Last visit was: 19 Nov 2025, 00:59 It is currently 19 Nov 2025, 00:59
Home
GMAT
Messages
Tests
Schools
Events
Rewards
Chat
My Profile
Close
GMAT Club Daily Prep
Thank you for using the timer - this advanced tool can estimate your performance and suggest more practice questions. We have subscribed you to Daily Prep Questions via email.

Customized
for You

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History

Track
Your Progress

every week, we’ll send you an estimated GMAT score based on your performance

Practice
Pays

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History
Not interested in getting valuable practice questions and articles delivered to your email? No problem, unsubscribe here.
Go to My Error Log Learn more
Close
Request Expert Reply
Confirm Cancel
User avatar
cpgmba
User avatar
Current Student
Joined: 19 Apr 2008
Last visit: 07 Apr 2010
Posts: 248
Own Kudos:
37
Concentration: CPG Marketing
Schools:R1: HBS(A), Kellogg(A), Michigan(A), Duke(A), Wharton(D)
Posts: 248
Kudos: 37
Help picking final school - Marketing - Kelley vs McCombs? 22 Jun 2008, 15:00
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
I'm having a hard time deciding between Kelley and McCombs for my safety school. My current list includes Kellogg, HBS, Wharton, Fuqua, and Ross. I'd like to have one safety school where I would essentially be "automatic" if all else fails. I would like to continue my career in CPG brand management. Ideally, I would love to work for Frito-Lay in Dallas, TX as we love Dallas, family is only a few hours away, and from what I heard it's a great company to work for. However, a lot can change between now and then so I'll definitely consider and look at other companies post-MBA.

Kelley seems to be a better school for CPG Marketing. The Consumer Marketing Academy is very appealing and they have great relationships with the top CPG companies (ironically except for Pepsi/Frito-Lay). McCombs has a slightly better overall reputation and good ties with Frito-Lay but I'm not sure how their reputation for CPG Marketing compares to Kelley. A risk here is that if Frito-Lay doesn't work out while I'm in school, there aren't as many other CPG companies recruiting at McCombs. While Dallas/Frito-Lay would be nice, I'll definitely say it's not at the top of the priority list compared to happiness and career prospects...it would just be a bonus.

Thoughts? Thanks!
User avatar
riverripper
User avatar
Major Poster
Joined: 10 Apr 2007
Last visit: 20 Aug 2022
Posts: 4,306
Own Kudos:
806
 [1]
Given Kudos: 5
Location: Back in Chicago, IL
Concentration: General/Operations Management
Schools:Kellogg Alum: Class of 2010
GMAT 1: 740 Q49 V42
Posts: 4,306
Kudos: 806
 [1]
Help picking final school - Marketing - Kelley vs McCombs? 22 Jun 2008, 16:15
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
I tend to think that if you are deciding between two regional programs which Kelley and McCombs both are then go with the one in the region you want to live. Overall rep of McCombs and it actually makes the top 10 in the USNews marketing ranking which Kelly doesnt.

You can contact the schools career services department and ask them for more specific stats in certain industries and you can even ask how well they place students in certain companies. They probably will be able to quickly get you that info.
User avatar
cpgmba
User avatar
Current Student
Joined: 19 Apr 2008
Last visit: 07 Apr 2010
Posts: 248
Own Kudos:
37
Concentration: CPG Marketing
Schools:R1: HBS(A), Kellogg(A), Michigan(A), Duke(A), Wharton(D)
Posts: 248
Kudos: 37
Help picking final school - Marketing - Kelley vs McCombs? 22 Jun 2008, 17:27
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
That's a great point. I've emailed career services to see what data they can provide.

Hopefully the data will help as even though McCombs has a better reputation and is in a more desirable location, it still feels like Kelley has the better program for CPG Brand Management.
User avatar
Toploader
User avatar
Current Student
Joined: 02 Jun 2007
Last visit: 10 Jan 2013
Posts: 156
Own Kudos:
12
Concentration: Entrepreneurship, General Management
Schools:The University of Texas at Austin
Posts: 156
Kudos: 12
Help picking final school - Marketing - Kelley vs McCombs? Updated on: 23 Jun 2008, 04:19
Originally posted by Toploader on 23 Jun 2008, 02:10.
Last edited by Toploader on 23 Jun 2008, 04:19, edited 1 time in total.
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
If it's not totally obvious from my avatar, I'm headed to McCombs. I couldn't tell you the first thing about CPG there, however (I had to look up what CPG meant just a few months ago!).

I know you didn't ask, but based on your goals I think Rice's Jones school might be a great match. Frito-Lay recruits there, and while Rice's MBA program doesn't have the national recognition or ranking that Kelley or McCombs do, let alone your other schools, the Rice name is second to none in Texas (the average Texas is going to assume that Rice's program is superior to Texas' - seriously). If that's really where you want to end up then it might be worth considering. Also, if you're competitive at your target schools, there is an excellent chance that you'll get into Rice with a sizable scholarship.

squali83 is at Rice and is interning in a CPG position this summer.
User avatar
kryzak
User avatar
Major Poster
Joined: 04 Jun 2007
Last visit: 10 Aug 2013
Posts: 5,452
Own Kudos:
744
Given Kudos: 14
Status:Um... what do you want to know?
Location: SF, CA, USA
Concentration: Technology, Entrepreneurship, Digital Media & Entertainment
Schools:UC Berkeley Haas School of Business MBA 2010
GPA: 3.9 - undergrad 3.6 - grad-EE
WE 1: Social Gaming
Posts: 5,452
Kudos: 744
Help picking final school - Marketing - Kelley vs McCombs? 23 Jun 2008, 03:02
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Region is key for the two schools you're looking at. If there's a remote chance you'll stay in the Texas area, the McCombs will get you a lot farther. Even outside of Texas, McCombs and Kelley are pretty close in reputation and you won't go wrong at either (except maybe in the Chicago area, where Kelley probably is a bit stronger).
User avatar
cpgmba
User avatar
Current Student
Joined: 19 Apr 2008
Last visit: 07 Apr 2010
Posts: 248
Own Kudos:
37
Concentration: CPG Marketing
Schools:R1: HBS(A), Kellogg(A), Michigan(A), Duke(A), Wharton(D)
Posts: 248
Kudos: 37
Help picking final school - Marketing - Kelley vs McCombs? 23 Jun 2008, 17:33
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
kryzak
Region is key for the two schools you're looking at. If there's a remote chance you'll stay in the Texas area, the McCombs will get you a lot farther. Even outside of Texas, McCombs and Kelley are pretty close in reputation and you won't go wrong at either (except maybe in the Chicago area, where Kelley probably is a bit stronger).
Show more

Haha, funny you mention that. The other place we would really like to end up long-term is Chicago. :) However, a prominent career with a great CPG company is more important than living in Texas. (That's why Frito-Lay is so appealing to me.)

I really need to reach out to current students to get a better feel for the programs. That's been the most helpful thing so far with the other schools.

Thanks!
User avatar
Mark4124
User avatar
Joined: 05 Apr 2006
Last visit: 25 Nov 2008
Posts: 726
Own Kudos:
12
Posts: 726
Kudos: 12
Help picking final school - Marketing - Kelley vs McCombs? 25 Nov 2008, 01:31
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
I'm a finance guy at Kelley, marketing isn't really my thing, but if you are into CPG, I would say this is the place to be... P&G recruits every year and marketing is huge here.