Marshall IBEAR($) vs Katz($$$) vs Cox($)

Question

Hi, dear forum and experts!! Glad to see you again!:) Thanks God the GMAT journey is over.
So, today I am 33, an international applicant from Russia and I have been admitted by Cox, Katz and Marshall IBEAR. All the programs are 1-year MBAs. Also, I have been interviewed by Mendoza, but they did not yet reply and I am still waiting, but not very confident (are they usually that slow or it might say indirectly that they would not like to provide me with an admission?).

Having read a lot of posts here about all the dilemmas, I became even more confused. I will try to put all of my thoughts on the table and hopefully we would sort the right option out.

I would prefer working in the US for a year after graduation, but would be glad to find a great job in Russia, too. I would be glad to work in Cisco or Juniper, since I am a tech telecom guy. MBA is fully self sponsored, so fees are about one of the biggest concerns. STEM is a good plus for me. At the same time, I would like to find a traditional USA student experience and a reputable record in the the resume. So, let's jump to the current offers:

1. Marshall USC IBEAR 1-year. Might be STEM. The most known and expensive among all three. IBEAR is mostly international, for mid careers with average age on the program about 35. It seems to me that the school is using its brand to attract international students and earn a lot of money. Moreover, I am afraid I would not find a traditional student experience (like that one of an undergraduate in the USA). Cost of leaving is very high! Age of students makes me feel upset and low. It is better to be among young and energetic people! (right?):)

2. Cox. The least scholarship. No STEM. Good campus.
3. Katz. The highest scholarship. No STEM. Telco related electives. No campus. A bit lower ranked than Cox. Pittsburgh is loosing its population.
4. Notre Dame Mendoza - still on hold (no answer)

Katz is the closest to my tech profile, and it offers me a lot of money (70% out of 100). But I don’t know if its urban campus will be a match to me. Moreover its lower ranked. Marshal is top ranked but is aged and is very expensive! My heart definitely goes to Mendoza, but they are still silent and might not accept me...

It will be great if someone could answer me the following questions:
1. Brand for huge money or Knowledge but not famous school?
2. Is Katz a reputable school? How is the career service?
3. Is Mendoza releasing its decisions gradually? Or they send out offers and rejects all at once on the deadline?
4. Is Cox a great school for me (a tech guy)?
5. Is Marshal IBEAR worth its 100k?

P.S. If there was an admission from Mendoza, I would not even think. Should I wait then? How to postpone the deposits due dates from all the schools then?:)

Please help!:)

bb · Answer

Congratulations on getting in to these programs. I’m a little surprised about your attitude towards some of these programs. The golden rule of applications is that you should only apply to schools you’re willing to attend. Nobody forced you to apply to them.

I would also suggest that you revise the subject line. One $means a small scholarship. Two dollar signs mean half scholarship. Three dollar signs can be in full ride or 75% of the total tuition cost. It doesn’t seem like those numbers match in your title.

Finally, schools usually do not postpone their deposit and matriculation deadlines. You can try contacting them and maybe they will be more favorable to you but I have not heard of them giving a deferral to anyone.

I would also contact USC to find out if it is indeed a stem program and probably do more research in regards to Notre Dame and decision release time frames. All you have to do is just to visit last year’s discussion in the form. Shouldn’t take that long especially if that your top choice.

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Hugo1987 · Answer

Hi, BB!
Glad to hear from you! That was soooo fast by the way!:) Thank you very very much for the support. 
 
Revision - Done!
The point is that the several options are driving me crazy - I simply don't know how to choose. But all the schools ofcourse great and I did not mean to sound any negative towards them, absolutelly:) Alternative - is what is supposed to be great, but makes me feel soo confused.

I have already asked Mendoza and they informed me that the decisions rollout is expected on 13 of March:)

Bb, if we exclude Mendoza from this list, which school you think is the best in terms of ROI, reputation and quality of knowledge?

Thanks!

Hugo1987 · Answer

Updated: 
Katz does not provide STEM for 1-year program, only for 2-year programs. 
Marshall does provide STEM for 1-year MBA.

Seems to me that 1 more point goes to Marshall:)

bb · Answer

I can see two paths for you. Since you’re older and done for the traditional MBA track, you will likely recruit on your own off campus anyway. If you’re not leveraging on campus recruiting a whole lot, I can see going to the school with the biggest scholarship and minimizing your risk exposure. Pittsburghers a small compact city that is past his glory days but still has some things going for it.

If you think you’ll be heading back home in a year anyway, then minimizing your cost is probably the best strategy. However in my experience it will take some time to locate a job and to start and you will realistically get only 9 to 6 months in the US before you have to leave the country.

