Rice($$) vs Carlson($$) vs Fisher($$) vs Merage($$)

Question

Hey guys,

Hope everyone is safe, healthy and doing well.
Need your help and guidance once again as I step forward towards my MBA journey.

I have been lucky to be accepted in the below schools for their full time programs. I am a bit confused about which one to attend. I would really appreciate any input, advice, or information at all.
I am an international student with a pretty average profile. Been working in the IT industry for 6 years now. Post MBA, I plan to get into strategy consulting (could be an internal strategy role or as an entry level associate in an external strategy consulting company such as the Big 4). As a backup plan I will be targeting a Product/Brand Management role in the Tech industry. Based on my research I was able to gather the below information.

Rice Jones
Best brand recognition among all the schools that I am considering.
Students (specifically internationals) are usually able to land a PM role in the Tech industry. Consulting opportunities are average. I probably have a better chance to make my backup plan a reality than my primary one.
Houston is a great location to live in as well as network with potential employers.
Received scholarship of $92k.

Carlson
Seems like a big fish in a small pond. Although a regional school but Minnesota has a lot of opportunities and Carlson has good relations with the local companies there.
Known for it's Consulting and Marketing program. So I might be able consider both my post MBA plans. Although this year, most consulting internships for international students were for an internal strategy role and not in an external strategy consulting company.
MBB recruits on campus.
Academics and curriculum seems to be more suitable for my primary plan.
Received scholarship of $60k.

Fisher
Known for Operations specialization. Limited opportunities in Tech and some in consulting. Amazon is the major recruiter of international students here but recently students were hired for the Pathway program in the same.
Living cost seems to be the least among all the schools.
Pretty regional school.
Received scholarship of $90k (including GA).

Merage
Little to no opportunities in consulting for international students.
Great location for someone targeting the Tech industry and probably the best in that sense among all the schools.
Great curriculum majorly focused in the current tech and digital products/technologies.
Huge percentage of international students. That's not good I suppose.
Received scholarship of $95k.

Additional information
I have requested for additional funding from Carlson and Fisher.
I am also waiting to hear from Owen and Mendoza.
All the Big 4 companies has stopped sponsoring international students this year in what I have heard.

Apologies for such a long post, but I wanted to share as much information as possible.
Please share your thoughts. Any opinion, any insight will be highly appreciated!!

Most importantly, stay safe and healthy. Take care of yourself and your loved ones.

Update:

I wanted to add information related to STEM corresponding to these programs.
Jones - No STEM. Per my research, they are in the process of getting one.
Carlson, Mendoza and Fisher- MBA/MSBA program is STEM certified. I am not looking to get into a dual degree program.
Owen - Finance and Operations & Data Analytics has STEM designations.

I am not sure if I will be able to make use of the STEM thing for additional OPT years if I land a strategy role post MBA. I am not sure if that function/role comes under STEM but I believe employers will probably assist here. For the PM role in Tech, STEM definitely helps. Any thoughts on this?

Best,
Kabir

Most importantly, stay safe and healthy. Take care of yourself and your loved ones.

Update: I wanted to add information related to STEM corresponding to these programs. Jones - No STEM. Per my research, they are in the process of getting one. Carlson, Mendoza and Fisher- MBA/MSBA program is STEM certified. I am not looking to get into a dual degree program. Owen - Finance and Operations & Data Analytics has STEM designations. I am not sure if I will be able to make use of the STEM thing for additional OPT years if I land a strategy role post MBA. I am not sure if that function/role comes under STEM but I believe employers will probably assist here. For the PM role in Tech, STEM definitely helps. Any thoughts on this? Best, Kabir

BradyMVP · Answer

Rice the best of the bunch, including Mendoza Owen. And it’s continuing to soar through rankings. I would say Rice then Mendoza then Owen

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roykabir772 · Answer

Hey  BradyMVP ,

Thanks for your response. 
Apart from the consistent increase in the rankings (assuming Usnews rankings), are there any other factors that you took into consideration while suggesting the preference?

For consulting, wouldn't Owen rank higher than Rice?

Or are you considering the best fit among these schools for someone who could target both consulting and product management in Tech?

Best, 
Kabir

BradyMVP · Answer

Rice dominates the state of Texas post MBA. Almost guaranteed to get a job in the 130k range regardless of industry. They recruit well into consulting offices in Houston-even MBB and D. You can pivot from there to Chi Bos or NY a few years in. Jones does a much better job in consulting placement overall than Owen. Better at tech in Atlanta and Texas(Austin) than Owen imo. Check out the employment report on both. Rice is impressive and will likely be a consistent top 20 school in the not too distant future.

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Mo2men · Answer

Congrats.

I have some concerns that you need observe.

1- Internal strategy is not for internationals. It is something that happens long time ago. But have this changed due to STEM programs? I do not know.

2- If you read through recent postings in GC, you will find that MBB almost stopped sponsoring internationals for strategy consulting. Some few recruited for other positions like operation.

3- I think Fisher is STEM. I think it is a relief over Carlson. I heard that internationals find hard times be recruited in Carlson. So my advice is to check with current students or alumni through LinkedIn.

