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Are Stern MBAs looked down upon?
 

Derivatives's picture
ST
(Orangutan, 292
 
Points)
 on 8/22/12 at 1:00am
stern mba.jpg

So I'm looking at applying to Stern this upcoming year along with other schools. When I talked to friends and alums who went to M7 schools, they all laughed at Stern and say that people don't take their students and alums seriously. One Wharton guy said that during the London banking career trek, which consisted of students from top schools, the stern kids were looked down upon. This sentiment was echoed by numerous people. Others said that Stern plays second fiddle to Columbia, and the students there have a MASSIVE inferiority complex.

How accurate is this? I mean I think stern is a great school but not sure i want to drop $200K to feel like a loser if this really is the case.

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SECfinance's picture

I have heard similar

IB
(King Kong, 1,416
 
Points)
 on 8/21/12 at 3:34pm

I have heard similar sentiment - that Stern is where you go if you want to be in NYC for b-school but can't get into Columbia.

prudentinvestor's picture

According to bankerella its

(Orangutan, 317
 
Points)
 on 8/21/12 at 3:35pm

According to bankerella its more like $250 K.

bankerella's picture

Stern is a fine school... but

IB
(King Kong, 1,863
 
Points)
 on 8/21/12 at 3:37pm

Stern is a fine school... but it's not usually mentioned in the same breath as Columbia.

Apropos of nothing, what would Stern be if it were 20 miles west?

See my other WSO blog posts

seabird's picture

Sounds like you were talking

PE
(King Kong, 1,494
 
Points)
 on 8/21/12 at 3:41pm

Sounds like you were talking to a bunch of d bags.

“...all truth passes through three stages. First, it is ridiculed. Second, it is violently opposed. Third, it is accepted as being self-evident.”

- Schopenhauer

Brady4MVP's picture

I think Stern is a great

HF
(Neanderthal, 3,161
 
Points)
 on 8/21/12 at 3:59pm

I think Stern is a great school, but sadly i've heard the same thing. Now if you get a kickass job coming out of stern, then people will give you props. But if you don't, they will assume that you're not bright and that stern sucks in placing students. M7 students see themselves as better than everyone else, so that line of demarcation will always exist. If you're ok with not attending a prestigious school and don't mind M7 alums looking down on you, by all means go to stern. They place pretty well into NYC banking jobs.

Going Concern's picture

i haven't met too many stern

(King Kong, 1,702
 
Points)
 on 8/21/12 at 4:04pm

i haven't met too many stern mba's, most of them seem pretty chipper

And I think it's gonna be a long, long, time

mikebrady's picture

It really comes down to what

 
Points)
 on 8/21/12 at 4:24pm

It really comes down to what you want to get out of your MBA experience and your career choice. If you want IB, Columbia is a better option but don't think Columbia will make life much easier.

JimmyDnFFX's picture

Wouldn't it also depend on if

O
(Baboon, 138
 
Points)
 on 8/21/12 at 4:33pm

Wouldn't it also depend on if OP wanted to do IB or not? I assume because you said banking that this means yes though?

80% of life is just showing up

-Woody Allen-

Derivatives's picture

JimmyDnFFX: Wouldn't it also

ST
(Orangutan, 292
 
Points)
 on 8/21/12 at 4:49pm
JimmyDnFFX:

Wouldn't it also depend on if OP wanted to do IB or not? I assume because you said banking that this means yes though?

I'm interested in macro research/strategy, particularly sovereign debt and currencies.

JimmyDnFFX's picture

Doesn't sound like you want

O
(Baboon, 138
 
Points)
 on 8/21/12 at 5:01pm

Doesn't sound like you want to do IB then. Not sure the MBA would be a deal breaker then.

80% of life is just showing up

-Woody Allen-

That_Aston's picture

To make an argument that

CF
(Gorilla, 574
 
Points)
 on 8/21/12 at 5:03pm

To make an argument that Stern is looked down upon makes that person look like a pompous idiot. Its RIGHT below the quality of an M7 but I don't see any of those schools located right next to WS either....

Here to learn and hopefully pass on some knowledge as well. SB if I helped.

