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First of all, just want to say I realize how fortunate I am to have this decision. I know there are a ton of other well-qualified, super-hard working applicants that haven’t been as fortunate this cycle, so I really feel blessed to have this in front of me. And I thank everyone immensely who takes the time to vote/comment on this. I’d also like to give a quick shout-out to speedyb09, who I re-purposed some of his or her thoughts for this.
This has been a much tougher decision than anticipated, which is why I’m wondering what you guys think.
About Me
I come from a non-traditional path (PR) and I didn’t have a business undergrad degree (Political Science). I am a bit on the older side (29) for a typical applicant, and also have a girlfriend with a very strong opinion (wants to be in LA, with Chicago as a second choice).
What I am Looking to Do Post-MBA
My mind is set on pursuing marketing (brand management in CPG or product management in tech). The concept of running a “small business within a larger one” through product and brand management really appeals to me. I also want exposure to entrepreneurial classes and this is something I might want to pursue while at business school –but likely on an idea or project someone else is already working on, and this is really secondary to my marketing goals. I feel like the MBA gives me a chance to start in a new industry/job function, while understanding a vast amount more about business than just my PR-centric background, so I am really excited about that.
I have absolutely no interest in finance or consulting and while I want to benefit from those classes and exposure to students with that expertise, it’s just not in my interests.
What I am Looking For in a Program
--More than the “traditional” MBA experience. I want a program that is trying new things.
--A community full of passionate program members. Perhaps this has to do with size, perhaps it has to do with levels of interaction, but engaged classmates are awesome. And an engaged community = engaged alumni. I want to go to a place where people love their school.
--Hands-on opportunities to learn. I learn best when I can “do” what I am learning, or see it in action.
--Prestige. The universal thing I have heard from my awesome friends during this process is brand value matters. Ideally, the school will have this on a national level, but if it’s West Coast-specific that is OK because I can see myself there long-term.
--A great marketing reputation. Somewhere that has companies consistently on-campus that are looking for their future brand and product managers. I want a variety of opportunities so I can hone in on what exactly (between brand and product management, and even deeper on each) really excites me.
--Somewhere that will hand me land a GREAT product or brand management job. Note I didn’t say a “high-paying” job. I want a job that will get me excited to get out of bed every morning.
--Leadership development. I want to feel confident coming out of the program I am prepared to lead.
--A fun, yet challenging, atmosphere. I do terrible work when I’m bored.
Financials
Based on my calculations, the first-year difference I am looking at with each school and location (cost of living included) is roughly $22K more to attend Fuqua over UCLA, and $28K to attend Kellogg over Fuqua (so about $50K more to attend Kellogg over UCLA).
Apologies for typing so much already –I just hope this helps anyone who reads this understand my mindset and inspires you to tell me your opinion. At the risk of overstaying my welcome on this post, some pros and cons I see for each school are below. I’m really looking for your opinion/help on if any of these perceptions and research is incorrect and/or if there is something I am not considering that I should be, and what decision you would make. For example, between the three schools I see that (according to employment reports), starting salaries (mean and median) for brand and product management salaries at each of these are very similar. I’ve heard that this is true from brand managers at Heinz and Colgate. I would love to hear if anyone thinks/knows if this perception or research is in fact wrong.
Again, thank you all for your help!!
Fuqua:
Pros
--Fell in love with it when I visited and at BDW (it was the first school I saw, about 2 years ago). Was my first choice heading into REALLY getting to know each school.
--Feel super-connected to the “Team Fuqua” concept and attitude from the student body the 3 times I visited
--I have a close friend who worked at the same PR firm I did, graduated from Fuqua and is now a brand manager at Heinz. Based on her path and feedback, I feel confident there will be ample marketing opportunities to me (but I do feel there would be more at Kellogg.)
--Parents live in the area, and I love the area. I know it super-well, and the transition will be easy.
--Cost of living is very cheap.
--I love the six-week terms. I want something that feels like I am drinking from a fire hose –I want to ramp-up quickly.
