Haas vs Booth

Question

I am an MBB consultant with a full sponsorship from the company (so I am returning to MBB after I am done). It might be worth mentioning that I am Mexican but I have previously lived in the US and Germany for a couple of years, so is not like I am actively looking for network specifically in Mexico.

I am deciding between Haas and Booth - as I mentioned, I already have a job (that I want to continue doing)

Booth 
- more Mexican network ~20 students per class (although I am not completely sure where I want to live - I can actually switch with MBB to a US office after MBA)
- better ranked and a little more recognized
- Great at finance (but I am not quite sure if I want to pursue an intership in the area - but it is something I want to lear about)
- Living in a City
- Cold half of the time

Haas 
- more exposure to other nationalities (only ~3 Mexicans join each year)
- better weather (I love to ride a bike to do errands - which I could do all year in CA but not in Chicago)
- technology and innovation center (I love the topics, I could see an internship in tech but I still want to return to consulting)
- also known for Finance
- California (I consider myself a liberal and I think that California's mindset might resemble more what I stand for)

I have visited both schools and I like them both, I felt a click with people from both Universities.

Most people make their decision based on after-MBA jobs, for me, I already have that secured so I do not know how to make my decision (my employer supports both, they don't really care which one I take, and people at MBB are giving me split decisions based on individual preferences)

Thank you!

Mo2men · Answer

Congrats for both great schools.

As long as you have your job, I advise to seek what makes you spend enjoyable 2 year. I feel that you more inclined to Haas than to Booth.

Here you can follow you gut and won't lose.

yashbabu · Answer

Booth

bb · Answer

Haas is much smaller and can be categorized as a regional program - most applicants remain in CA after graduation. Part of it, it is hard to move to Michigan after having lived in Bay Area for 2 years, but another part of it is the network and employer reach - few large companies from Midwest or East Coast come out to Berkeley to recruit.

Haas is a great program. They are very selective and quite a proud bunch too. How well known is it in Mexico or areas you are planning to operate? What about the network in Mexico? You can try LinkedIn, though it sounds like you have already looked at what nationals and how many they admit.

Haas tends to be a "mysterious" MBA program - they admit unpredictably, have few GMAT Clubbers and feedback out there in general, and due to a very low acceptance rate seem to have a "hard-to-get" reputation. It is a more boutiquey school if you know what I mean. It has its own pros but also cons.

West coast mentality may be something you are used to or something that will irritate you... as to liberal vs conservative, both cities/schools are pretty liberal and so is Chicago but Berkeley area is on the complete left side of the spectrum, sometimes leaving even liberal people speechless ;-)

Both Booth and Haas are very international and cosmopolitan.

I think you will get out more professionally from Booth Experience but you may enjoy Haas more on a personal level. So it is a bit of personal experience vs. professional development. Depends on what you want to get out of it. Congrats and Good Luck!

Both Booth and Haas are very international and cosmopolitan. I think you will get out more professionally from Booth Experience but you may enjoy Haas more on a personal level. So it is a bit of personal experience vs. professional development. Depends on what you want to get out of it. Congrats and Good Luck!

Robertob91 · Answer

Thank you all for your responses/advice.

I feel like personally I will have more fun at Haas but professionally Booth will probably benefit me a bit more, so I do not know how to make my decision!
Worldwide I think Berkeley has a bit more of a name (at least with the people I have spoken with).

jessepinkman · Answer

Biases aside, both are great schools but I think Booth overall has the stronger/brand network. If you aren't fully committed to working in the Bay Area long term, you'll be better suited in my opinion with the broader and wider reaching Booth network. It sounds like your decision is more about California vs Chicago than Haas vs Booth, certainly a consideration when choosing a school but I personally wouldn't make a decision purely based on where I'd prefer to live for two years.

Also, Booth is very strong in tech (New Venture Challenge, PE/VC Lab, etc), so you will have no issues getting a ton of exposure to tech as a student there despite not being in the Valley.

Also, Booth is very strong in tech (New Venture Challenge, PE/VC Lab, etc), so you will have no issues getting a ton of exposure to tech as a student there despite not being in the Valley.

VeritasPrepDozie · Answer

I would go Booth here, the only downside would be the weather, but Chicago and Booth's location in the city is really amazing. Also coming from Mexico, a few years of a different climate might be an interesting change for you

Haas vs Booth

Haas vs Booth

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