JimmyDnFFX's picture

It really just sounds like

O
(Baboon, 138
 
Points)
 on 8/21/12 at 5:06pm

It really just sounds like guys who think their Alma Mater is the only school worth a shit. Go on LinkedIn and tell me that the only VPs, SVPs, MDs, at top banks come only from HWS. It's not true.

80% of life is just showing up

-Woody Allen-

mashed potatoes's picture

stern is a damn good program

(Baboon, 142
 
Points)
 on 8/21/12 at 5:14pm

stern is a damn good program and dont let any of those d-bags tell you otherwise. yes, its not HWS, but its still a very solid program that has a vast alumni base in finance, consulting and industry and places students just as well as other top 10 programs.

mikebrady is right, dont think just by going to columbia, you are automatically at more of an advantage. lots of stern students come in with experience front office roles at BBs, PE/HFs, MBB, etc. i would definitely give them a serious shot if you have the qualifications of getting into the program.

however, you better bring your A game because you will be competing with a massive amount of students who a pursuing a finance track, whereas other schools may have a smaller %.

JimmyDnFFX's picture

Amen!

O
(Baboon, 138
 
Points)
 on 8/21/12 at 5:14pm

Amen!

80% of life is just showing up

-Woody Allen-

Brady4MVP's picture

mashed potatoes: stern is a

HF
(Neanderthal, 3,161
 
Points)
 on 8/21/12 at 5:18pm
mashed potatoes:

stern is a damn good program and dont let any of those d-bags tell you otherwise. yes, its not HWS, but its still a very solid program that has a vast alumni base in finance, consulting and industry and places students just as well as other top 10 programs.

mikebrady is right, dont think just by going to columbia, you are automatically at more of an advantage. lots of stern students come in with experience front office roles at BBs, PE/HFs, MBB, etc. i would definitely give them a serious shot if you have the qualifications of getting into the program.

however, you better bring your A game because you will be competing with a massive amount of students who a pursuing a finance track, whereas other schools may have a smaller %.

The last paragraph is right. Stern is tough because it lacks the prestige of the M7 AND there is a higher % of students who want to go into finance than any other school. So the competition to get good jobs will be insane. If you're up for that, and it's the best school you get into, then go.

NYU's picture

Nothing in this post really

PE
(Baboon, 160
 
Points)
 on 8/21/12 at 5:20pm
ladubs111's picture

Brady4MVP: mashed

IA
 
Points)
 on 8/21/12 at 5:53pm
SirTradesaLot's picture

I know tons of people that

 
Points)
 on 8/21/12 at 6:11pm

Turbo leverage for capital explosion -- BD Capital

My WSO Blog

JimmyDnFFX's picture

I agree with mashed potatoes.

