Stern (no $), Yale ($), Ross ($)

Question

Hello GmatClub!

I'd like to start by thanking all this community's support for my application to the MBA. Although I haven't done many posts so far, I consumed a lot of existing content and discussions! Thank you very much.

I would like help to decide which b school to attend. A little about myself:
- I work with strategic consulting for the Media industry in a non MBB
- Brazilian
- 6 W.E.
- Company sponsored (total spons. = 150k) 
- ST Goal is to return to the company but in one of theirs US office (Chicago, NY or another major city). 
- Media is the industry I've worked for the longest and liked the most (want to continue consulting + Media, although consulting for other industries is fine)
- Internship in the media industry (not at a consulting company)
- Going with my partner

I was fortunate to be admitted to Stern (no $), Yale (40k), and Ross (40k). Accepting a scholarship would help me pay the rest of the tuition & fees, which I understand would be close to 25k for the two years (considerable money in BR).
I will send an email to Stern this week asking if they can match Yale/Ross sponsorship (not confident about it).

NYU
(++) New York
(++) Entertainment & Media Specialization
(+) Closer to some Media Companies (+internship recruiting)
(+) Really liked their EQ approach
(--) No Scholarship
(-) New York higher costs
(-) Weaker community (Weaker partners club also)
(-) T15
(-) Not a consulting school

Yale
(++) Ivy League + T10
(++) 40K Scholarship (will save ~25k/2yrs)
(+) Consulting School
(+) Really liked their Integrated Curriculum
(+) Close to NY/Boston
(?) Strong community (few Brazilians)
(--) New Heaven
(-) Newer school (doubts about SOM's MBA brand per se)
(-) Weaker for Media internship recruiting

Ross
(++) 40K Scholarship (will save ~20k/2yrs)
(+) Consulting School
(+) Strong community (a lot of Brazilians)
(+) Really liked their MAP
(--) Ann Arbor (in the big cities near - Detroit ): )
(-) Weaker for Media internship recruiting
(-) T15

What would you do?

Thanks again!

bb · Answer

Congratulations on your admits! If you are looking at media, New York is the place to be. It’s a tough industry to break into and the fact that you are already there, he’s amazing. However, if you are going back to your employer, and you were planning to work for them for the next two or three years after graduation, I don’t really think it’s that critical to be in New York or go to Stern. Since you’re not going to recruit, what would stern give you that Yale or Ross would not? I want the network in New York City? That’s kind of the main thing I could think of… If you were planning to recruit for media then absolutely Stern . But You are correct in the sense that you will be paying premium for living expenses in New York as opposed to New Haven or Ann Arbor but there are pros and cons to this. For example, you will need a car for Ross or Yale. And you can’t get away without one living in New York. Also, access to a lot of things for your partner will be better in New York. Though I’m not sure what they would be doing while you were at school since they cannot really work if moving straight from BR or can they? If not, Perhaps they can also enroll in Some kind of a local inexpensive college program that would give them an optional practical training working 20 hours a week or some thing like that. Maybe they can work remotely for their company 🤷‍♂️ I would say that you’re decision should be made together because you will need your partners support. Your days will be super busy and super stressed. You’ll be unavailable and irritated and miserable. Welcome to business school

jokes apart, you will need their support and you want them to be happy and on board. If you are not recruiting, I can see going to Yale. It’s a strong brand internationally and even if you want to toy with recruiting (most sponsored students do) it’s close enough to New York that you can take a train and be there for hours later. You can always come for a quick recruiting trip or something like that. I’m sure there will be plenty of people going for Consulting and Finance recruiting then you can tagalong. PS. The value of your business school net work and your degree greatly depreciates overtime. I don’t mean it loses value but I mean you’re the school importance kind of starts to lose value because at that point you have worked for two or three years and it would be a little bit out of ordinary if you suddenly started reaching out to Alumni for a job. It’s not unusual and it’s totally cool to net work but it’s usually not as effective as when you are in school. Couple years after graduating, you are kind of expected to leverage your work network, your colleagues, your suppliers, your vendors, etc. . PPS. If I missed something about Stern, I think you can totally reach out to stern and explain the situation to them. I’m not sure if they are aware about the total sponsorship cost and if perhaps they assumed the company pays everything. I’m sure they didn’t or maybe they did but it’s worth checking.

arielzynger · Answer

Hi, thanks for the answer!

