Yale or Wharton??

Hi guys,

I was fortunate enough to be accepted to both programs, and now I have this tough decision to make.

I understand to many people the answer can be obvious, but here's my thought. I personally don't care too much about rankings and employment data, the most important thing I look for from an MBA experience is a new platform for me to meet intellectual people and friends, and to open doors of career opportunities (or startup ideas). I want my 2 years to be happy, memorable, and life-changing (this is very important to me).

I come from a marketing and strategy background and am hoping to work in marketing/strategies in the tech industry (yes preferably in the west coast, so I quite like the Semester in San Francisco program with Wharton). I haven't really visited either of the schools and for some reason I can't. It's really the feelings I have from connecting with different people from these schools along the application process.

* Yale
1. Everyone I met was wonderful (admission committee, alumni, other admitted students)!! I can feel that they all truly love Yale and are so passionate about the Yale community (people are smart and nice, not arrogant at all). I trust that's the life-changing and meaningful place I look for.
2. I know that Yale has put a lot of investment to develop SOM, with the innovative curriculum, the efforts to hire Dean Snyder and other well-known professors from other top schools. It has a clear vision and development strategy and I believe this is a very promising program.
3. Yale is Yale, there's few place you can compare it with. Many years in the future, I would feel so proud to tell my kids that their mom is a Yale alumnus (too bad I wasn't able to attend Yale undergrad, now I think I just want to make up for it, but my head is telling me MBA is really not like undergrad). I have admired the Yale brand my entire life.

My major concern: Even though I personally don't care too much about ranking/employment stats, recruiters/industry leaders might. People have this impression that Yale is a nonprofit school and is not as strong as Wharton, opportunities may be limited (we all will have to invest a lot in the MBA education, everyone surely wants to maximize the return).

* Wharton
1. There's no doubt that Wharton is the among the best business schools in the world, it has great influence in diverse job functions and different industries, a Wharton degree can get you to a lot of places (have to admit a Wharton MBA can get you more opportunities than a Yale MBA can, at least in the near future)
2. I know the student body is much larger at Wharton than Yale, there're different kinds of people (like in the real world you have to deal with different kinds of people), they all are smart and have competitive profile. Some of them are really nice, some tough and practical, some very aggressive... I'm sure there're different kinds of people at Wharton and Yale. But for some reason I just sense I will be happier at Yale. Maybe I haven't researched enough about Wharton yet, so correct me if I am biased)
3. Recruiting is awesome (as far as I know), it has the Semester in SF program that I am interested in.

My major concern: I worry I will have a depressing life at Wharton because I have heard many people (even other applicants or alum) say that the Wharton experience is "depressing". I don't fear challenges or competitions but I want to be part of a positive community.

As if my decision isn't hard enough, I even got the same amount of scholarship from both programs, not a lot of money but I feel honored to be recognized. But still Wharton has a higher estimated expense in total.

I appreciate your comments and advice. Thanks!!