FinanceMan · Answer

This is interesting. I would have though McCombs would run the roost in Texas. Thanks for the info!

bb · Answer

I think McCombs is the bigger animal here in the MBA world. Rice has a strong undergrad name and reputation. It is ranked a lot higher in undergrad and some of that glory spills over. Think of Mendoza for example with Norte Dame.

Unfortunately, I don’t think anyone of these programs is stem except Merage. If Jones can offer you a stem degree, I could see that but with Merage, You’re getting a full ride and a three-year OPT. I don’t think Irvine is a whole lot to write home about or something to have high expectations about, BUT, You’re getting a big scholarship and you have the stem certification. I don’t know about the upsides but I like covering my downside. This is kind of like the index fund investment

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Mo2men · Answer

I hope no one faces this option soon. It seems OPT will be no longer safe haven. https://www.forbes.com/sites/stuartande ... 5fa4345f98

ANALysis · Answer

assuming none of them are STEM, i voted for rice solely due to the fact that it is the most well known

Staphyk · Answer

In my opinion I don’t think it will work. If it does (of course not). There are always more welcoming nations: Australia,Canada ,Scandinavia countries, some European countries etc.

bb · Answer

The idea is stupid that would require people to work for 10 years right after graduating. That would kill many of the US PhD programs and completely contradicts the concept of what they are trying to avoid (Chinese students returning to China after school). Not to say that logical things always prevail.... but still.

Regenerate · Answer

Not everyone is the same amount of smart.

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Staphyk · Answer

some of us have lots of options ,so policy changes and what not’s like this Neither bother nor scare us. Anyways roykabir772 go for Rice Univ (lots of rice to eat at least lol)

Regenerate · Answer

My comment was directed at the politicians purportedly in favor of this particular policy change.

roykabir772 · Answer

Hey  BradyMVP ,

Thanks for sharing those insights. Appreciate it. However, I feel McCombs dominates the Texas market post MBA. Rice comes second probably. 
Also, Rice sends around 35.5% (42) of its class to consulting whereas Owen sends 31% (46) of it's class to consulting. So yes, Rice is slightly better than Owen it seems. Funny that I always thought that Owen is way better than Rice when consulting is concerned.

roykabir772 · Answer

Hey  Mo2men ,

Thanks much for your response. 
I am aware that international students from Carlson and Fisher has received internship offers in internal strategy. I am not sure if STEM programs had an effect on this. But it doesn't seem so since all these students were enrolled in the FT MBA program at Carlson (Non STEM).

Yes, MBB almost stopped and Deloitte stopped completely. It makes me wonder how realistic targeting a strategy consulting role is at the moment. At least for international students.

MBA program is not STEM program at Fisher. The dual degree MBA/MSBA one is. Based on my research with current students at both school, a few internship offers were rescinded indeed. Majorly from a tech consulting firm. However, students at Carlson were more happy with how the school is helping them out in this situation than the ones in Fisher.

roykabir772 · Answer

Hey  bb ,

Thanks for your response. Appreciate it.

I am not highly excited about Merage primarily because of the lack of consulting opportunities there. Add to that the high percentage of international students and the living expenses as well. I learnt that UCI is majorly known as a research school and it's location gives access to a lot of Tech companies. But, I am also considering the competition from the other schools around Merage. I am looking for the best fit for both my post MBA targets and I feel Merage would be able to help me with the Tech one only. The scope looks better at other schools. Also, for the STEM thing, one can always opt for the dual degree programs at Carlson, Fisher and Mendoza post starting their school term.

For opportunities in consulting post MBA, would you agree with this ranking?
Rice>Owen>Carlson>Mendoza>Fisher>Merage

Please let me know.

roykabir772 · Answer

Hey  Staphyk ,

Thanks for your response.

Haha. True.
Any specific reason you're preferring Rice over other schools?

Mo2men · Answer

Hi  roykabir772

Just an advice, I always separate between internships and full time job. Internships are abounded by time. So make sure that internationals got full time jobs in internal strategy.

Also, If strategy consulting in MBB or others stops, you should have plan B and I stress plan C. currently, the uncertainties demand to be prepared with different plans.

Good luck my friend

HeelBear12 · Answer

Hello,
Current Carlson student here. All of my classmates wanting internships in internal strategy or product/brand management got them. We are lucky to have lots of firms that come on campus. I know a couple going tech as well. With your background, our career coaches and business development team will be able to help you as well. One of my favorite things about Carlson is our size, especially relative to our career staff. The career coaches and business development teams know most students plans and goals and aggressively work to get you there.

You are correct that we place very well regionally but I would also plug that we have alumni all over the country and world willing to help. I've had coffee chats on both coasts as well as in Texas, Colorado and Louisiana. Recruiting wise, the school has a pretty good reputation, in my opinion anyway. My internship is with a top CPG firm and I was not going to be in the midwest before they moved everything virtual.

Shoot me a message if youd like to chat further. Carlson was the correct decision for me, I'm more than happy to help you make the best choice for you.

Rice($$) vs Carlson($$) vs Fisher($$) vs Merage($$)

Jones vs. Fisher vs. Carlson vs. Merage

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