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Foster($$$) vs Tepper($$) for a post-MBA career in Tech

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thecookiemonster
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Schools: Haas '23 (WL) Ross '23 (WL) Foster '23 (A$) Tepper '23 (A$) Fuqua '23 (WL) ISB'22 (A)
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Tepper($$) vs Foster($$$) vs WL Considerations 18 Jan 2021, 14:38
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Hello Everyone,

I've been fortunate enough to be in this dilemma, but it's uncomfortable to be in it none the less.

Long story long, I'm an international candidate with a background in Software Engineering but currently working as a Product Marketing Manager at a tech startup. At this point, I'm pretty much married to tech and want to pursue Prod Mgt/Mkting post MBA. However, my have-it-all brain is also slightly open to pursuing consulting at an MBB post-MBA.

Following are the admits/waitlists available to me:
- Admitted Foster with In-State Tuition & 40K (approx. 35K post-scholarship)
- Admitted tepper with 80K (approx. 60K post-scholarship)
- Waitlisted post Interview Ross
- Waitlisted post Interview duke
- Waitlisted post Interview @Haas

My thoughts on Foster.
+ Seattle! Seattle! Seattle!
+ Could potentially graduate with no debt.
+ Small Class Size. (approx 110) I can personally vouch for the small-class size advantage having had a similar under-grad expereince
- Making into an MBB would be quite a challenge
- A slight brand disadvantage vs Tepper (read CMU)

My thoughts on Tepper.
+ MBB pivot would be much easier vs Foster
+ "Number/Analytics Driven" Curriculum. Stronger/More Advanced Tech-MBA Curriculum??
- Pittsburgh... Also, not Seattle.
- Will probably be in some debt post MBA
- Relatively larger class size (approx 240)

I'm currently curbing my enthusiasm about the prospects of converting my waitlists but would love to hear thoughts about those as well. Thanks in advance!
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Tepper($$) vs Foster($$$) vs WL Considerations 19 Jan 2021, 06:19
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Congratulations on your admits!

Consulting at MBB is a tough path regardless of the program you choose as it is highly competitive, especially as an international candidate.

I’m curious, do you have a location preference? Foster is going to place more so on the West Coast and Tepper on the East Coast.

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thecookiemonster
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Tepper($$) vs Foster($$$) vs WL Considerations 19 Jan 2021, 08:49
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FinanceMan
Congratulations on your admits!

Consulting at MBB is a tough path regardless of the program you choose as it is highly competitive, especially as an international candidate.

I’m curious, do you have a location preference? Foster is going to place more so on the West Coast and Tepper on the East Coast.

Posted from my mobile device
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I agree, but just looking at placement stats, far fewer Foster candidates end up converting MBB than Tepper.

I think I prefer west over east. But considering I've never been to either before, I might have a different opinion in the future.
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Tepper($$) vs Foster($$$) vs WL Considerations 19 Jan 2021, 13:59
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Congrats on your admits!
What, you will consider Foster, even though Tepper had nicer swag? How dare you! :lol:

I think a smaller class is usually not as helpful in an MBA program (i was also a fan of the smaller size programs and smaller class but a smaller class means fewer resources, fewer recruiting opportunities, and just a smaller footprint).

Foster is a fine program but the most helpful aspects come from being able to leverage the massive tech machines located in Seattle and place people into those jobs.

P.S. MBB is very hard. So if you are saying that your chances of getting into MBB are Double at Tepper vs. Foster, that's probably accurate ... but they are now 4% vs. 2% which still are misearable chances... https://gmatclub.com/forum/top-mba-h1b- ... l#p2707324 - About 200 MBA's in the US received H1B's at MBB's and that's based on about 3,500 International grads, so let's say about half of them applied (2,000) so chances are 1:10 for MBB successful placement.

PPS. i am noticing a pattern of taking the higher scolarship options these days (just noticing it subconsiously) and in part I think that's due to some of the hardships I am seeing across the board to lock in internships by applicants.
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Tepper($$) vs Foster($$$) vs WL Considerations 19 Jan 2021, 22:56
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Hi bb,
Quick question. What do you think explains Foster's place as a consistent Top 20 performer across multiple rankings?(GMATClub's rankings have it at 19). From what I see, the program seems to place heavily into Tech as you suggested and career pivots outside Tech seem to be much harder to achieve through Foster. Also Foster isn't a legacy brand name (like say a CMU which is big in India) or like you said a big class size to provide a dedicated alum base to increase the footprint outside Seattle.

What do you think the program is getting right?

bb
Congrats on your admits!
What, you will consider Foster, even though Tepper had nicer swag? How dare you! :lol:

I think a smaller class is usually not as helpful in an MBA program (i was also a fan of the smaller size programs and smaller class but a smaller class means fewer resources, fewer recruiting opportunities, and just a smaller footprint).

