Duke Fuqua (full ride) vs Emory Goizueta (full ride)

Question

I was fortunate enough to get two amazing offers from my top schools (full ride to both), but I would like some different unbiased opinions on each program.

Background: looking to transition into cpg brand management. I would like to live in Atlanta after my MBA (working for Coke would be ideal)

Emory:
Pros: located in Atlanta, the city I want to live in which would make networking/recruiting easier. Has ties to not only Coke, but also many other great companies in Atlanta. Small, intimate community. 
Cons: the Emory brand doesn't stretch far outside of the southeast.

Duke
Pros: global brand with a global network and excellent marketing program. I really like all of their study abroad opportunities
Cons: I'm not so keen on living in NC, but I know it's just for 2 years. I'm not sure how strong Dukes ties are to the Atlanta area.

Mo2men · Answer

Congrats for admission in both programs with full ride. :-D

You really know what you want. So I won't talk with you about school brands and where you like to live. In that you level you need to take deep search in the program to see which courses will make you strong and more attractive. Also you should take into consideration the base salary or median salary of each school after graduation. While you are right about Emory and its strength in South, you can't ignore Duke accessibility to many recruiters in the same area. No one can deny that career center in Duke is really strong and does a great job. Coca Cola is one of the companies that Duke provide with candidates, not to mention Duke Alumni can help also. It does not mean that I prefer Duke over Emory but just give you some other factors you need to consider. My final advice is to contact directly the career management in both school. The ore important is to contact the marketing clubs in every university as they could shed lights on positives issues that may affect your final decision. :gl

teesmartgirl · Answer

Both are great schools. Tough choice. If you are adamant about staying in Atlanta, Emory is a great pick. However, there's no guarantee that you will get hired at Coke or that you'll want to work there as career aspirations change. I think Duke will be a great choice because it leads to a wide range of career opportunities and a wider network. Plus, the social life will be better. If you do prefer a smaller program in a city Emory is a better choice.

MBAschooled · Answer

Congrats. A few thoughts:

1) As someone who has lived in North Carolina for business school for the past two years I'd say its actually a great place to go to school.
2) I don't remember the number off the top of my head but Fuqua does send quite a few students to the south and in particular the Atlanta area. 
3) Do you have a preference for school size? Emory is probably on the smaller end of programs in the Top 20 whereas Fuqua is probably somewhere in the middle/higher end (about 430-440 per class)
4) While rankings don't mean everything, Fuqua is ranked higher across the board than Emory, and arguably has a better and stronger brand name. 
5) Even though you'd be in North Carolina, I don't think it would be too difficult for you to recruit for jobs in Atlanta even though you aren't going to school there.

Duke Fuqua (full ride) vs Emory Goizueta (full ride)

Emory or Duke

Prep Toolkit

Top 5 GMAT Debrief Videos

615 to 715 in 15 Days (Ria's Strategies)

More than Quant/Verbal Abilities: Speed vs. Accuracy

745 with Only Self-Prep and GMAT Club

From 555 to 765: 210-point Improvement

Perfect 805 Score Debrief by Julia

My Rewards