I will be recruiting just for an internship but not for a full time job. I don’t exactly know how it works yet.

About my partner, she will be working part time online (3/4 hours a day) and the rest of the time she will be free. I was researching for some short courses in her work area (nutrition) but haven’t found much near Yale. Only some expensive masters. To be frank, she is my main concern.

Stern for me would be really for their track in media and for putting my partner in a big city. But the total cost difference is shocking. Maybe It worth catching a train for some of the weekends

Posted from my mobile device

bb · Answer

I would definitely make the decision together but I would explain the trade offs and background so that you don't say, "What would you choose" and they choose it based on the nearby grocery store location vs. long term career prospects.

I think for the internship you can recruit from any of the programs. Even if you find it challenging connecting and recruiting for the internship and end up having to do something less exciting than being at Netflix or HBO or Yankees stadium, such as MBB, I would say ultimately you have a job after 2 years. I don't see a whole lot of reason (tell me what I am missing as I feel I am) to get the most Media-focused program since your Job #1 after Bschool is set and your job #2 will not be on-campus recruiting 3 years later. It will be through your network and linked in and whatever other opportunities. Sure, it would be nice if you could reach out to a Stern alum to ask for some pointers who works in that company in NYC (that's one advantage you are giving up) but hopefully you will have a referral to start from someone in the industry... all networks and connections are important. Do you want to pay for a larger/bigger/stronger/much more relevant network in New York? 🤷‍♂️ It is like insurance...

MBASomeTime · Answer

As it stands I would vote SOM because of the cost delta. All schools are in the same tier (T15, T10 doesn't really exist). Stern is the strongest in media and has a good chunk of the class coming from similar professions.

Housing in NYC can be affordable but you have to make some sacrifices to match other cities. However, if you don't mind a 20 minute subway ride you can probably cut costs in half.

arielzynger · Answer

Thanks for the answers!

The cost delta is really big. I am starting to be more comfortable with the idea of spending some weekends at NYC to get the best of both worlds.

And about my partner, we are trying to see if she can work online full time and be a part of the Yale community as she is an extrovert.

Some people voted for Ross. What are the reasons for it for the ones that did?

Posted from my mobile device

bb · Answer

Those were probably Ross admits 😂

At the same time, Ross and Yale are peer schools. Do you have a pretty substantial overlap in terms of applicants, especially in the US. Yale does have a stronger international brand but I’m not sure how far it actually goes and how many people are in various locations from the business school. I wouldn’t really count undergrads as a net work since by the time they would be a resource or a useful link for your network, they would likely be 10-20 years out of undergrad and not be really connected or plugged in.

Ross has better connections for tech and places such as Microsoft, Amazon, Facebook and Apple. Obviously tech is in the toilet right now so only the Strong survive but they’re still taking in interns. If your butt summer internships are still on in a number of departments.

terencebrowner · Answer

Idk if anyone stated this. But Ann Arbor is rated one of the best college towns in America. As someone who has lived in Ann Arbor and nyc, and CT. obvi NYC is leap years ahead of “ALL” cities in America but Ann Arbor absolutely destroys CT in every way possible.

Posted from my mobile device

Posted from my mobile device

bb · Answer

Great point! And it was not stated... New Haven definitely ranks at the lower end of most bschool living situations except Wharton and this is likely something an international applicant would not know.

arielzynger · Answer

Again, Thanks for the replies!

Yes, I heard that Ann Arbor is one of the best rated cities in the US. But isn’t it too isolated? I know there is an airport near, but isn’t it more difficult to travel with frequency?

The city factor is the only major con about Yale for me. On the other hand, Being a train away from NYC and Boston is really interesting.

Posted from my mobile device

bb · Answer

I think you are trying to convince yourself 😂
Which is totally fine. But Yale is furthest from airports 😱

arielzynger · Answer

Yes, it makes sense! Thanks bb
I think I made my decision already.
Best

Posted from my mobile device

bb · Answer

Fantastic. Congratulations!

When you make the final decision, would love to know what made the difference for you and what you felt were the important factors. They’re different for different people so I always appreciate getting a new perspective.

Posted from my mobile device

Stern (no $), Yale ($), Ross ($) - for consulting / media

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