Where should TJ go: Duke v. Kellogg v. MIT?

Question

Having decided to follow in the tradition of both nervousgmat and Kryzak, I'm now requesting the advice of you, the gmatclub community, to help me weigh my B-school options: Duke, Kellogg or MIT.

A little background about me to put things in context...
My undergrad is in science and I've been working in bus dev for a private international biotech for the past 4 years. I'm interested in continuing to pursue corporate development in the life sciences industry (biotech/pharma) with the long term goal of attaining a C-level position in a life sciences company. I'd potentially like to enter a leadership rotational program in the industry after B-school so I can gain experience in an established, public company but I see myself working in a more entrepreneurial start-up environment in the long term. I'm also considering strategy consulting in the healthcare field, but I have to research this area more before I determine if it is for me.

As an international student I'm looking to build my network in the US, with the ultimate aim of settling in the west coast (California?) I'm flexible to working in other areas of the US as well and would like to also look at opportunities in Europe (maybe through an exchange program or internship??)

I want to go to a school that has a great international reputation and brand in the healthcare industry, that will provide solid academics (w/ a healthcare focus?), a solid alumni network and recruitment opportunities and a place that I will have fun for the next 2 years! I'm a very outgoing, social person and I think I will thrive in a collaborative environment where the students are high-calibre but they don't take things too seriously!

I work best in sunshine so I can't deny that Duke's climate is a big draw. But I'm also a city person and would love the chance to live in Chicago or Boston for a few years (although I have a particularly special place in my heart for Chicago

)

Having said all that...I open it up for your comments and suggestions ... where should TJ go?

Thanks in advance!

) Having said all that...I open it up for your comments and suggestions ... where should TJ go?

Thanks in advance!

xerox · Answer

So you're saying that you will choose a school based on the poll results? Hmm... :roll:

How about rolling a die or flipping a coin?

kk.iyer · Answer

I voted Duke....Primary reasons are below,

Healthcare reputation
Money & Climate
Healthcare reputation

raconteur · Answer

Unless my eyes are tricking me, I didn't see anything that would leave me to believe that TJ was choosing his school based on this poll result. "I open it up for your comments and suggestions" seems to be pretty straightforward imo. /shrug

Now back to topic: I would say Duke just considering your interests. Duke is already at that top 10 mark just on its own but when you include its premier health sciences/industry advantage, that would bump it up a few more notches imo. Add in a 50% tuition scholarship with good food and good weather and that's looking pretty sweet.

Either way, you're going to receive an incredible education from either of those schools. Best of luck!

aaudetat · Answer

TJ - you probably heard a million good things from regina while you were here, but I think that our connections to the bio-tech world are pretty decent, considering our proximity to RTP. Our consulting results this year were stellar, due to our ever-increasing selectivity and recent curricular adjustments that left students much more prepared than in previous years. BCG, for example, made 14 offers to FYs. McK and Bain also had good years.

I don't know anything about MIT and Kellogg, but I would compare the school's relative specialties and see if there is a significant edge for any of them. And I'd also look at fit - where do you want to be?

BTW - I was going to email you. One of my pals here is Canadian and is all about having more Canadians at Duke. If you want to get in touch with him about the Canadian thing, he said he'd be happy to talk with you. Name's John. Just let me know and I will make it happen.

cheerio
aau

xerox · Answer

I voted MIT because I personally think the program is absolutely stellar, especially for candidates with TJ's focus. Arguably, MIT's brand is by far the strongest "tech MBA" type in the world. At the same time, each of the programs you've been admitted to are super good.

mbahunter · Answer

I'd say Duke, I live in the triangle and have spent several years at VC backed biotech companies....the reputation of Duke's HSM program is stellar, throw in the nice scholly and its a great opportunity, MIT or Kellog are hard to pass up though

clarksdv2 · Answer

Well you know what my vote is going to be. There is too much interesting stuff happening in and around Boston as far as biotech goes. Chicago doesn't have that life sciences VC and biotech community and although Raleigh-Durham has some it doesn't come close. I mean Massachusetts General Hospital and a couple others in the Partners Health system get in excess of $1 billion in NIH grants that easily exceeds the R & D budgets of most corporations, for example Genentech's in 2006 $454 million. The intellectual capital factory of MIT's engineering schools, including biochemical engineering, etc, and Harvard Medical School make Boston too irresistible from a life science perspective. Check out this link to a biotech map of Cambridge. 
 https://entrepreneurship.mit.edu/biotech/invite/map2006.pdf

aaudetat · Answer

I would agree with Clarks on the biotech options in Chicago vs Boston. My partner is wrapping up his PhD in microbiology, and in our discussions of where to go next, we have Boston, the Triangle, and the Bay Area on our lists. I like Chicago a lot, but there's just not a ton of stuff available to him.