--Dedicated product management concentration. Only program with this out of the three.
--Tech seems to be growing A LOT here, and that exposure is important to me.
--It’s on the East Coast, where the majority of my professional and personal connections are.
--Scholarship & cost of living benefits will likely mean little debt at graduation.
--Awesome building. My favorite of the three, could see myself happy here every day.
Cons
--Not the same brand value as Kellogg.
--Likely less range of brand/product management opportunities than Kellogg (or at least that is my perception), even if they pay the same.
--While the reputation for tech has increased, it’s still not on the West Coast.
Kellogg:
Pros
--Easily the best marketing school. Rankings are (I’m sure some would argue) much higher than the other two here, although I don’t see a huge delineation (in my head, anyway) between a program ranked #1 for marketing ( Kellogg) and #7 (Fuqua).
--Feel confident I’d have the best range of opportunities.
--The “brand value” of having Kellogg on my resume.
--Amazing social opportunities. Students seem engaged and that they really enjoy each other –KWEST, for heaven’ sake.
--Have a ton of close friends in Chicago outside of the ones I will make in the program.
--Entrepreneurship seems to be the strongest here.
Cons
--Didn’t feel as connected to the students as I did at Fuqua and UCLA.
--Extremely expensive (will likely cost me $180K total, but I do have a savings cushion of $70K or so). I have heard all the “drop in the bucket” stuff but remember, there is a ZERO percent chance I end up in consulting or finance. If starting salaries are truly (I want to figure out if this is really the case) similar for brand and product management roles, $170K is extremely significant.
--Building is old and feels a little claustrophobic.
--Cold. Otherworldly cold.
--Not as much access to tech as UCLA or Fuqua, which I would like to have.
UCLA:
Pros
--Combination of scholarship, savings and living with my girlfriend means I would likely have no or extremely little debt at graduation that would easily be covered by the internship and/or signing bonus.
--Tech reputation is awesome and the best out of the three. I talked to a few students who told me about all the recent inroads at Google and throughout the West Coast (Microsoft, Amazon, etc.)
--The recent growth of “Silicion Beach”. It’s nowhere near the Valley, but startups like Snapchat and one I currently work with now (on their PR), along with articles I have read, lead me to believe there is a growing buzz in the area I can benefit from.
--Can take marketing in the first quarter, outside of core classes. This will immediately help with those brand/product management internship interviews.
--Student interview prep for product management in tech seems particularly strong. Almost every student mentioned this. I don’t have a technical background, but I love tech. I got the feeling I could still land a product management job benefitting from this alone (and didn’t feel this way at the other schools).
--Weather/living. This is easily my favorite climate/lifestyle of the three.
--Ability to play outdoor sports year-round. This is a small factor, but I know it would make me happier.
--Lots of friends and family in the area. And they love it there.
Cons
--Marketing seems strong, but limited to LA/California/West Coast. Brand management opportunities seem good at the main LA-based companies (like Mattel).
--Seems to have a very regional reputation. I think my ability to move back out to the East Coast (if I wanted to) would be limited.
--The AMR projects (hands-on) seem very hit-or-miss. I’ve heard really good things, and really terrible thing.
--The CMC (career management center) seems the weakest and least engaged amongst the three.
--Along the same lines, less prestigious than the other two.
Would love to hear what all you wonderful people think. I will be at BDW for Fuqua but of course, UCLA and Kellogg’s admit weekends are the same, so I’ll be going to Kellogg’s.
Thanks in advance to everyone for the help and opinions/insights!
This has been a much tougher decision than anticipated, which is why I’m wondering what you guys think.
About Me
I come from a non-traditional path (PR) and I didn’t have a business undergrad degree (Political Science). I am a bit on the older side (29) for a typical applicant, and also have a girlfriend with a very strong opinion (wants to be in LA, with Chicago as a second choice).
