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[SOLVED] Tuck ($) vs Darden vs nothing vs reapply to HS

Tuck ($) vs Darden vs nothing vs reapply to HS

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Wakanda92
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[SOLVED] Tuck ($) vs Darden vs nothing vs reapply to HS [#permalink] New post   Updated on: 05 Sep 2020, 22:46
Hi everyone,

Update: Tuck scholarship offer increased to $25k/yr

I’m deciding between Tuck ($25/yr) and Darden (no money, but I have asked to be reconsidered). A bit about me below:

Location: South Africa
Age: 28
Experience (all in SA): 3 years consulting (combination of MBB and MBB spin-off) and +2 years in strategy/product management in commercial banking
Career interest: PM role at big tech firm or fintech in the US. Looking to stay in the US long term.

Tuck:
+ strong and loyal alumni base
+ good brand equity in the US
+ $
+ Center for Digital Strategies has solid network in tech industry and has strong ties to Ripple, a fintech I’m very interested in
+ strong personal fit based on my interactions with current students, staff, and fellow admits
- will graduate with ~$180k debt

I estimate my total opportunity cost at ~$280 given low salary of ~$40k-50k which is due to the weak local currency. Not too bad, all things considered.

Darden:
+ best teaching
+ strong personal fit, though not quite as good as with Tuck
+ better climate
- weaker brand equity, though not by that much
- no $, although cost of attendance would be similar due to Tuck’s higher tuition and living costs

I’m not leaning towards Darden, although I’m open to a pro-Darden case.

Nothing:
+ no debt
+ I have a reasonable career trajectory at the bank, but I’m not keen on staying in SA
- unlikely to find a better opportunity to establish myself in US
- will be getting a bit old for a 2 year MBA if I don’t go now

Reapply to HS:
+ provides the best brand and career opportunities
- will be a year older
- low probability of success

I’m leaning towards going to Tuck, but I’d appreciate the community’s input.

bb
souvik101990
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Originally posted by Wakanda92 on 09 Apr 2020, 01:40.
Last edited by Nikhil on 05 Sep 2020, 22:46, edited 2 times in total.
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ket310
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Re: [SOLVED] Tuck ($) vs Darden vs nothing vs reapply to HS [#permalink] New post   09 Apr 2020, 11:41
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I would seriously reassess your desire to do MBA. Clearly, when you applied to Tuck and Darden, you had those schools in mind (or at least as a back up to other schools). I just wanted to reiterate, that a lot of prospective students value HSW/M7 over T15. That is true in some cases that they offer more opportunities. In other cases, T15 can do exactly same thing for you that HSW will do. With your background and goal,I believe Tuck or Darden will do their job of placing you in a tech PM role. If you fail, that's not because you went to Tuck/Darden over M7/HSW, but because you didn't prepare well. So, I would cross off reapplying, unless you are M7 or bust (which, I don't think you should be with your target goal). That's my two cents as someone attending T15. The firm that I will be interning have half M7 and half T15 number of interns, and we would all be evaluated based on our performance, not what school we went to at this point. I just wanted to reiterate that T15 can potentially do the same job M7 would do.
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Re: [SOLVED] Tuck ($) vs Darden vs nothing vs reapply to HS [#permalink] New post   09 Apr 2020, 12:09
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Congrats Wakanda92 on your admits and a modest scholarship to Tuck - that's a nice add on.

To address your reapply question, many feel that with the world economies in unchartered waters and as the result, many feel the uncertainty about their jobs and about their personal situations. As the result, the expectations, at least immediate from both applicants and schools is that the applications will go up due to that uncertainty as well as due to some possible visa/matriculation issues with the incoming class. Therefore, most likely (though not for sure) is that getting into a bschool will be harder next year than this year and unless you feel you will have some good things on your side or profile improvements, you will likely have even a harder time with M7/HSW.

I would take the admit offer in your hand unless you feel MBA is not for you (I did not get that impression from your Post but I see ket310 took it that way and I know I am not always the most perceptive person... so I will follow their lead). MBA is a commitment and it takes grit and lots of trial and failures to succeed. You need to be up for it :)
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Wakanda92
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Re: [SOLVED] Tuck ($) vs Darden vs nothing vs reapply to HS [#permalink] New post   09 Apr 2020, 12:13
ket310 wrote:
I would seriously reassess your desire to do MBA. Clearly, when you applied to Tuck and Darden, you had those schools in mind (or at least as a back up to other schools). I just wanted to reiterate, that a lot of prospective students value HSW/M7 over T15. That is true in some cases that they offer more opportunities. In other cases, T15 can do exactly same thing for you that HSW will do. With your background and goal,I believe Tuck or Darden will do their job of placing you in a tech PM role. If you fail, that's not because you went to Tuck/Darden over M7/HSW, but because you didn't prepare well. So, I would cross off reapplying, unless you are M7 or bust (which, I don't think you should be with your target goal). That's my two cents as someone attending T15. The firm that I will be interning have half M7 and half T15 number of interns, and we would all be evaluated based on our performance, not what school we went to at this point. I just wanted to reiterate that T15 can potentially do the same job M7 would do.


ket310 /bb: Yeah, I agree with your points. It’s not so much an M7 or bust mindset. I’d take Tuck over most M7 due to personal preference. I think HS is a tier above and very hard to get, so I make a distinction on that. The truth is I won’t be able to get a job I want in the US without an MBA. It’s a tough place to immigrate to, especially if you’re not working for a global firm. I definitely want to do an MBA for the network and skill set while I’m still young enough to reap the ROI. I just put the reapply and don’t do MBA options for the sake of MECE.

