Help a Chimp out with Schools
I have offers from Darden and Texas A&M for my MBA. Darden I received no money from and it will only cost me 23k in total tuition to go to A&M.
My background is in small business and my UG GPA is sub 3 from a non-target. My gmat score 710
I am interested in consulting. I feel like MBB is obviously out of reach and 2nd tiers. A&M has a strong network but doesnt feel like it feeds into anything well outside of oil.
I think I need to eat the extra 77k and go to Darden so I have the best opportunities possible. It seems like Darden has a higher ceiling. Its just kind of scary thinking about having a 135k loan after bschool.
Thoughts and comments are greatly appreciated.
*as far as experience with the schools so far...it is easy to see that Darden gives me more opportunities.
Think about this.... (rough estimations, no taxes etc. just to make the point)
You go to A&M and since it is way worse than Darden don't get a consulting offer but a job offer for 'something' making $80k, and no loans. EOY $80k
You go to Darden which has great recruiting, get a consulting offer, make $190k, and $135k in loans. EOY $55k
First year difference: $25k in favor of A&M
Let's say for second year you go up to $85k in first example and $200k in second example.
Second year difference: $115k in favor of Darden Third year difference: $120k in favor of Darden
Get the point? If you are going to go to an MBA program, take the very best possible school you can because there is no fixing it after you have the MBA. You have a poor Ugrad and need to make up for it, A&M is not the answer.
Plus, two major points.... you can revisit money after your first year, so if you do well you could essentially bring the cost of the program down for the 2nd year of the program.
Also, your summer program recruiting would be far better and could potentially net you $25-45k being at Darden. This offsets the above numbers EVEN MORE.
Darden all the way, regardless of debt that you incur.
Darden. Now if you were looking at a grad degree in Petroleum Engineering from A&M, that would be a different story IMHO...
Darden. I think MBB can be doable for someone like you out of Darden.
thanks for the comment guys.
Darden, without a doubt. If not MBB because of undergrad GPA, you should have plenty of other interesting opportunities. Plus the campus and people are really nice!
Y does the undergrad GPA still matter when you are in business school and are recruiting for MBB ?? I have actually heard undergrad GPA has no barring on recruiting for MBB at a top 5 B school.
I am not saying a low GPA will keep you from getting into MBB, but given that MBB recruiting at Darden will be very competitive, it will certainly affect you. When comparing you to your 700+ GMAT, 3.5+ target/ semi target GPA peers, interviewers will definitely want to know what was going on with you and that subpar undergrad performance.
The strong GMAT score and a strong professional track record should be enough to suppress any doubts, but have an answer at hand for the GPA issue, because it will probably arise during interviews.
710 is below median at top 7 b-schools, and I think it's weak for MBB recruiting. 750+ is strong.
Anything 700+ is OK for recruiting, after that the benefit is really marginal.
And the OP is talking about Darden, not top 7 (7???) b-schools. Anyway, almost nobody focuses on GMAT scores while recruiting from those places, except it is really low I guess. Anyway, the point was to say that a 710 should be strong enough to help mitigate the GPA.
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