HBS (full tuition) VS GSB (80% of tuition)

Question

My concise story is below and I appreciate all help anybody can give me:

1. Accepted into HBS round 1. Offered fellowship of roughly 70k. 
2. Accept HBS offer.
3. Applied to GSB round 3 for fun and accepted. Offered fellowship of 108k - which is about 80-85% of tuition.
4. Notify HBS I have another offer from GSB. HBS revises offer to full tuition fellowship.
5. Current dilemma.

What would you do? Why? I realize now that the money portion is not the most important, but I will like to understand what you all think.

Thank you!

harvardmbaapplicant · Answer

Also, GSB states they do not negotiate. Even with only a slight increase, I would like to ask for a full tuition fellowship match because I don't see it as being risky to ask. I do not know where I want to go anymore, but I feel I should still try to get the best offers from both places to keep my options free. Thank you!

mgg234 · Answer

Sounds like a plan. Ask Stanford and see what they say. It's an insignificant amount of money though, so I wouldn't let it sway your decision.

Also, lol at harvard being so full of ****...claiming to only having need-based scholarships...

BrainFog · Answer

690 GMAT and almost full scholarship from HBS and GSB, dude your profile/application must be super awesome.

harvardmbaapplicant · Answer

Apparently both schools are need-based. That is why I will give a shot at GSB matching. Thank you!

harvardmbaapplicant · Answer

Poets and Quants has a very outdated comparison for the 2 schools. Does anybody have anything new? Thank you!

jessepinkman · Answer

this thread may be helpful - https://www.wallstreetoasis.com/forums/h ... ant-decide.

harvardmbaapplicant · Answer

Thanks!

jz4analytics · Answer

I'll ask what we're all thinking - HOW?

Legacy? Harvard undergrad with blue-chip letters of rec? Underrepresented minority with a tear-jerking life story? Entrepreneur who started a multi-million dollar business? Obama's long lost brother?

gcb09173 · Answer

Schools are needs based scholarships but having negotiated has to be from super under-represented segment having earned next to nothing over the last 3 years.

A guess would be minority female - background in volunteering for say greenpeace as an activist for last 3 years with aims in charitable foundation leadership as an example.

farrous13 · Answer

Congrats on getting accepted to not only one but two of the top schools!

Can you share some pointers on what gave you the advantage in your application. We all know it's not your GPA or your GMAT score. Is it your WE? Let us know.

I hope you don't ignore this message.

BSchoolOnMyMind · Answer

First of all, congrats! While you are happy to take advice from the GMATclub community (after all you have such a big problem - Harvard or Stanford. That to with tons of cash thrown in to add to your worries), it appears that you don't bother replying to queries other folks have put forth on this thread. Frankly, a person of your caliber (admitted into two of the worlds best programs) shouldnt be seeking advice from a bunch of random folks on a forum. After researching, applying, talking to students/alums, interviewing, probably visiting these schools, the fact that u still don't know which school u want to go to is concerning.

PTK · Answer

Also in addition to WE, could you please state what is you short/long term career goals. They are important when it xomes to choosing between the schools.

bgpower · Answer

I still wonder how you all believe this entire story. Really looks like a forum troll to me. Regardless of whether it's truth or not, as s/he is not replying, you're just wasting your time.

jz4analytics · Answer

I think other people got it right - this was probably a "diversity hire"... unless you happen to be in one of the boxes to be checked off, you're not going to learn much here. I'm pretty sure the essay doesn't even matter at HBS; it's all about pedigree, stats, the interview... and some quotas.

abdc99 · Answer

My mind can't even begin to imagine receiving full scholarship from Harvard and still being hesitant and negotiaing full scholarship with Stanford too just to "keep my options free". I'd call HBS and be like "here's my acceptance and my ass too!" lol. Sincere congrats if this was true and good luck making it so if this was all fake!

harvardmbaapplicant · Answer

Thank you for your kind help. I have decided to join the GSB class of 2017!

HBSGradPE · Answer

First, congrats on both acceptances and amazing scholarships! You should go to the best school for you and completely, I mean COMPLETELY ignore the financial difference. The difference is so small and down the road it will seem even more negligible. What do you want to do after B school? Are you more of an entrepreneurial or tech person? Consultant / finance guy? These questions should drive where you should go. Also think about lifestyle, do you like a large, intense program or a smaller, more close knit program? Do you want to live and work out west or on the east coast?

You see how those are all pretty important questions, none of which have to do with money. You will go to school and be friends with people who are paying $150K for the experience, so whether you save the last 20% or not should not be a factor

Good luck and have fun!

You see how those are all pretty important questions, none of which have to do with money. You will go to school and be friends with people who are paying $150K for the experience, so whether you save the last 20% or not should not be a factor

Good luck and have fun!

daddyv · Answer

I want to believe the OP's story, but this just seems like too much of a stretch, no? Just casually throws in a R3 app to Stanford last minute (as you do!), and not only gets accepted but gets a lot of $$$. Also you'd think someone with that kind of pedigree and success will be thorough enough to weigh out the pros and cons of each program and not base the decision on that last 20% of tuition. Besides, if s/he just threw in a GSB application for funsies at the end, it must mean HBS was the primary choice all along and getting a full ride from them should make the decision a no-brainer?

bb · Answer

We probably will never know. I have tried to validate this story having additional admin information about the user but it has not lead to anything.

The few items to reason that the post may be real could be:
1. The person did not seem to be making a big deal out of the 2 admits, though you can imagine just posting something like this in a low-key way is a big deal
2. It is not uncommon for people to be surprised with their applications they did not care about - something shows in Interviews or in the application where the school senses that the person does not care to persuade them, and this confidence is something schools cannot resist reaching out to. 
3. The person is probably not a typical candidate from their industry/background (but this is simply based on the email address interpretation)

Just some other food for thoughts. 
P.S. It seems also odd that they would be rejected from Smith and Anderson but admitted to GSB and HBS...

HBS (full tuition) VS GSB (80% of tuition)

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