What I am Looking to Do Post-MBA
My mind is set on pursuing marketing (brand management in CPG or product management in tech). The concept of running a “small business within a larger one” through product and brand management really appeals to me. I also want exposure to entrepreneurial classes and this is something I might want to pursue while at business school –but likely on an idea or project someone else is already working on, and this is really secondary to my marketing goals. I feel like the MBA gives me a chance to start in a new industry/job function, while understanding a vast amount more about business than just my PR-centric background, so I am really excited about that.
I have absolutely no interest in finance or consulting and while I want to benefit from those classes and exposure to students with that expertise, it’s just not in my interests.
What I am Looking For in a Program
--More than the “traditional” MBA experience. I want a program that is trying new things.
--A community full of passionate program members. Perhaps this has to do with size, perhaps it has to do with levels of interaction, but engaged classmates are awesome. And an engaged community = engaged alumni. I want to go to a place where people love their school.
--Hands-on opportunities to learn. I learn best when I can “do” what I am learning, or see it in action.
--Prestige. The universal thing I have heard from my awesome friends during this process is brand value matters. Ideally, the school will have this on a national level, but if it’s West Coast-specific that is OK because I can see myself there long-term.
--A great marketing reputation. Somewhere that has companies consistently on-campus that are looking for their future brand and product managers. I want a variety of opportunities so I can hone in on what exactly (between brand and product management, and even deeper on each) really excites me.
--Somewhere that will hand me land a GREAT product or brand management job. Note I didn’t say a “high-paying” job. I want a job that will get me excited to get out of bed every morning.
--Leadership development. I want to feel confident coming out of the program I am prepared to lead.
--A fun, yet challenging, atmosphere. I do terrible work when I’m bored.
Financials
Based on my calculations, the first-year difference I am looking at with each school and location (cost of living included) is roughly $22K more to attend Fuqua over UCLA, and $28K to attend Kellogg over Fuqua (so about $50K more to attend Kellogg over UCLA).
Apologies for typing so much already –I just hope this helps anyone who reads this understand my mindset and inspires you to tell me your opinion. At the risk of overstaying my welcome on this post, some pros and cons I see for each school are below. I’m really looking for your opinion/help on if any of these perceptions and research is incorrect and/or if there is something I am not considering that I should be, and what decision you would make. For example, between the three schools I see that (according to employment reports), starting salaries (mean and median) for brand and product management salaries at each of these are very similar. I’ve heard that this is true from brand managers at Heinz and Colgate. I would love to hear if anyone thinks/knows if this perception or research is in fact wrong.
Again, thank you all for your help!!
Fuqua:
Pros
--Fell in love with it when I visited and at BDW (it was the first school I saw, about 2 years ago). Was my first choice heading into REALLY getting to know each school.
--Feel super-connected to the “Team Fuqua” concept and attitude from the student body the 3 times I visited
--I have a close friend who worked at the same PR firm I did, graduated from Fuqua and is now a brand manager at Heinz. Based on her path and feedback, I feel confident there will be ample marketing opportunities to me (but I do feel there would be more at Kellogg.)
--Parents live in the area, and I love the area. I know it super-well, and the transition will be easy.
--Cost of living is very cheap.
--I love the six-week terms. I want something that feels like I am drinking from a fire hose –I want to ramp-up quickly.
--Dedicated product management concentration. Only program with this out of the three.
--Tech seems to be growing A LOT here, and that exposure is important to me.
--It’s on the East Coast, where the majority of my professional and personal connections are.
--Scholarship & cost of living benefits will likely mean little debt at graduation.
--Awesome building. My favorite of the three, could see myself happy here every day.
Cons
--Not the same brand value as Kellogg.
--Likely less range of brand/product management opportunities than Kellogg (or at least that is my perception), even if they pay the same.
--While the reputation for tech has increased, it’s still not on the West Coast.
Kellogg:
Pros
--Easily the best marketing school. Rankings are (I’m sure some would argue) much higher than the other two here, although I don’t see a huge delineation (in my head, anyway) between a program ranked #1 for marketing ( Kellogg) and #7 (Fuqua).
--Feel confident I’d have the best range of opportunities.
--The “brand value” of having Kellogg on my resume.
