Hi all, I've been admitted into both USC Marshall (full tuition, dean's fellowship) and IU Kelley (full tuition, merit fellowship). I'm torn between the two and cannot make up my mind. I'm hoping to get some advice.
I'm targeting consulting, but am also open to program management or other roles as long as it is not marketing / finance / entertainment. Kelley seems to be better match for my short-term goals. Also, 80% of Marshall graduates end up in California, whereas Kelley is more diverse in its placements. I'm a bit averse to settling down in California 😅 and would rather try to land in the East Coast.
Marshall has a higher ranking, and it's located in a LA so I feel the experiences & social life would be great. But other than that, employment outcomes seem very similar.
So, I'm not sure what justifies the additional ~$30k I would pay for living expenses and fees at Marshall? Is the brand on my resume really that powerful in the long term? There's also a good chance that I will move back to India after OPT, and neither college really has any brand recognition here.
I really appreciate your advice, thanks!!