MIT Sloan vs UT McCombs ($$)

Question

Hi all,

Currently debating between Sloan full ticket price (65k/yr) versus McCombs w/in state tuition plus a partial scholarship (25k/yr).

I've been in upstream energy industry and Texas my whole life and am looking to explore other options. Considering a pivot to consulting or tech, among others, but I haven't focused in on one career path in particular. Wife and dog would probably like to be back in Texas not too long after b-school, but I can't help but think that Sloan would provide broader set of career options/more diverse network/stronger brand recognition. Any thoughts?

Thanks in advance!

chicojuarz · Answer

If you're thinking consulting or tech I dont think you could beat the combination of Boston and MIT's tech brand.

Here are the top hirers from sloan.

TOP HIRERS OF MBA CLASS OF 2015

McKinsey & Company (31)
Amazon (22)
Boston Consulting Group (14)
Google (14)
Deloitte Consulting (13)
Bain & Company (12)
Apple (7)
Microsoft Corporation (7)
Parthenon-EY (6)
Boeing (5)
Morgan Stanley (5)

bb · Answer

At the same time if you want to be back in TX from the Yankiest of lands, not sure you want to leave it in the first place. Definitely be a change of scenery.

I feel Sloan, Ranked #5, and technology interest that you have would be a killer combo, even at $80K more total price tag + $20K in cost of living/moving/etc adjustment. Sloan's and MIT's name are really strong in the US and globally.

UT Austin is strong in TX but don't think it is a strong brand outside. McCombs would be a safe bet, with less outflow, less hassle, and perhaps more forgiving to soul searching. It is also good for TX-based recruiting.

Neither will be wrong but will be very different experience in terms of opportunities. Sensing that you are looking for a new path and still have not finalized your goals, I think experiencing more change may be a good thing (whether it gives you an epiphany or whoops you into shape) and this may be your big chance to do that. But there is nothing wrong with being on more stability side and less change....

P.S. What is oil refining considered these days? is it downstream or midstream?

BrotherTN750 · Answer

Objectively, Sloan is the better program, finances aside. Better brand, more (and better) recruiting opportunities, and it will give you a more portable degree. For roughly 60k, it would be hard to defend passing up Sloan for McCombs if you end up in consulting or in the broader (i.e. non-Austin) tech industry. McCombs is a fine program on its own -- I may end up there myself, in fact -- but frankly it's just not in the same tier as Sloan.

That said, if you end up working in the Austin tech scene -- or if you end up back in energy in Texas -- you probably aren't going to do better than McCombs. If that's your trajectory, and you attend Sloan, you will basically end up paying some 60k+ for a degree that is not any more valuable than what you will get at McCombs (and perhaps a bit less), all the while suffering through the depths of the New England winter.

Like so many of these inquiries, I think this mainly comes down to where you are ultimately going to end up. Every program is different for each individual candidate based on what they intend to do and where they intend to do it, and I think this is a pretty solid example of that. I know that may not be the most instructive advice in the world -- I'm struggling with much of the same issue now -- but even so I think that is the basic issue you must resolve before you can make this decision.

Best of luck to you, and let us all know what you decide. Congrats on the offers!

houstonpetro · Answer

Thanks all for the replies! I'm currently leaning towards Sloan, but I'll let you know what I decide.

bb  , oil refining is part of the downstream segment of the industry. Upstream is exploration/production.

VeritasPrepDozie · Answer

Great options! I would go Sloan here especially given especially since it looks like you will be a career switcher and will be exploring a bit during your time in b-school. Go with the better brand and reputation here it will afford you more opportunities and greater flexibility in the long term

MIT Sloan vs UT McCombs ($$)

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