Foster vs Marshall vs UNC for Tech Internationals (Solved: Foster)

Question

Hey,

I have been admitted from these schools MBA FT program and trying make a rational and informative choice.

I am an international student with 9 years experience in tech industry, postMBA goal is to join one of the top tech companies(ideally Google) but open to other options like tech consulting positions&firms. I plan to go back to my home country in long term but will try to work for a couple of years in US if possible.

For the cost: UNC=Marshall $130,000 > Foster $60,000(with $40,000 scholarship).

Please help to suggest and provide insights! Thank you all in advance!

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Update on March 23, 2021:

Eventually I decided to join Foster and it has been more than half a year passed and I am VERY happy about the decision! (got an internship offer in a big tech (FAANG) and Seattle is just AMAZING!) Good luck ya'll!

Welshy · Answer

Any insights will help!

mcwalcott · Answer

Congratulations on offers! When I was considering schools I was seriously looking into Foster. You're right, KF is out given your career aspirations. Foster has a smaller program but better positioned in terms of location with Amazon and Microsoft at doorsteps and Google epxanding their Seattle office. There are also a ton of other tech firms in the Greater Seattle area. USC is overall more prestigious than Washington but Marshall and Foster are more or less peers. The weather in LA is way better but living costs may be higher, obvious, sorry. My only concern is the size of Foster MBA program with ~100 students, I'd prefer slightly more but you'll know everyone closely

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bb · Answer

Marshall has surprised me in the last year with climbing the rankings (though it appears it may be strongly due to their strong performance in the diversity factor). I would not hesitate to recommend Foster. However, something you shoudl be aware of is that Google does not just recruit or sign people up and you will have to network quite a bit to get a job or internship and most of it will be off-campus. They are a tough company to recruit for. I would probably recommend  TryingToMakeIt  to weigh in on Foster recruiting. I would not think Marshall would be as strong in Tech, personally, but I am still learning about the Marshall program.  jinzen  - would you know about Marshall Tech Recruiting?

TryingToMakeIt · Answer

Tech background = great chance of success at Foster. What kind of work did you do in the tech space? Marshall has some stronger connections at California tech (Apple) than Foster probably does, but Foster obviously has the Seattle tech network. Google is hit or miss no matter where you go ??‍♀️

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TryingToMakeIt · Answer

Everytime I try to post the "who knows" emoji, I end up with that^. Hah.

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jinzen · Answer

Sure, I can speak a bit about Marshall Tech Recruiting. 21% of the Full Time program enter Tech, just behind Consulting (25%): https://www.marshall.usc.edu/sites/defa ... _v01.2.pdf (Also, I credit our excellent Assistant dean and director of Graduate Career Services Mark Brostoff for helping Marshall's rankings through successful and lucrative post graduation outcomes). Marshall has a very extensive tech recruiting and support system; when you join Marshall you enter an ecosystem of career, club, and alumni resources that are geared to help you navigate the roles, up skills, and preparation needed for program, product, project, and product marketing management. Being part of the growing LA Tech scene helps, as well as our proximity to the Valley. But, I would agree that, like Foster, there are no formal feeder recruitment programs for tech. Most of it is just in time, and getting coveted internships and jobs like Google is not handed to you and depends a lot on leveraging the network and demonstrating excellence in the interviews. I am graduating later this year and recruiting for both Consulting and Technology (Corporate Strategy or Tech Consulting, similar functions in different environments. Marshall is stronger in recruiting for Consulting than Tech but they are not that far off.

bb · Answer

Thanks so much for chining in!

Marshall has accomplished a lot especially without a FT Dean. Good luck with the recruiting! These tough times so don’t beat yourself up too hard in case things take a bit longer. Lots of folks are out of jobs and companies don’t know which way is up. Good luck!!!

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jinzen · Answer

Thank you! Much appreciate it. It's been a tough summer for internships as well, but hoping things improve by end of the year.

bb · Answer

Thanks! We are working on fixing that emoji on Saturday. It requires a downtime. There’s some tech

ANALysis · Answer

voted usc mainly for location, as i think all three of those rank about the same

Regenerate · Answer

The odds of a successful outcome appear pretty similar at all three ... so save a couple of bucks and go to Foster. IMO.

Good luck!

Welshy · Answer

Thank you guys so much for the elaborate advices! They are very very very helpful!

Actually I have got some new updates:

Foster offered $40k(two years) scholarship, which makes the cost of attending the program become $60k compares to $130k in Marshall. I guess it is a reason good enough for me to choose Foster with no brain (despite the differences between the two).

However, Marshall also mentioned if I retake the test(GRE) before summer, I would have the chance to receive a scholarship. Score needed-I don't know, what is the amount of $ - I don't know, if I can hit the score in time(before July)- I don't know (GRE is new to me, but maybe if I work really really hard for a month - yes for around 320/325 something)

So new struggles.. For now I am inclined to Foster because of the too many uncertainties mentioned above. Why I am still thinking Marshall is that I am not dead-set to work in tech companies post graduate, it is one track I would focus on given my background, but I would also like to explore other options/possibilities during my MBA - like what else I can do in my career? Maybe something else? I have spent 9 years working in tech industry, it is a time long enough for me to get kind of 'bored' sometimes (sorry but I also had so much fun!) I see Marshall might have a more diverse environment for such a exploration. Sometimes options means trouble:)

Thank you all again!

Welshy · Answer

Hi! I have worked as Sr.Product Manager in AI industry for three years(basically focused on data related products). Before I was a software engineer and project manager for several years early in career. Lol I agree that Google is hit or miss for both schools. Btw, do you know what tech companies normally internationals end up to? Can you share a bit. Thank you!

Welshy · Answer

Thank you so much for the help bb!

Welshy · Answer

Thank you for the valuable information! Tbh, I like Marshall a lot despite its cost (when you didn't get a scholarship) ><

Good luck with the job hunting and everything!

Foster vs Marshall vs UNC for Tech Internationals (Solved: Foster)

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