Intern
Joined: 26 Oct 2011
Status:Applying
Posts: 13
Given Kudos: 10
Location: United States
Concentration: Strategy, Entrepreneurship
GPA: 3.71
WE:Engineering (Aerospace and Defense)
Re: UCLA $$$ v. Kellogg
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12 Apr 2012, 09:37
Congrats on your acceptances. Obviously there are a lot of things to consider and I am not a person with intimate knowledge of the entertainment industry so my opinions don't hold too much weight. Since you said money isn't a huge concern I'll assume that isn't a factor in this decision.
First question is what type of media/entertainment are you interested in? Is there a specific segment which attracts you? Music, movies, network television, advertising, internet, print? That makes a significant difference. If your goal is to make it into a major film studio then the obvious choice is UCLA. Networking is important in most industries and it is paramount (no pun intended) in film and television. Entertainment is an industry that attracts many many people so relationships are key to gaining a legitimate position. You need to be where the epicenter of the industry is if you want to build a robust network, so LA is where you would need to be.
Now if you don't have your heart set on working for a big TV or film studio I think Kellogg would be the better choice. With Kellogg's top notch marketing reputation you should be able to land a good job at a major media conglomerate easily (think Clear Channel, Viacom, Disney). I believe Chicago is the 3rd largest media market in America and the largest (NY) isn't far away, so you shouldn't have any trouble breaking into the industry. Also, the Kellogg brand will go farther down the road if you leave the entertainment sector. However if you intend to stay in entertainment forever I believe it's an industry that doesn't put as much of a premium on prestigious education, rather it's more relationship based, so your MBA pedigree won't matter as much as in other industries.
In summary the questions you need to ask yourself are where do you want to live (if California the choice should be UCLA without question), what segment of the industry are you interested in, and are you sure want to do entertainment forever? If you want to make movies or TV go to LA. If you want to do just about anything else I'd go to Kellogg. My two cents.