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Re: [SOLVED] Tuck ($) vs Darden vs nothing vs reapply to HS [#permalink] New post   09 Apr 2020, 12:17
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I honestly would take Tuck over Darden any day unless it was IB or something very very specific. I think Tuck has a very strong brand and a very special experience that's not reflected in the Rankings.
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Re: [SOLVED] Tuck ($) vs Darden vs nothing vs reapply to HS [#permalink] New post   09 Apr 2020, 12:24
I agree with bb. I like Tuck over Darden despite what the rankings suggest. They are a very strong brand and from what I have heard, very loyal alumni. Good luck with you decision!

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Re: [SOLVED] Tuck ($) vs Darden vs nothing vs reapply to HS [#permalink] New post   09 Apr 2020, 16:25
Yeah... I just wanted to point out that M7 vs T15 is a relatively minor difference if you are targeting a very structured recruiting processed industry (assuming that the company/firm you want to go to has a decent presence in the T15 school). With Tuck vs Darden, I honestly think it is your personal preference. Tuck has a loyal alumni base, but so does Darden. When I got admitted to Darden, couple alumni who are C-level (VP technically, but the head of their division) of a Fortune 500 called me to come to Darden, although I ended up staying in NYC. So, I wouldn't discredit Darden over Tuck. Plus, Hanover is super cold while Cville is manageable. Anyways, good luck with your decision and enjoy your MBA life!
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Re: [SOLVED] Tuck ($) vs Darden vs nothing vs reapply to HS [#permalink] New post   09 Apr 2020, 16:34
[quote="ket310"]Yeah... I just wanted to point out that M7 vs T15 is a relatively minor difference if you are targeting a very structured recruiting processed industry (assuming that the company/firm you want to go to has a decent presence in the T15 school). With Tuck vs Darden, I honestly think it is your personal preference. Tuck has a loyal alumni base, but so does Darden. When I got admitted to Darden, couple alumni who are C-level (VP technically, but the head of their division) of a Fortune 500 called me to come to Darden, although I ended up staying in NYC. So, I wouldn't discredit Darden over Tuck. Plus, Hanover is super cold while Cville is manageable. Anyways, good luck with your decision and enjoy your MBA life![/quote]

I love alumni. Before I got admitted to Fuqua I built a good connection with the President and CEO of USPA Global Licensing Inc. He was instrumental in my decision. Now 2 weeks post decision, I have been contacted by several Fuqua alumni. An alumni base can make all the difference in my opinion.

[size=80][b][i]Posted from my mobile device[/i][/b][/size]
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Re: [SOLVED] Tuck ($) vs Darden vs nothing vs reapply to HS [#permalink] New post   09 Apr 2020, 18:19
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Wakanda92 - first off, congratulations! This is amazing and you have clearly had a hell of a ride this season. Tuck and Darden are GREAT schools and you will no problem recruiting for anything that you desire. Whether you get the job or not would depend on a bunch of things - some you can control some you cannot!

Because you are an international student, your tech PM dreams would have to be restricted into big names because they are ones that sponsor - I am talking Google, Apple, Amazon, Microsoft, Salesforce and Adobe. Maybe a few others will hire on case by case basis but that's all you got. All these companies will give you access to their people and alums from both Tuck and Darden, but if I had to pick, I'd go with Tuck. It has (arguably) a better brand name and they have recently tried to break into tech with very successful results.

BTW, I did tech PM recruiting extensively and feel free to ask if you have specific tech PM questions!
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Re: [SOLVED] Tuck ($) vs Darden vs nothing vs reapply to HS [#permalink] New post   12 Apr 2020, 05:31
I agree with most posts above. I would take the scholarship at Tuck over Darden especially since you are interested in tech more. As BB rightly points out if you were targeting a specific (IB role) then Darden might have a slight edge but overall Tuck would be the smarter choice imo. You have easy access to Boston and NY from Tuck and should provide you with better opportunities.
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[SOLVED] Tuck ($) vs Darden vs nothing vs reapply to HS [#permalink] New post   05 Sep 2020, 19:08
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I have reached out to the user and the user has decided to reapply to Harvard and Wharton
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Re: [SOLVED] Tuck ($) vs Darden vs nothing vs reapply to HS [#permalink] New post   06 Sep 2020, 00:15
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texas101 wrote:
I have reached out to the user and the user has decided to reapply to Harvard and Wharton


Wow! That's impressive! and ballsy! Good Luck Wakanda! Look forward to seeing you around for another season and fingers crossed. You are now wiser and more experienced - good attributes to attract "luck" ;-)
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Re: [SOLVED] Tuck ($) vs Darden vs nothing vs reapply to HS [#permalink] New post   06 Sep 2020, 09:25
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FWIW, I heard that a part of the reason for the decision was the concern regarding online classes.
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Re: [SOLVED] Tuck ($) vs Darden vs nothing vs reapply to HS [#permalink] New post   17 Oct 2020, 10:35
Wakanda92 wrote:
Hi everyone,

<snip>



As you consider your path forward, this might be of interest --- https://gmatclub.com/forum/gmatclub-off ... 35846.html
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Re: [SOLVED] Tuck ($) vs Darden vs nothing vs reapply to HS [#permalink]
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