MBA20ZM wrote:
Hi guys!
I am deciding between Wharton/Lauder with $ and Kellogg with full tuition scholarship. I prefer Wharton overall but love Kellogg's culture too...and the extra 100k+.
I am an entrepreneur, who just sold his small business to fund my MBA. Post-MBA, I plan to move to Asia for personal reasons and have a fresh start career wise. I have no career path preference, but I am a CFA and have some markets background.
Also, putting money aside, I wondered whether the reputation of Wharton with small fellowship outweighs that of Kellogg with full scholarship in front of recruiters. I know people in Asia are quite big on brands and awards etc.
I'd really appreciate your thoughts and thank you very much for your help.
P.s. I have also received decent scholarships from LBS, Duke and Oxford, but I thought Wharton and Kellogg are more natural choices. I'd appreciate any comments if disagree, reflecting on my post MBA goal. Thanks.
I will keep my reply terse. I would completely discount European MBAs over Wharton and Kellogg after having interned in VC over the past 6 months and seen the trend of a good sizable chunk of entrepreneurs seeking out investors in US to build a good credibility and legitimacy. European schools have a very niche alumni base and brand name and hence again, Wharton and Kellogg win hands down here. I do note that you want to go back to China post MBA but you just never know where you will be in 10-15 years post MBA. This is where Wharton's /Kellogg's huge alumni base will be of great importance.
With European schools out of the way and including the fact that the total scholarship from Wharton would be 50-60k compared to 100k from Kellogg, I would lean towards Wharton as its MBA/Lauder program is a huge sell the world over. Wharton's brand name / value alone would cover for the 40-50k in difference between the 2 scholarship amounts. Add to it the alumni base at Wharton would provide you a great boost if you want to stick to entrepreneurial work you have been doing. I was in SF over the past 3 months and it was amazing to see both, Wharton and Kellogg alumni helping students out but with Wharton's alumni a bit more stronger and robust than Kellogg's (on account of Wharton's SF MBA location opening in early 2000s).
Finally, given your CFA and markets background, Wharton's finance or entrepreneurship programs will only help you create those meaningful connections.
Make no mistake, Kellogg is coming in a close second here to Wharton and hence you wouldnt make a mistake choosing either. I vote for Wharton because of the reasons above.
Hope this helps. Keep us posted on which one you choose as you make your decision. I am more than happy to speak over phone to discuss Kellogg in further detail.
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