Steel · Answer

KELLOGG!

https://www.kellogg.northwestern.edu/aca ... /index.htm

If you want Biotech - Kellogg has an entire department focused on it (see link above).

Also TJ, if you want my treatise on Kellogg vs. MIT and my decision making process, I now have an easy copy and paste email (I've spoken with tons of people now on Kellogg vs. MIT - it seems to be a popular decision this year). Just PM me and I can flip it to you.

Regardless, you can't go wrong with any of the three schools!

TJ · Answer

haha Xerox :lol:

I think we all know that isn't true...just looking for the thoughtful, intelligent comments of other gmatclubbers since you guys have researched the other schools as much as I have and may have some insights that I hadn't considered.

buffdaddy · Answer

Hi voted Kellogg based purely on the fact that I have a friend who is a 1st year at Kellogg and she is also into the BioTech industry with the same goals as yours. She is doing really well and has just scored an intership with an international bio-tech firm.

msday · Answer

Hi TJ, I voted for MIT...as someone on the east coast, I think MIT is miles away from anyone else in the healthcare sector, and it looks like they have some great programs that will benefit you. To be fair though, I know nearly nothing about Duke, and it seems like healthcare is not one of Kellogg's specialties (but again, I'm not sure).

dox · Answer

I voted MIT. Given your career goals, I think their tech-focused image and strong history of producing biotech leaders fits best. As someone with similar healthcare interests, the only school I applied to outside of H/S was MIT.

TJ · Answer

Thanks everyone for taking the time to respond...it is very interesting to me that at this point the poll is nearly split all 3 ways--which is how I'm feeling

The Duke deposit is due next week and DAK is next weekend so hopefully I will get some good information there. I really appreciate your comments, it helps to get the perspective of other applicants and hear about your experiences

riverripper · Answer

During admitted students weekends there are typically times to talk to clubs and also majors, your best bet is to talk to folks who are going into those fields. As much as folks on here know about the whole b-school thing, most of us arent living it yet. Current students and faculty will give you a much better perspective as to what each school really offers. I know Kellogg and Duke both have very good bio management programs, I know nothing about that area at MIT although their engineering areas are very strong so the institution will have a good name in the field no matter what.

Seek out people during the admitted student weekends that are going into the field and ask them about their experiences...you may be surprised by how similar the schools are with job prospects or how drastically different they are. Since thats an industry that have no real knowledge of, I cant really give you an opinion on which school would be best for you.

kryzak · Answer

TJ, I'm surprised based on what you want to do, you did not apply to Haas' MBA/MPH program, which is one of the top programs in the country, coupled with the Bay Area's strength in healthcare management.

But with that said, MIT is definitely a school I've heard about that has been compared to Haas' healthcare program, so I voted for that. The only issue I see is whether you like the culture and climate there. Kellogg seems to fit your cultural preferences better, Duke the weather, and MIT the healthcare field. Very very tough choice...

TJ · Answer

Hey Kryzak, interesting comment about Haas. I strongly considered applying there...I did the class visit and tour thing when I was in SF last year. I was very impressed and it was definitely on my short list. However, I decided that I needed to keep my applications to a reasonable number and decided to only apply to 4 schools (both for my own sanity and that of my recommenders

). I was deciding between applying to Stanford and Berkeley as my west coast / bay area choice and I ultimately decided to apply to Stanford (and was subsequently *dinged*

).

kryzak · Answer

Hi TJ, ahh, was just curious, that's all. I only know that I've spoken to a lot of MBA/MPH students who rave about the program. Stanford is definitely very very good too. Sorry about the ding, I guess this year (and next year) Stanford is impossible to get in...

Rubashov1 · Answer

MIT without a doubt.

Just a few blocks from Sloan you can stand at one point on the street and see massive, modern structures with signs ranging Genzyme, Biogen Idec, Amgen, Shire, Dyax, Novartis, Archemix, etc., not to mention countless labs and scientific institutes affiliated with MIT and other nearby universities.

At MIT you'll be located right in the center of the 2nd biggest biotech cluster in the world.

Where should TJ go: Duke v. Kellogg v. MIT?

Where should TJ go?

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