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Anderson vs Ross

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anonMBA411
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MBAPrepCoach
I understand where you’re coming from but it’s really difficult for me to recommend Anderson just on the dating criteria. Ross is actually very popular on the West Coast because Amazon hire so many people from Ross and they are obviously located in Seattle area, also, Ross has an executive MBA program in Burbank. Plus is just very popular internationally. And if you end up not loving your internship in Tech, Ross has a much more diverse recruitment portfolio. Like one of my clients at ross went in for consulting, now he’s switched to investment banking. And you might be thinking a little bit more about the dating pool on campus than the larger city. I could’ve done my MBA on Jupiter. I was incredibly busy and rarely outside the building. You’re able to do a 3rd semester exchange that helps, I went to a big 10 but was in France 3rd semester so that was a respite from the snow. I hate to say this, but I think the people at Ross might be better. I say this as a Californian. I’ve also heard very mixed reviews on the CMC at Anderson. I think it’s probably better to go with the information you have right now then make a decision about potential future stuff. Btw Ross is more national and not really a Midwest class but national and international.

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Thank you for the advice, I really appreciate it! I went into this thinking that Ross and Anderson were in the same tier and that outcomes would be similar but am now trying to do my due diligence to make a good decision. How would your recommendation change if someone was 100% laser focused on PM at BigTech and was not interested in anything else? Like I said, I have 3 years of experience in startups and did CorpStrat at a F50 before that and have absolutely zero desire to go consulting or banking.

I am having a hard time understanding why Ross might be better in terms of outcomes other than the long-term network benefit of being more national.
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I think dating in business school is a futile endeavor. Who wants to date a sleep deprived insecure unemployed non-stop traveler. It’s possible another maniac from your class would want to date you but the reality is that you will not be great dating material at school. 🥴

In terms of opportunities and recruiting, there is a pretty significant difference between Ross tech recruiting and Anderson tech recruiting. You kind of have to dig a foot deeper below the surface to get a sense of positions and opportunities and on campus opportunities. I can’t fault Andersen for this but all West Coast schools struggle with on campus recruiting for whatever reason. Well, there actually many reasons, program size, nobody wants to travel out west, etc.

There are also not a whole lot of industries in Southern California besides tech. Do you know many large employers or headquarters to sustain MBA recruiting. The biggest industry in the way is entertainment and some of the airspace/defense. Neither are big MBA recruiters. There’s definitely a lot of tech offices in Culver City and Playa Vista and Orange County but not all tech positions are equal… you also have to look at background and where are people coming from. Is someone coming out of tech going to business school and going back into Tech? That would be different from someone from another industry try to break into tech. In the first case, your previous work experience plus business school would give you the opportunity but in the second case, it’s all about your business codename and your ability to prove that you will perform. Morris quiring a person without any tech experience and more hassle. There are differences within even places like Amazon in terms of which role you get and then which department. The best one would be a WS and there’s a spectrum of other options.

At the same time, I have to give a credit to the Andersons recruiting and career center. I think they were card and to a lot of work to help their students. However, having a smaller program size is always tougher because you have fewer resources, fewer alarms, and being on the West Coast is tricky with on campus recruiting so they are able to mitigate some of these elements by Hardwork but still.

I would add that most people who spend a few years on the West Coast, and up not leaving, and big part to quality of life and the weather. This is one reason Anderson’s alumni are all West Coast-based. Having spent years in LA, I would say it is hard to leave. Do you need a really strong reason to do that and after a few years to develop a network, roots, and I need something really good or really bad to move out….


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Can you explain what you mean by, "there is a pretty significant difference between Ross tech recruiting and Anderson tech recruiting"? Why would tech companies be more willing to fly to Ann Arbor than they are to take a quick flight down to LA? Seems like I need to investigate odds of landing PM at BigTech for each school but it's not obvious why Ross would be better than Anderson in this regard when Anderson is known for Tech.

For me right now, the only concern with Anderson is the West-coast centric alumni base vs Ross' being more national but neither shines in the South where I have family and might move down the line. If it was Anderson vs Darden could be a different conversation there.