The other option, would be to take the USC and go to the highest ranked program that also offers you additional opportunities to get H1B in case the water doesn’t work out the first time around. This is the program with the most upside while also the most cost.

How bullish are you feeling about yourself?

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Hugo1987 · Answer

Thanks Bb. These two options look more comfortable to choose from:) 
So, it is either: 
1. An expensive and branded option with an opportunity to extend the US stay. Risky because of the high cost. But the program and the school are both decent. 
2. A safe option with a medium quality but afordable program.

The first option looks more attractive to me, especially given that I live in Moscow, lived in Chicago and been to LA. Pitt, if it is indeed a small and quite city, would not probably match my expectations - a dynamic program and place! 
So, I liked your question about feeling bullish and asked Marshal to increase the scholarship. No answer yet.. And Mendoza is still on hold.

If all the other factors aside, is Katz a good school? 
My logic about Cox and Katz: I think that between Cox and Katz - Katz is the winer because of the scholarship and Cox seems to be good for energy and finance but not for tech. So, Katz is more suitable to me since it is more tech oriented. Would you agree?)

bb · Answer

Katz Is not a strong brand or even the strong brand in Pittsburgh. Tepper is the regional name in Pittsburgh and likely gets the top spots for recruiting though obviously not all. Tepper places a lot of people into tech and places like California and Seattle.

USC has been up and coming. They have had some trouble with their ‘Dean however but they just got a new dean who switched from Wharton which I think has some good things in store for them. At the same time I feel they will likely drop down in the rankings this year. Just a hunch when the US news rankings come out in about two weeks.

PS. If you’re looking for a leading brand, you’ll be disappointed in Katz. This would be a very defensive play minimizing the cost of attendance and cost of tuition. Nothing wrong with getting a free MBA or significantly reduced cost MBA but you have to adjust your expectations.

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Hugo1987 · Answer

Hi, Bb
Thanks for your thoughts and all the support.
Being disappointed sounds not that great, especially taking into account all the GMAT way and efforts put to achieve this ultimate goal - an MBA. My friend who got accepted by NorthWestern's Kellog school said the other day that "If you decide to leave the country, study abroad and pay a lot of money, that must be a very good program worth all that you sacrifice". I totally agree with him. And, by the way, I got that heart feeling that Pittsburg is not what I am looking for. I would like to see a big, sound and prosperous campus, full of bright students! And all you said about Tepper made me feel even more confident that Katz is a bit in the shadow, but still is a very affordable program. 
Update: The things turned out interesting: IBEAR increased scholarship and now it matches that one provided from Katz, now the scholarships are equal, but the man body of the USC program is still on me. I consider this a great advantage in my situation:)

Hugo1987 · Answer

Hi, Bb
Thanks for your thoughts and all the support again!
Could you please support me on the following question - a school that accepted me insists that I pay nonrefundable deposit today, but I am still waiting untill Mendoza releases its decision (they won't come out earlier than 12 of March). Since the deposit is 4000$ it is not an amount I am ready to loose:) How to behave in such a case? How to explain my delay to the school?

Thanks!

bb · Answer

Usually you have to choose between paying a deposit or losing an offer.

Of course you could tell them that they’re not your first choice and that you really wish to hear from another program and see how that works out for you

just kidding.

There’s not a whole you can do. You can either pay or refuse the offer. That’s about it.

Posted from my mobile device

just kidding. There’s not a whole you can do. You can either pay or refuse the offer. That’s about it. Posted from my mobile device

bb · Answer

Congrats on your new scholarship update! That’s very good news!

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Hugo1987 · Answer

Hi, dear BB!
How are you these days? I hope that you are great and sound! 
Little did we know about what is going to happen soon after, when we were talking about the programs. A lot of things have changed, except for your and gmat club's support - it has been always a lighthouse in the dark. I hope to find some answers here again.. 
Later, as I slightly mentioned awaited response above, I was accepted by the program of my first choice - Mendoza. I was more than happy to be among students of the 1-year MBA and then, all of a sudden, this COVID catastrophe happened: summer term online, USA embassies and campuses are shut down, no international flights... It is so unfair! We worked a lot and what we see for that? I become emotional every time I think about it, however feeling not alone in front of this uncertainty (I could not imagine how olympic sportsmen who were about to reach the Tokyo summer games are disappointed) It is all so unclear: whether trying to defer or starting online hoping that the
campuses reopen, sacrificing at least three months of a 1-year program? If they reopen would be the schedule same packed, would program quality and networking suffer due to social distancing? What do you guys think?

Desperately looking for assistance
Thanks!

ANALysis · Answer

voted for Katz because of the money

non stem is risky for an international

Marshall IBEAR($) vs Katz($$$) vs Cox($)

Katz Marsh Cox

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