Wharton ($$), Yale SOM ($$$), CBS ($$$) or Sloan ($$$)?

Question

Hi all - very, very conflicted on this - W essentially gave me enough to cover 85% of tuition & fees and I received full rides from SOM, CBS, and Sloan.

Background: IB turned impact investing fund of funds. On the younger side (<25). ST goal: MBB consulting (want more strategy/operations exposure). LT goal: Returning to impact investing (direct investing, not fund of funds) or moving towards entrepreneurship (fintech), with a focus on Sub-Saharan Africa (familial connection + frontier market).

Less keen on Sloan due to the culture. Graduated from Columbia undergrad so not sure if it makes sense from a network perspective.

I think it comes down to W or SOM, but let me know if you think otherwise!

W would be a ranking play and they have a well funded/run social impact initiative. Not crazy about the class size and heard professors could be better. However, would also have the option to apply for the HKS dual degree. Attended admit wknd - current students seem to be very engaged. Named an endowed Fellow. 
 
SOM's ethos is in better alignment with my interests, but alumni network is less expansive / diversified. Also let's be honest, New Haven. However, have loved all the interactions I have had with students, faculty, administration. Just good people. Also named Consortium + Forte Fellow.

Overall, not an easy decision! Please vote and kindly let me know if you have any more pros/cons - trying to wrap this up by this weekend! Thank you!!

teleste · Answer

I voted Y-Bomb because:

I don't think you can go wrong with your options, so I'd try and figure out where you'd be *happiest*, and from the info in your post it seemed like SOM may be that place.

Deliberating · Answer

Thank you - very much appreciate the perspective! SOM seems to be the most nurturing community over the two years, but willing to be a member of another if it means better long term value. That's the ultimate trade off in my mind.

yashbabu · Answer

wharton

drnostrand · Answer

Sloan would be an interesting alternative for Fintech. What didn't you like about the culture?

Anyway, I feel like with your profile fit is the most important factor and in that case you should go to Yale SOM (without considering $)

Deliberating · Answer

Thanks for the reply! Re: Sloan, talking to some more folks today, but feel like the African presence is not as strong there. Seems like I would have to be more enterprising to create a community on campus and developing a relevant network as an alum. Also, don't come from a STEM background so may be a little alienating in that regard (recognize folks come from various backgrounds, but the concentration is there). That being said, tech/VC is obviously huge @ Sloan (see: Doug Leone).

drnostrand · Answer

Makes sense, for me the STEM background was a plus (disclaimer: Studied Engineering) and I get your point about the African presence as well. Have you tried reaching out to members from the MIT Sloan Africa Business Club? https://www.facebook.com/mitafrica/ https://africans.mit.edu/ https://innovation.mit.edu/event/mit-sl ... ence-2017/

bb · Answer

Congrats on a fantastic Admit!
If you are going outside of the US, Yale or Wharton will be very helpful with name recognition (i.e. wearing a school T-shirt to a drinks party to get a conversation going). However, I feel Wharton would connect you with a greater range of international network. I have not attended the program, and not a Wharton alum, but my understanding is that a meaningful number of governments and stat-sponsored applicants end up there.

Wharton should have a slightly better placement with MBB but Yale has been catching up. You can also reach out to  aerien  via PM. I think you two have a lot in common and worth a chat about your goals/experiences. Aerien attended Yale.

Deliberating · Answer

Thanks so much! Yes, have international ambitions. SOM and W both have cache abroad. Yale halo effect helps the former. But yes, trying to get more visibility into international representation (not just passports of students, but where people actually land after). Not sure W actually has an advantage in MBB due to the sheer size of the class (i.e., may be more slots, but offset by more competition). PM'ing.

Deliberating · Answer

Yep - have reached out to those folks already! Not completely sold on the sense of community, but very nice crew (as are most Sloanies like yourself!)

jessepinkman · Answer

I'd go Yale here. They're closing in on Wharton reputation wise and given your background I don't see any issue getting MBB from either school. More money at Yale/perception of better fit is the kicker.

Wilch · Answer

Either school will get you where you want. Both schools send high number of students to elite consulting firms. Whether you get into consulting depends entirely on your profile and ability to interview & network.

The decision really comes down to your preference for community and location. Go with your intuition here, if you don't like the people you'll spend the next two years with, it'll be two long years for you.

Posted from my mobile device

stonecold · Answer

WHARTON .
 Both schools have a tremendous reputation.So you can't go wrong with either one.
However in the international circuits i think Wharton is a much bigger Brand.

Regards
Stone Cold

jconnol8 · Answer

Yalie here- sounds like you have a tough decision. With regard to MBB, as others posted before, both will get you there. Yes Wharton is the bigger name but internationally (and in the US with people who aren't locked in to b-school rankings) Yale definitely holds its own. So choose based on fit!

aerien · Answer

Thanks  bb  for calling this out.

Wow, tough decision! And amazing $$ options -- super congrats.

Given that money is arguably less of a concern in this situation, go where you're going to see yourself fitting in for the next two years. As  Wilch  pointed out, if you don't like the people you're surrounded by, the next two years will be a long two years. The MBA is, for most people, a personal investment in one's self, and you want to take the most advantage of that and make the best decision for you.

In terms of career standpoint, both schools have ties with MBB consulting (and more firms as well). Based on your own initiative and background, you should have many options from moment you step on campus, if not before given the career fairs, etc put on through Consortium and Forte. 
For your longer term goals, I'll say culturally SOM has great ties in impact investing, especially with the close ties to the programs at the School of Forestry. And there are alums who return to Africa if you're looking at that angle as well. Happy to connect you with some folks if you want that perspective first-hand. To your point on the alumni network, yes, SOM's is going to be smaller in size/reach than Wharton's based on sheer numbers alone -- we graduate ~300 students per year whereas Wharton graduates ~1000; add on that SOM is a younger school, and you can extrapolate from there. However, I've found SOM alumni to be very responsive and helpful both professionally and personally. You can see that once you join the SOM community, you are an SOM-er for life, not only for the 2 years you are in an MBA program. I personally valued and continue to value that lifelong community. I can't speak to Wharton's.

The cultures between Wharton and SOM are starkly different imo. I've even heard that from faculty who have taught at both institutions. I hope you were able to see that during the admitted student weekends, if you were able to attend both. Message me if you want to chat further; happy to chat or meet up if you're in the area.

okay · Answer

Wow- congrats! Very jealous of your predicament. What would be the $ difference between SOM and W? I think SOM aligns better with your goals, but I was impressed with both schools when I visited. Realistically, you can't go wrong either way. Also, would you mind sharing your background/stats?

Deliberating · Answer

Thanks so much for your perspective!! Sent you a PM - would love to connect offline.

VeritasPrepDozie · Answer

Go with Wharton here, better perception particularly in business and is a no fail option. Yale SOM is a great program but not quite at Wharton's level yet

Wharton ($$), Yale SOM ($$$), CBS ($$$) or Sloan ($$$)?

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