O
(Baboon, 138
 
Points)
 on 8/21/12 at 7:38pm

80% of life is just showing up

-Woody Allen-

Brady4MVP's picture

ladubs111: Brady4MVP: mas

HF
(Neanderthal, 3,161
 
Points)
 on 8/21/12 at 8:14pm
SirTradesaLot's picture

Brady4MVP: Yes, but for the

 
Points)
 on 8/21/12 at 8:34pm

Turbo leverage for capital explosion -- BD Capital

My WSO Blog

Brady4MVP's picture

SirTradesaLot: Brady4MVP: Y

HF
(Neanderthal, 3,161
 
Points)
 on 8/21/12 at 8:46pm
FreezePops's picture

Brady4MVP: ladubs111: Bra

(Orangutan, 309
 
Points)
 on 8/21/12 at 8:57pm
SirTradesaLot's picture

Wait, people want to work at

 
Points)
 on 8/21/12 at 8:58pm

Turbo leverage for capital explosion -- BD Capital

My WSO Blog

Going Concern's picture

i heard they're not too savvy

(King Kong, 1,702
 
Points)
 on 8/21/12 at 9:10pm

And I think it's gonna be a long, long, time

SirTradesaLot's picture

Going Concern: i heard

 
Points)
 on 8/21/12 at 9:17pm

Turbo leverage for capital explosion -- BD Capital

My WSO Blog

Going Concern's picture

SirTradesaLot: Going

(King Kong, 1,702
 
Points)
 on 8/21/12 at 9:47pm

And I think it's gonna be a long, long, time

SirTradesaLot's picture

Going Concern: i dunno i'm a

 
Points)
 on 8/21/12 at 10:24pm

Turbo leverage for capital explosion -- BD Capital

My WSO Blog

Going Concern's picture

SirTradesaLot: Going

(King Kong, 1,702
 
Points)
 on 8/21/12 at 11:22pm

And I think it's gonna be a long, long, time

shadowcover's picture

Does anyone know how well

 
Points)
 on 8/22/12 at 1:37am
APAE's picture

Stern's "sticker cost" of

(Neanderthal, 3,660
 
Points)
 on 8/22/12 at 5:11am

A lot of people do certain things to add days to their life. I do things to add life to my days.

mperit01's picture

this is an absurd post. NYU

ER
 
Points)
 on 8/22/12 at 7:05am
JimmyDnFFX's picture

APAE: Stern's "sticker cost"

O
(Baboon, 138
 
Points)
 on 8/22/12 at 8:13am

80% of life is just showing up

-Woody Allen-

UFOinsider's picture

bankerella: Stern is a fine

O
(Human, 10,347
 
Points)
 on 8/22/12 at 9:39am

YOU JUST GOT TROLLED
http://www.troll.me/images/red-foreman322/dont-you...

audaciou02's picture

Regardless of pedigree - once

IB
(Baboon, 170
 
Points)
 on 8/22/12 at 10:02am
happypantsmcgee's picture

Brady4MVP: SirTradesaLot:

O
(Almost Human, 9,621
 
Points)
 on 8/22/12 at 10:17am

If I had asked people what they wanted, they would have said faster horses - Henry Ford

SenhorFinance's picture

mperit01: this is an absurd

HF
(Orangutan, 352
 
Points)
 on 8/22/12 at 11:57am

See my other WSO blog posts

mr_gondola's picture

I worked with two Stern guys

O
 
Points)
 on 8/22/12 at 12:05pm
Brady4MVP's picture

mr_gondola: I worked with two

HF
(Neanderthal, 3,161
 
Points)
 on 8/22/12 at 12:14pm
UFOinsider's picture

Derivatives: One Wharton guy

O
(Human, 10,347
 
Points)
 on 8/22/12 at 12:15pm

YOU JUST GOT TROLLED
http://www.troll.me/images/red-foreman322/dont-you...

Brady4MVP's picture

UFOinsider: Derivatives: On

HF
(Neanderthal, 3,161
 
Points)
 on 8/22/12 at 9:30pm
SirTradesaLot's picture

Brady4MVP: You will have a

 
Points)
 on 8/22/12 at 9:52pm

Turbo leverage for capital explosion -- BD Capital

My WSO Blog

Irresistible's picture

Stern is right below M7.

 
Points)
 on 8/22/12 at 10:29pm
holla_back's picture

Irresistible: Stern is right

O
(King Kong, 1,121
 
Points)
 on 8/22/12 at 10:37pm
thunderfan118's picture

I'm not going to lie, I

 
Points)
 on 8/22/12 at 10:56pm
Brady4MVP's picture

thunderfan118: I'm not going

HF
(Neanderthal, 3,161
 
Points)
 on 8/22/12 at 11:16pm
SirTradesaLot's picture

Brady4MVP: Why would the

 
Points)
 on 8/22/12 at 11:53pm

Turbo leverage for capital explosion -- BD Capital

My WSO Blog

APAE's picture

Because not everyone is

(Neanderthal, 3,660
 
Points)
 on 8/23/12 at 12:02am

A lot of people do certain things to add days to their life. I do things to add life to my days.

Brady4MVP's picture

SirTradesaLot: Brady4MVP: Y

HF
(Neanderthal, 3,161
 
Points)
 on 8/23/12 at 12:11am
bankerella's picture

Brady4MVP: SirTradesaLot:

IB
(King Kong, 1,863
 
Points)
 on 8/23/12 at 12:50am

See my other WSO blog posts

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