Kellogg 1Y vs UCLA ($$)

Question

Hi Guys,
I'm here on gmatclub again, asking for help.
I have admits from Tepper, ISB, Kellogg 1Y and UCLA (scholarship 20k/year). I'm confused between UCLA and Kellogg. (Any1 has a strong case for ISB or Tepper?)

About me: I'm an Indian male engineer. Worked in an engineering role in petchem sector in India for 3 years. Moved to Singapore, did MSc from NUS in Engineering Management and again started working for a petchem company as production engineer (50% engineering, 50% project management and process improvement)

Criteria of school selection: My prime criteria was to select top schools in every geography (with some backup schools). I strongly get influenced by brands and in long-term, I believe, brands pay off. Also, once you're in a top school of a particular geography life gets a bit easier. You get access to top recruiters, good friends circle and it's easy to switch positions later in career. Same applies if you work for a top company. IMHO

Post-MBA goal: I want to stick to operations. Either I'll join an ops oriented leadership program or aim for ops consulting. My target is ops/general management kinda roles.

Finances: I'll be taking a loan of 50% of tuition, but my parents will support me with finances. Hence, finance is no question here.

Location: Given the current scenario and having worked in Sg as an immigrant for 2 years, I want to have some flexibility to move around. I'm not fixated about working in US post-MBA and will be more than happy to move to EU/Canada/Asia/Australia if I get a good role in these geographies. For me preference of job role trumps over geographical preference. Long-term I'm open to settle anywhere. No preference. If no country wants me, I'll move back to India (though not preferred).

Mindset: I'm mentally ready for 1Y. In fact I applied to good number of 1Ys because I felt ready to take the rigor head-on. I would be seriously disappointed if I join 2Y and find it relaxed. I'm in no mood to waste anytime at this stage.

UCLA+
-2 Year regular program.Includes internship.Better job security?
-After scholarship UCLA will effectively be 15-20k cheaper as compared to Kellogg's 1Y. Though it's not a big consideration

UCLA-
-Doesn't fulfill my criteria of being a top school. This was my backup school.
-Only good for tech., Ops roles in west/LA are limited.
-My conversation with UCLA students, though not bad, wasn't gr8.I could see some with very average profiles too (no offense), I didn't found them the intellectual types..Kellogg guys I talked to were super smart and grounded...I talked to good number of 1Ys too. I honestly didn't notice any difference in terms of quality of folks in 1Y vs 2Y. In fact, while submitting my application, this was one of my "reach" schools.

Kellogg+
-Brand. Totally fits my criteria.
-Gives me mobility to move around, both in short term and long-term.
-Good mix of recruiters. If I get going from Day1 and target recruiters well, there's good chance I'll end up with something good.
-I could relate myself to the alums and my interviewer. Super smart, grounded and kinda social leaders. I can relate myself more to those kind of people.

Kellogg-
-1 year format adds to the ongoing risk of immigration for internationals
- Will have to explain to recruiters why I choose the 1Y program. Specially when recruiting off-campus.
- Only thing that bothers me is what if I end up without a job after Kellogg 1Y? If some1 can guarantee me a job after 1Y, I'll choose 1Y without a doubt.

crackHSW · Answer

Congrats on all the admits!!
1Y MBA program in US would essentially mean that you start your job hunt from day one. It means that you would be in the job market for a very short duration. From a recruiters prescriptive you bring in significant risk even though you would have the big Kellogg brand behind you.

I would suggest to talk to as many 1 year alums as possible and get their perspective on the job hunt. 
For example , would one be allowed to sit for majority of the consulting roles that the two year MBA students are allowed?
Given your background in Petrochemical , I would also suggest to connect with Kellogg folks in Texas areas and check the situation of the industry in Texas.

In case , you decide to go for two year MBA program, here are some of benefits :

1) Longer time for job hunt 
2) Internship options that could lead to FT

Hope this is of some help.

Mimster · Answer

Hey! We're in similar situation but very different goals and we both know what we want.

In your case I think it's way better to have Kellogg behind your back despite the job opportunity risk since your long term goal means going into corporate strategy and general strategy (As for me I'm quite torn since I'll be in tech/entrepreneurial type role). I think Kellogg's career services will do an excellent job helping you get to where you want to work if you put in ALL for job search. From what I know, you can start the process of preparing for your career now as long as you give Kellogg a heads up (because they will help you as long as you accept their offer.)

Another aspect you should strongly consider is the cohort you want to mingle around and how you want to stand out. Before I started my job application process I scavenged linked in for USC and UCLA class profile and I'm amazed by USC's class... not particularly UCLA (don't get me wrong... some are AMAZING). I think you should go for where you would be more personally satisfied.