--Amazing social opportunities. Students seem engaged and that they really enjoy each other –KWEST, for heaven’ sake.
--Have a ton of close friends in Chicago outside of the ones I will make in the program.
--Entrepreneurship seems to be the strongest here.
Cons
--Didn’t feel as connected to the students as I did at Fuqua and UCLA.
--Extremely expensive (will likely cost me $180K total, but I do have a savings cushion of $70K or so). I have heard all the “drop in the bucket” stuff but remember, there is a ZERO percent chance I end up in consulting or finance. If starting salaries are truly (I want to figure out if this is really the case) similar for brand and product management roles, $170K is extremely significant.
--Building is old and feels a little claustrophobic.
--Cold. Otherworldly cold.
--Not as much access to tech as UCLA or Fuqua, which I would like to have.
UCLA:
Pros
--Combination of scholarship, savings and living with my girlfriend means I would likely have no or extremely little debt at graduation that would easily be covered by the internship and/or signing bonus.
--Tech reputation is awesome and the best out of the three. I talked to a few students who told me about all the recent inroads at Google and throughout the West Coast (Microsoft, Amazon, etc.)
--The recent growth of “Silicion Beach”. It’s nowhere near the Valley, but startups like Snapchat and one I currently work with now (on their PR), along with articles I have read, lead me to believe there is a growing buzz in the area I can benefit from.
--Can take marketing in the first quarter, outside of core classes. This will immediately help with those brand/product management internship interviews.
--Student interview prep for product management in tech seems particularly strong. Almost every student mentioned this. I don’t have a technical background, but I love tech. I got the feeling I could still land a product management job benefitting from this alone (and didn’t feel this way at the other schools).
--Weather/living. This is easily my favorite climate/lifestyle of the three.
--Ability to play outdoor sports year-round. This is a small factor, but I know it would make me happier.
--Lots of friends and family in the area. And they love it there.
Cons
--Marketing seems strong, but limited to LA/California/West Coast. Brand management opportunities seem good at the main LA-based companies (like Mattel).
--Seems to have a very regional reputation. I think my ability to move back out to the East Coast (if I wanted to) would be limited.
--The AMR projects (hands-on) seem very hit-or-miss. I’ve heard really good things, and really terrible thing.
--The CMC (career management center) seems the weakest and least engaged amongst the three.
--Along the same lines, less prestigious than the other two.
Would love to hear what all you wonderful people think. I will be at BDW for Fuqua but of course, UCLA and Kellogg’s admit weekends are the same, so I’ll be going to Kellogg’s.
Thanks in advance to everyone for the help and opinions/insights!
20 Apr 2014, 08:13
Kudos
Bookmarks
I had $40k from UCLA and $20k from Fuqua, and chose Kellogg. For me it was an easy choice (I want to do consulting), but you both have higher scholarships and are going for lower paid careers. I think you should decide what type of CPG work you want to work do, and at what companies. If you want a prestige company, Kellogg will make it substantially easier. If you want just a good CPG job, fuqua is fine. Starting salaries will be around the same, but career progressions potentially different.
Also, culture matters. I liked Kellogg better than Duke, but if you liked Dukes culture better, it's something to consider.
Also fill out the fafsa before making decisions, Kellogg gives additional scholarships and grants out thru the financial aid office.
Let me know if you have any further questions since we were from such similar situations.
Posted from my mobile device
Also, culture matters. I liked Kellogg better than Duke, but if you liked Dukes culture better, it's something to consider.
Also fill out the fafsa before making decisions, Kellogg gives additional scholarships and grants out thru the financial aid office.
Let me know if you have any further questions since we were from such similar situations.
Posted from my mobile device
21 Apr 2014, 13:30
Kudos
Bookmarks
I shot SIF a PM, but for anyone else reading this...Kellogg actually gave me a decent scholarship through the financial aid office after I filled out the fafsa, so if you're deciding between schools, you should def await for the full package. I ended up getting more than my Fuqua over-the-phone merit scholarship.
