UCLA Anderson ($$$) vs. UM Ross

Question

Hi Guys,

I'm going to add one more to the Ross-related scenarios.

I was admitted to Anderson with a 20k/year fellowship and to Ross with none. I'm still undecided on my area of focus but hope to work in Asia following graduation.

All else being equal, is Ross' "global brand" and slightly higher reputation worth foregoing a fellowship at Anderson if my concentration won't necessarily be in one of Ross' strengths (like consulting)?

Thanks for the help!

aerien · Answer

Anderson's ties to Asia are very strong, probably stronger than Ross' if you're looking at East Asia.

What are you looking to go into? All else equal + East Asia (and bonus of $$), I'd be inclined to take Anderson over Ross.

dgents101 · Answer

I'm undecided on my concentration. I have a background in non-profit management and may continue that route, but want to speak with career services/alumni about my options (and how realistic they are considering my background/skill set) before ruling out more traditional paths.

dman25 · Answer

If you're looking to go to Asia then I really think it's a no brainer - Anderson.

I don't understand the logic behind Ross being so much greater than Anderson - they are peer schools that are very similar except for the location. If anything UCLA is trending up while Ross is holding steady. Anderson might not be a 'global brand' but UCLA sure is. Plus, 2 years in West LA is tough to beat.

dgents101 · Answer

Thanks for the advice guys!

kingfalcon · Answer

I think both are fantastic schools and global brands. While $20K per year is not insignificant, I think you should view that money as a tie-breaker rather than a decision-maker. Visit both schools, talk to current students and alumni, and make your decision based on where you'd like to be for two years and which school you are most excited to join.

Think about it this way: when you tell your friends and family you got into UCLA and Michigan, which are you most proud of? Why?

P.S. You really should try to figure out what you want to do, but of course you already knew that. :lol:

old1442 · Answer

UCLA - great weather, great asia connection, plus the $..

Racer87 · Answer

All things considered I think it makes the most sense to head off to Anderson in your case

Great Asia connects + West Coast weather should be ideal for since you are still figuring out what you want to do

dgents101 · Answer

Hey, thanks for all the input guys.

Two things. First, I come from a cold weather state and don't mind a long winter. Until I read your posts giving the tie to UCLA due to its weather, climate hadn't crossed my mind.

Second, both schools have what I'm looking for in the social impact space. But with the exception of Finance (which I'm not considering), Ross seems to be quite a bit stronger than Anderson in the more traditional fields.

I would be proud to attend either school but the edge goes to Ross. I'm planning to appeal to financial aid for a fellowship. Going into the appliction process, I wasn't sure how I would be received and applied to a range of schools. I've received some very strong scholarships from lower-end Top 25 programs. Should I mention these in my appeal? Thank you again!

aerien · Answer

It sure can't hurt to mention it. You never know what can happen. Good luck!!

dgents101 · Answer

Hello, I thought I'd post a quick update about my fellowship request.

I sent a letter (via email) to the admissions officer who extended me the welcome email following my admission to Ross. In the letter I very briefly introduced myself, explained my situation/interest in the program and laid out the other fellowship offers I had received. I also let admissions know that I was ready to speak over the phone, if needed.

I received a reply by the end of the day. The admissions officer was very understanding and strightforward. She requested electronic copies of the fellowship offers and said that it was common practice at Ross to make decisions on such requests in concert with the Round 3 application cycle - it was likely that I would receive a decision in late April  at the earliest .

So, the wait will be tough because of deposit deadlines at other schools, but I appreciate how up-front they were about how the process would unfold. I'd be happy to answer more specific questions via personal message. Thanks!

old1442 · Answer

keep us updated.. interested to hear what they come back with.. if they give you more than ucla, id go back to ucla and tell them haha either school is great although i do think ucla would fit your needs just fine

dgents101 · Answer

Hello again. Just want to let everyone know the result of my fellowship request.

It was not granted.

Although not a deal-breaker, attending Ross out of pocket would be a pretty serious financial stretch. Nonetheless, Ross is where I want to be. I'll be making my final decision in the next few days. Wish me luck!

UCLA Anderson ($$$) vs. UM Ross

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