So building on the previous comment, connect with the career center so they could directly contact you with the alums in Texas and the said industry. Network from day - 3 months before departure. Good luck!

alphabeta4 · Answer

I think you are better off at a school where you are excited to walk in the door everyday. It doesn't sound like UCLA meets your needs. I would pick Kellogg if I were you.

emancipated123 · Answer

Seems like you already have chosen the Kellogg 1 yr program. Having a master's already, I think it would be easier to explain to recruiters why you would go for the 1yr program rather than 2yr.

Rohit6 · Answer

Mimster
Makes sense. I have already started to get in touch with officials at Kellogg and I'm blown away by how much they care and are willing to help. I agree on the cohort part as well. Honestly, that's one of my biggest draw towards Kellogg. I could honestly relate to people from only two schools out of 11 that I applied to, Kellogg and INSEAD...

alphabeta4
Exactly. My chemistry professor told me this when I was preparing for my undergrad college. I think it's a big motivator.

Thanks again for all the views.
Still awaiting response from my beloved bb, MBACrystalBall and other experts :-D

Morgan15 · Answer

Rohit, I don't know if you're doing this already but I'd reach out to current international students who are in Kellogg's 1 year program. Since a big consideration for the 1 year program is job placement (and more so if you're international), I'd try to see how current international students feel

Mo2men · Answer

Hi Rohti,

Finally, you will reach a decision after this long journey and discussions. It is great that you have narrowed down your choices to 2 schools. It is evident that you love Kellogg. Sometimes, you need to follow heart as well as mind. You are doing only mba in your life. In light of your goals and experience, I will choose Kellogg. Here is my 2 cents. Here is my rational behind the choice:

Kellogg’s Quality & your goal : You are production and project Engineer who possess high education and knowledge and you want to enhance your career with management skills. Kellogg’s high verities of strategy electives will give you exposure the mindset of strategist. It is among best schools in strategy courses. Furthermore, the operation specialty is recognized. As Lean Enterprise expert who is trained in the US & Japan, I touched the academic society too. You will be taught by best minds. Prof Chopra is well-known professor in supply chain across the US. His textbooks are mandatory in different masters programs. The operations lab will be of a great support. This class is taught by Prof Allon & Van Mieghem with their solid framework. I love their works among other profs across the schools. On the contrary, UCLA is to known to teach operations or highly strategy electives as Kellogg. You can easily check the course catalog in both schools.

Job opportunities : operation is not the usual competition among top 10, when it comes to work in operations/supply chain field within manufacturing facilities. You might find it among 20 such as Kelley and surely it gets high when going lower in ranks. So it is highly likely that will find job in good places as grad from big schools. When it comes to operation consulting, you have high level of competition when it comes to big firms. Typically, the best is BCG and Deloitte as they have section for highly specialized profiles. There are some small consulting companies, some of them welcome internationals but some not. Kellogg’s location is in the Midwest where it is access to many manufacturing facilities or you can expand your search to some known manufacturing states in East coast such as North and South Carolina. By reviewing its career report, it is not clear from Kellogg’s employment report how many 1Y mba international grads were recruited. Compered to Emory’s 1Y –report, you get the sense of all stats you want related to 1Y-mba. Compared to Emory, I do not think that Kellogg is less, given that number grads of Kellogg is greater than that of Emory. Kellogg is doing great with job offers received after 3 months (96.4%). Last year, I was in contact with 2-3 students in Emory’s 1Y program and they feel intense during their job search because the program itself is so intense and rapid. Although they are American students, they told me that their international peers had more pressure but most of them managed to secure jobs. So no one can deny the pressure and I hope you take a breath and strategize your search. If not secured job in US (for any reasons including change in visa regulation), there is still the name of Kellogg in the consulting field in MBB and other companies around the world. I think you still apply Germany where German is not mandatory in that higher level. If you still work as engineer, German is the language. From my friends who live and work, they told me that German value management degree from USA schools. 
Another example is one of my friends who got an interview with Mckinsey in Dubai, although he got his MBA from too lower ranked school with moderate experience compared to you. (Actually I was surprised to be picked in screening phase!!!). I think you can do the same in any MBB and second tier offices in UAE. Therefore, I can see that Kellogg’s MBA will back up as it is powerhouse for consulting.

Good luck

Rohit6 · Answer

Morgan15
Yup, I'm doing that already. Also got in touch with officials at Kellogg to get a clear idea of the situation and help me connect with some current students as well.

Mo2men
I see you have good info and experience on this topic. I have sent you a PM. Will be glad if we could talk sometime :-D

Kellogg 1Y vs UCLA ($$)

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