Long-term though I see myself in tech and with Anderson having such a strong alumni presence in tech I would believe that the network would be valuable even if I left CA in the long-run.
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Both schools are great. I work in product management as a people manager (director level) at both large tech companies and unicorn startups in the bay area. I can say that honestly, either Anderson or Ross MBA works. The hiring decision in the end will depend on your relevant work / industry experience prior to MBA, and culture fit.
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Both schools are great. I work in product management as a people manager (director level) at both large tech companies and unicorn startups in the bay area. I can say that honestly, either Anderson or Ross MBA works. The hiring decision in the end will depend on your relevant work / industry experience prior to MBA, and culture fit.

Welcome to GMAT Club 👍

Thanks for your feedback - helpful!

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After months of applying and waiting it's time to make a decision!

Some General Notes:
  • I've got 3+ years of experience in tech as a Program Mgr and am laser focused on Product Mgr roles post-MBA.
  • Right after bschool I see myself with a BigTech company on the West Coast (SEA/SF)
  • Long-term I see myself on the West coast or also in the South (DFW, ATL, NSH, etc) where my family is but as any guy knows, where I eventually settle down has more to do where the future wife's family is than where mine is. I have 0 desire to settle in the NE or Midwest.
  • While Ross is more national, neither school has a significant presence in the South
  • I'm 30 and single and the dating aspect of where I live is a very important consideration

Had been thinking this was Anderson all the way but have decided to give things a second view at Ross.

Anderson:
  • Pros:

  • Larger % of class goes to tech (33%) & PM (17%)
  • Better weather and outdoor activities
  • Much larger dating pool in LA than Ann Arbor
  • Have a few friends in LA and could see myself there long-term. Would feel like those years could be an investment in community rather than AA where I know I'll leave
  • Long-term I'm not sure if I'll stay West-coast but will always stay in tech, which is West-coast leaning so network should still be valuable

Cons:

  • Seems like consensus is that it's a half-tick below Ross in prestige
  • Less of a put-together program and tight-knit community
  • West-coast centric alumni base
  • Higher CoL but not a huge consideration here
Ross:

Pros:

  • A tick above in prestige
  • Much more national alumni
  • ndergrad 2.0" vibe with parties, football games, etc.

Cons:
  • Much smaller % of the class ends up in tech (17%), and even less so in PM (\~5%)
  • Smaller dating pool in Ann Arbor and would prefer not to end up with a girl from the Midwest or the NE and get pulled back to there long-term
  • Weather obviously sucks and farther away from the Rockies to enjoy outdoor activities I like


Please let me know if you think there's anything that I've missed. Want to make sure I'm thinking about this properly

Hi,

We appreciate the thorough thought you've put into evaluating both programs. Your observations seem accurate, and we commend the effort you've invested in the decision-making process. Here are some additional points you might want to consider:

- Anderson: As a tech-focused professional with a keen interest in transitioning into product management, Anderson's tech strength stands out. Moreover, its location in LA provides proximity to numerous tech companies, which could offer ample networking and internship opportunities. The larger dating pool in LA is another factor that aligns well with your personal preferences.

- Ross: The strong community vibe at Ross can contribute significantly to your MBA experience. However, consider the less prominent tech focus and your geographic preference. While Ross carries a slight edge in overall prestige, its smaller number in tech placements might require additional networking efforts on your part.

Here are some other factors we believe are important to consider:

1. Internship Opportunities: Since you're interested in transitioning into product management, having access to relevant internships is crucial. Anderson's proximity to the tech industry could provide an advantage here. Given the layoffs in Big Tech recently, and the volatile environment, Anderson may have an advantage here.

2. Faculty and Curriculum: Do evaluate the faculty's industry experience and the curriculum's focus on tech and product management at both schools. You might find one program more aligned with your career goals. While Ross does have a number of great courses and its proprietary MAP, Anderson seems to have more depth through Easton.

3. Career Services: Look into the quality of the career services and the history of tech recruitment at both schools. Engage with the career services teams to get a sense of how they support students in securing roles in tech. This seems like a tie on the statistics.

4. Cultural Fit and prestige: While this is subjective, it's critical. Speak to current students and alumni, if possible, to understand the culture at both schools. Remember, you'll be spending two years in this environment, so it's important that it feels like a good fit. On the prestige bit, most of it is very subjective, and in any case it will depend on the career/role you are able to achieve more than anything else.

We hope you find this insight helpful in making your decision. All the best and feel free to come back with more questions.