Ross vs Cornell ($) vs Owen ($$) vs Goizueta ($$)

Question

Feeling very indecisive as next week's deposit deadline approaches, and looking for some feedback on deciding between schools like Ross and Cornell with no/little money vs Owen and Goizueta with significant help.

Female, 26. Currently a patient safety project manager at a major hospital (enjoying the very fun! covid response in NYC) and realizing that I am running out of time to make my final decision. Looking to stay in healthcare, and potentially explore healthcare consulting and strategy after MBA. Ideally after graduation I'd like to return to the northeast - NYC, Chicago, Philadelphia. Having difficulty getting the prestige factor out of my head when considering all my options (which are very exciting to have, considering my GMAT score).

Accepted to Ross with no money, Cornell Forte Fellow with 14k/year, Owen Forte Fellow 24k/year, and Goizueta with 25k/year merit. I did not get a chance to visit Ross before COVID response started, but spent time at all other schools. Enjoyed the 1:1 feel at Owen from both the career center & the student body, and felt a similar energy at Emory. Cornell felt a lot more isolated (lol Ithaca) and the student body a little more cold. Ross, Owen and Goizueta all seem to have strong tracks built in to the MBA experience. Is the Ross degree worth the additional expense?

The extra wrench in the plan is that I was waitlisted at Fuqua, and they won't announce final decisions until also on April 20.

bb · Answer

Congrats on your admits! Awesome result with a unique score that shows applications are more than just numbers. Also, stay safe and sane in your job! You will likely bring a very unique perspective into your classroom, so I can see how fuqua may change their mind (though they are famous for keeping people on the waitlist until the week before classes start) but I think you have a shot at it. Also if you have energy/time - Kellogg is taking R3 applicants without a GMAT score (though I don't see a great match with Kellogg per se but just FYI type of thing if you are at the end of your queue on Netflix).

Owen is a great school for healthcare focused-MBA. Fuqua obviously as well and UNC would be a third school part of the strong healthcare programs.

I think Owen makes the most sense due to healthcare, lower cost (which may come into play as you will be taking time off at some point in your career to have a family/etc).

P.S. No mental energy to think about what happens if you get into Fuqua. I hope that if you do, it will be a full ride and a very clear decision

JohnnyBlaze · Answer

Ross is worth the extra money, you'll get your pedigree via UMich and strong sense of community. If you can't visit, definitely call some students/alums. You'll find a very strong supportive alumni network that will make up for the money at other schools, esp in the economic slowdown where hiring will be more limited.

saeco · Answer

Just to close the loop here - I ended up putting in a deposit at Goizueta. I'm not really aiming for MBB, and felt like like Atlanta and Goizueta was a better cultural fit for me vs Nashville/Owen.

mdtomba · Answer

Hi! In a similar position to you, except I opted for Evening MBA for Goizueta as I want to keep my job through MBA. What made you decide Goizueta over Owen for healthcare?

bigge2win · Answer

If you want to end up in the Northeast or Chicago, it's either Ross or Cornell. That money from Emory and Owens won't make up the potential short-term recruiting downfalls vs. Ross/Cornell.

Emory gets 30% of their class into consulting, which is 50 people. Everyone will be fighting even for those non-MBB spots. I was told that MBB only gives a handful of offers each year there, which basically go to your full scholarship candidates. So it'll be a blood bath even for Deloitte, Accenture, EY, ZS Associates, etc. which will be everyone's realistic target firms. Additionally, only 7% of students go to the Midwest and 18% go to the Northeast. I doubt many, if any, recruiters from offices at your desired locations go to Emory. And if they did, you're competing against EVERYONE from Kellogg, Ross, CBS, MIT, HBS, Booth, Tuck, etc. Chances are slim to none.

At Ross or Cornell, everyone's top consulting choices are MBB, so essentially your target firms are everyone else's second choice, which means you stand out when you connect with them and build relationships for those interview invites and offers.

My thoughts are you either go Ross/Cornell or get a part-time MBA. The only logical reason for Emory is if you can get through the recruiting bloodbath and don't mind being in Atlanta making $140K salary, which isn't bad, but doesn't really align with your preferences at all. And that network doesn't really work well for your target locations.

The whole paying less debt thing is nice upfront, but it really inhibits people's future potential if the right decision isn't made. Also, if I were you, I'd try Kellogg. You can do healthcare at any consulting firm. Choosing a school for their "specialization" is quite falsely overemphasized, like Yale for nonprofit, UCLA for entertainment, Columbia for Finance, Duke for healthcare. These specialties are such a small portion of their recruitment that it's almost negligible. You want the best firms that'll get you a shot to work on the industries and projects you prefer, and that's by going to target schools.

Ross vs Cornell ($) vs Owen ($$) vs Goizueta ($$)

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