas PT is a backup to overcome possible rejections" makes it sound wrong, for some reason. I would say that Haas PT is the lowest ranked program that I would be willing to go to if I don't get into my top choice FT programs. For example, I would prefer to go to Haas PT if the only FT program that accepts me is Duke. Nothing against Duke .. in fact my wife has loved Duke's offerings the most so far. I just feel that I can do better at my goals if I go to Haas PT instead. Even if Haas was ranked lower than Duke, and even if Haas PT was 100 places behind Duke FT in some weird ranking system that ranks FT/PT programs together.

As for mentioning Columbia's waitlist, I had just received the "waitlist" information, and I guess it was in my mind when I asked for suggestions for another school. I have actually been looking to finally decide on the second R2 school for quite some time. When I got a Col waitlist, it kinda triggered me to try to finalize the second R2 school ASAP. But this choice has nothing to do with Haas PT. I have planned to look at my application results and my green-card situation in January and then decide if I should apply to Haas or not.
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Help mNeo pick a school 12 Oct 2007, 14:34
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mNeo, you seem to have a pretty negative view of Haas FT (which, by the way, is ranked higher than Duke in the more "valid" rakings of US News and BW). Also, LA isn't that bad, even though I know what you're saying about living there (and I'm *from* there originally). But I would still gladly go to UCLA if that's the only school I get into, just because I'm that impressed by their Entrep and VC programs.

As for Haas, you are correct. It is one of the few PT programs that also let you participate in FT offerings, but I still feel that the FT program will give you more immersion into all the VC/Entrep sessions that you would have to take time off work to participate in.

Either way, just suggesting two of the best entrepreneur/VC programs you can get into in the West Coast area.

K
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Help mNeo pick a school 12 Oct 2007, 14:42
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Darn, I really suck at getting my point across. I better find some good essay reviewers.

I actually have great respect for Haas. I was trying to say that even Haas PT is good enough for my needs (Over some top 10 FT programs, even). And even if Duke FT was much ahead of Haas FT (Which it is not, in most of the valid rankings) and much much ahead of Haas PT, I'd prefer to do Haas PT as that kinda fits my needs better than a Duke FT. ps, less opportunity cost!

I would have loved to apply Haas FT. The problem with Haas FT is that it will stop me from applying Haas PT. Still .. I need to weigh the differences between the specific offerings of Haas FT and PT, I guess.

ps. I sincerely appreciate the effort that you guys are going through to help me pick a school. Thanks a lot. Really.
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Help mNeo pick a school 12 Oct 2007, 16:49
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Oh! I see what you're saying! Sorry for misunderstanding.

Well, if you want to know more about Haas FT, let me know, I'll try to help or connect you with some Haas students who can give you more detail (i.e. how many PT people they see at networking events, etc...).

Anything to help you get into a good school, mNeo. of course, we're all going to end up at Stanford, right? ;)
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Help mNeo pick a school 12 Oct 2007, 17:23
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kryzak

Anything to help you get into a good school, mNeo. of course, we're all going to end up at Stanford, right? ;)
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Amen to that !!! it would be the BEST thing to happen ..really :)
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