Need help deciding school

Question

Hi,

I'm an Indian female applicant and so far I've gotten four admits - 
1) Smeal - no scholarship
2) Purdue - $$
3) Foster - no scholarship
4) Urbana Champaign - $$$

I have also appeared for interviews with Maryland Smith and Kelley. Their results will be out by March end. But I have to let Urbana Champaign and foster know my decision before March 1.

I am interested in pursuing management consulting and would be targeting firms such as Deloitte, Microsoft post graduation.

I am a little worried about the internship and placement opportunities for international students in the above schools. I feel torn between the opportunities that Seattle would provide and the scholarship that Urbana Champaign is providing which would really take the worry off finances.

Please advice on which school I should go to?

Thanks in advance!

Best Regards,
Snigdha

snigdha1605 · Answer

Can someone plz help ...

Cantona · Answer

Of those 4, I would guess that Foster is probably your best bet. Although Urbana-C is also quite good.

Here's the thing: contact Foster. You probably did this during your application.. but ask them directly how placements are. Ask what its like for international students, etc. Have them put you in touch with a current indian student (promise there is one..) who has your visa status. Speak with the student. That will really be your best bet.

Best
-C

snigdha1605 · Answer

Thanks C! But I'm getting the same response from students at both ends --- That its tough for international students and that the companies I'm interested in do come to recruit at both campuses. Its difficult to get a list of the no. of companies that specifically come to recruit int. students and how many they actually recruit .

Cantona · Answer

I think in a way, you know the answer but don't like it

It will definitely be harder. However, if you do your homework I think you'll be ok. You will need to be more flexible than a US citizen, you'll also have to do more work to get the interview. I work with quite a few Indian nationals that graduated in the disaster that is the 2009 US economy, and they managed to get jobs (although obviously, not all did). A school such as foster places well because it is regionally strong (little competition, among other things). UC will help with the 12k scholarship, but its location is tougher. I would say that UC is less of a direct feeder - where Foster is a huge feeder into Microsoft (read Poet & Q's article on job placements). I honestly don't know the placement into Big 4 from those schools. Perhaps there is another that places really well. Go where the chances are maximized in your favor if getting a work visa is your primary (and valid) concern. -C

InterviewBay2 · Answer

Congratulations on making it to all 4 schools. All of them are good. Employment demographics are almost the same for all. I would say Foster is the best out of all 4. Going by its employment statistics, it stands best. Next could be Purdue followed by Urbana Champaign. My suggestions are purely based on your post-MBA goals. I would say that scholarship should not be dominating your decision of choosing your school. Your investment is always paid back. Kelley is also good but I don’t think leaving Foster is a wise decision just to wait for the results. So think about it all and then decide.
Good Luck!

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