Stern vs Yale SOM for Consulting.

Question

Help me decide where I should apply.I was initially inclined towards Stern but met a Stern alumni last week who was not enthusiastic about the school.I know it is a small sample.I will be meeting few more soon.

I looked at the career placements of both schools and found that Yale is placing a larger % of its class in Consulting.25% by Yale vs 14% by Stern.But Stern's students are getting higher starting salaries.

https://mba.yale.edu/careers/employment/ ... nction2008

https://w4.stern.nyu.edu/ocd/recruiters/ ... _id=100720

Av · Answer

Neither of those schools are generally considered to be "consulting schools." Opportunities will exist at all of top tier schools, but Yale SOM and Stern both tend to place most of their students into finance.

As for starting salaries, the differences you're seeing can be attributed to statistical noise. From what I've heard, M/B/B/Booz will offer a career switcher at Harvard the same they offer a career switcher at any other top tier school (assuming they're being hired for the same job).

You probably shouldn't let employment reports keep you from attending a school that you really like though. As long as your target employers recruit there, you should have a fair shot.

3underscore · Answer

What year was the Stern alum, class2012? The Consulting side at Stern is one of the great growth stories over the past few years. The older they are, the less familiar they will be with that club.

Finance is the traditional strength at Stern, certainly, but that means the growth and focus is on other fields.

Class2012 · Answer

I believe class of 2000.Can you share the improvements that happened?

3underscore · Answer

Before it moved from Wall Street, NYU School of Commerce was pretty much a wall street feeder school as would be expected. Over the past years there has been a big push to open up the class a lot more, and it has been successful. The marketing part of the school has grown heavily, and there is clearly a conscious push on the side of Consulting that has been made over the past few years (read - strategy professors of high regard, active recruiting of candidates in that stream).

The consulting club has developed a lot, and has built similar facility and nature to that in the classic consulting schools - relationships with all consultancy firms are growing, with Bain opening up to the school more each year (my friend is going to Bain).

I am not going to compare - I don't know Yale at all, but I know Stern. It really is your judgement call to make, but I am certain that many people really underplay the consulting arm at Stern. Once again, you have the access from NYC to the firms. If this was one of the in-vogue schools, someone would probably post a great length about how you might find it better, as everyone wanting consulting goes to Yale (this argument of flawed logic is continually used on banking for some places).

Really - both schools have similar opportunity. If you are good enough to consult, you will make that step from either. Pick the one you feel you will thrive at from the other aspects, as the happier you are the more likely you will succeed.

nink · Answer

Bain & Co recruits NYU Stern MBA's. All the top 5 MC firms recruit at Stern, and Stern also attracts mid size/2nd tier consulting firms as well.

In my opinion, it doesn't matter whether you go to Stern or YSOM to pursue consulting gigs. Consulting firms only target specific individuals with specific traits and set of skills. Therefore, just because you are going to either school, it doesn't mean you will have an edge on MC recruiting or etc. If an applicant doesn't possess the traits or skills that MC firms are looking for, they will reject you whether you are headed to YSOM or Stern or any other top schools for that matter. Consulting interviews were a killer back in my undergrad days.....I can only imagine how bad they can be for MBA's.

ruthlessgravity · Answer

Easy answer...apply to both. Worry about which one after you get into both.

As far as consulting is concerned, I've been speaking with Yale SOM alums at M/B/B and they've been very supportive. Everyone I've spoken to has been willing to take time out of their schedule to speak with me. One even met with me for coffee (this is the summer before b-school for me and he was extremely busy, so it was very big of him). As you go through you application process, reach out to people at both schools in their consulting clubs.

FYI, the key determinant to landing a consulting job is to nail a case study interview. See which program you think will prepare you the most for that. Either way, I don't think you can go wrong.

nink · Answer

Amen!

I can attest to that. Because the size of YSOM class is limited to about 200 every year, there are very few students calling up alums for advice and etc. As a result, alums are very enthusiastic about offering career advice and know-how. One even met me at Yale Club and helped me land a Pre-MBA internship at a VC. Also, you are not just limited to YSOM alums. You have access to the entire Yale community including current professors, and alums from other schools at Yale.

futurestrategist · Answer

What traits and skills are those firms specifically looking for nink?

nink · Answer

YSOM Student's Experience in Management Consulting

Pre-SOM: Finance Officer, United Nations
Post-MBA Position: Boston Consulting Group

At my summer internship, the head of the New York office of BCG asked where I was from and when I told him Yale SOM, he talked about how much he loved recruiting from here because we’re different from other schools. We’re taught to think differently. We look at problems broadly, rather than from a single angle. It seems like common sense, but it’s not the way other programs train their students. I’ve seen, in my own career, how there’s no such thing as a public sector problem or a private sector problem. More and more, the lines between sectors and industries are blurring. It takes leaders with the right approach and understanding to confront these issues.

https://mba.yale.edu/news_events/CMS/Articles/7214.shtml

buscon · Answer

Stern is better

Stern vs Yale SOM for Consulting.

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