Help ncprasad pick a school

Question

Guys,

I am beginning work on my R2 apps and the hitherto lack of interview love from HBS and Ross has prompted me to re-assess my app portfolio. Originally, I was planning to apply to UCLA and Wharton in R2. I am now planning to add 1 more to this list just to spread my risks. 

I am considering CMU, U Chicago, and may be Yale, although applying to U Chicago isn't exactly a "safe" move. The advantage with CMU and Yale is that their essays wouldn't need a lot of work.

My other option is to persist with my original plan to apply to Haas PT. I was planning to apply to Haas in R1, but recommendation issues pushed it back.

Oh, my career goal is related to e-ship/tech management.

Thanks!

aurobindo · Answer

In my opinion, you should also apply to CMU Tepper, since you have applied to MIT. That is a poor cousin of MIT. By Poor I mean luck, background etc.. :wink:

gmatclb · Answer

Go with Haas.

Chicago GSB is tough and not exactly a safety school.

Yale is a touch school to get into. Arguably as tough as the top schools.

With your profile, you maybe could get into Tepper in R3.

dabots · Answer

what about darden or fuqua?

KingKREEP · Answer

Chicago - Too freaking competitive. I don't think you would be 'spreading your risks' with this

Yale - Again, touch school to get into

CMU - good school. Competitive yes, but not cut throat like HBS, Wharton, MIT. So your chances are better and of course, strong for tech. 

So yeah, CMU has my vote.

aviroop · Answer

Univ. of Phoenix.....

just kidding..

wat bout Darden or Kellogg

ncp · Answer

Thanks for the responses.

I am not too enthusiastic about schools outside of these 4. Therefore, Darden and Kellogg are out. Right now, I am leaning towards Haas PT with CMU a close second.

Haas PT's R2 deadline is on 02/28. By that time, I would have received admission decisions from HBS, Ross, MIT and Cornell in addition to interview decisions from UCLA and Wharton. If I do get into a school before 02/28, I will not apply to Haas. If I dont have a positive decision by the end of Januray, I will then go ahead with the Haas app. 

Any comments?

kryzak · Answer

methinks you should still go for Haas FT, R2 or R3. But alas, if you don't want to, then Haas PT will be good also.

riverripper · Answer

If you definitely want to go you need to spread your risk. Chicago is harder than some schools you already applied to. Yale has become very difficult to get into also. 

I say CMU its still a really good school and it would be a much better bet. I dont remember what your goals are but it has a strong rep and brand in some industries. 

I would say Haas part time if you are planning on staying in the exact same career and your company will pay for it. My wife's work sends people to get PT MBAs and it really doesnt do a whole lot for their career short term, although its basically a requirement if you eventually want to move up. Literally there are MBAs still working as engineers.

aurobindo · Answer

Well said. They have a strong entrepreneurship oriented program. The look and feel will be similar to that of MIT. I know..if CMU folks read this post, they will ding me straight away :wink:

riverripper · Answer

CMU is the only R2 school I am 100% sure I am applying to. The other ones are all up in the air now.

kryzak · Answer

btw, the Haas part time will allow some students to do internships and use their career services now, so you can get more of the FT benefit while doing PT.

ncp · Answer

Exactly. The Haas PT has great ROI. You get to interview for the same jobs that the FTers do and not to mention, you can leverage the Haas student label to shift careers as soon as you join the program. Haas PT carries huge weight around the bay area. 

CMU also appears to be a good program although I believe that the Haas MBA brand(PT or FT) is more powerful than CMU's. In the end, it may come down to a toss-up between these 2 schools.

BTW, how come GSB has 4 votes. Any one who voted GSB, can you please explain your logic. I am eager to hear your perspectives.

hbs.aspirant · Answer

O brother Rhyme, where art thou?

mNeo · Answer

Prasad, I voted for CMU with the following reasoning:

Chicago GSB - Since your objective is to spread the risk, applying to GSB won't really spread it too far.

* CMU Tepper - Considering your interest in MIT, I think that CMU is a great alternative. It is in a lower cluster (So hopefully less difficult to get into), but has similar strengths. Exactly what you're looking for in an additional school.

Yale SOM - Yale SOM's reputation doesn't justify its high selectivity (They decreased the number of students this year, didn't they?). Again, doesn't spread the risk very well.

Haas PT - Haas R2 deadline is end of Feb. So I don't see why applying to CMU will stop you from trying Haas PT. I would say that you should try all FT schools in R2, and then focus Feb for Haas PT (If you don't have an admit from any R1 school by then).

ncp · Answer

That's an interesting idea mNeo. Let me check if I can get buy-in from my recommenders for an additional recco in Feb for Haas if needed.

nervousgmat · Answer

Happy b-day, ncprasad! I am voting for Tepper as well

Help ncprasad pick a school

Which school should I add to my R2 list?

Prep Toolkit

Top 5 GMAT Debrief Videos

615 to 715 in 15 Days (Ria's Strategies)

More than Quant/Verbal Abilities: Speed vs. Accuracy

745 with Only Self-Prep and GMAT Club

From 555 to 765: 210-point Improvement

Perfect 805 Score Debrief by Julia

My Rewards