Foster is a fine program but the most helpful aspects come from being able to leverage the massive tech machines located in Seattle and place people into those jobs.

P.S. MBB is very hard. So if you are saying that your chances of getting into MBB are Double at Tepper vs. Foster, that's probably accurate ... but they are now 4% vs. 2% which still are misearable chances... https://gmatclub.com/forum/top-mba-h1b- ... l#p2707324 - About 200 MBA's in the US received H1B's at MBB's and that's based on about 3,500 International grads, so let's say about half of them applied (2,000) so chances are 1:10 for MBB successful placement.

PPS. i am noticing a pattern of taking the higher scolarship options these days (just noticing it subconsiously) and in part I think that's due to some of the hardships I am seeing across the board to lock in internships by applicants.
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thecookiemonster
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WE:Marketing (Computer Software)
Schools: Haas '23 (WL) Ross '23 (WL) Foster '23 (A$) Tepper '23 (A$) Fuqua '23 (WL) ISB'22 (A)
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Tepper($$) vs Foster($$$) vs WL Considerations 19 Jan 2021, 23:30
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bb
Congrats on your admits!
What, you will consider Foster, even though Tepper had nicer swag? How dare you! :lol:

I think a smaller class is usually not as helpful in an MBA program (i was also a fan of the smaller size programs and smaller class but a smaller class means fewer resources, fewer recruiting opportunities, and just a smaller footprint).

Foster is a fine program but the most helpful aspects come from being able to leverage the massive tech machines located in Seattle and place people into those jobs.

P.S. MBB is very hard. So if you are saying that your chances of getting into MBB are Double at Tepper vs. Foster, that's probably accurate ... but they are now 4% vs. 2% which still are misearable chances... https://gmatclub.com/forum/top-mba-h1b- ... l#p2707324 - About 200 MBA's in the US received H1B's at MBB's and that's based on about 3,500 International grads, so let's say about half of them applied (2,000) so chances are 1:10 for MBB successful placement.

PPS. i am noticing a pattern of taking the higher scolarship options these days (just noticing it subconsiously) and in part I think that's due to some of the hardships I am seeing across the board to lock in internships by applicants.
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Haha! I should probably call up Foster and ask to up their swag game.

TBH, 1/10 chances still seem gigantic by Indian standards, where most of us are used to competing with chances in decimal points! However, my "slight openness" towards pursuing consulting seems very unlikely. I think its probably rooted in my FOMO mentality.

While I am no exception to the seduction of higher scholarship packages, I don't want my final decision to be majorly influenced by that. If, the cost of attending both the schools were equal, what would be your suggestion then?

Also, any pre-emptive advice if I convert any of my waitlists (assuming without any scholarship) vs my current admits?
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Tepper($$) vs Foster($$$) vs WL Considerations 16 Mar 2021, 09:36
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thecookiemonster
bb
Congrats on your admits!
What, you will consider Foster, even though Tepper had nicer swag? How dare you! :lol:

I think a smaller class is usually not as helpful in an MBA program (i was also a fan of the smaller size programs and smaller class but a smaller class means fewer resources, fewer recruiting opportunities, and just a smaller footprint).

Foster is a fine program but the most helpful aspects come from being able to leverage the massive tech machines located in Seattle and place people into those jobs.

P.S. MBB is very hard. So if you are saying that your chances of getting into MBB are Double at Tepper vs. Foster, that's probably accurate ... but they are now 4% vs. 2% which still are misearable chances... https://gmatclub.com/forum/top-mba-h1b- ... l#p2707324 - About 200 MBA's in the US received H1B's at MBB's and that's based on about 3,500 International grads, so let's say about half of them applied (2,000) so chances are 1:10 for MBB successful placement.

PPS. i am noticing a pattern of taking the higher scolarship options these days (just noticing it subconsiously) and in part I think that's due to some of the hardships I am seeing across the board to lock in internships by applicants.

Haha! I should probably call up Foster and ask to up their swag game.

TBH, 1/10 chances still seem gigantic by Indian standards, where most of us are used to competing with chances in decimal points! However, my "slight openness" towards pursuing consulting seems very unlikely. I think its probably rooted in my FOMO mentality.

While I am no exception to the seduction of higher scholarship packages, I don't want my final decision to be majorly influenced by that. If, the cost of attending both the schools were equal, what would be your suggestion then?

Also, any pre-emptive advice if I convert any of my waitlists (assuming without any scholarship) vs my current admits?
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If you're still looking for input, there are two links in my signature block below that might help you sort through the details.

Good luck to you -- all five schools are solid, but, IMO, the three that waitlisted you are better than the two admits you've got.

Any update on those WL schools?