Booth vs CBS MBA

Lucky enough to be accepted by both programs. Long story short I have over 2 and half years exp at a small credit hedge fund and I want to pivot to private markets investing. I was sort of lucky and got the fund offer without a banking background so I think I should do MBA -> IB -> private markets investing. I want to live and work in NYC post grad but am willing to do the two years in Chiraq if that offers better long term career prospects. I understand that they’re peer schools in terms of IB recruiting and that I would be good either way out of school, but for my longer term goal which is the better choice?

6 Comments
 

Whichever have you more money, otherwise you can flip a coin. There are no opportuniities that you can get at CBS that you can't get at Booth and vice versa. Focus on fit within the school community as well.

 
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Without going into specifics, think about these things:

  1. Cost of attendance. Is either school giving you scholarship? If both are - can you negotiate and get even more? 
  2. Network. No doubt that both schools are top finance schools and can get you opportunities that you want. Given that current covid situation is slowly easing up - things may go back to normal, and so networking might become an "in-person" thing like before. Since you want to work in NYC, if you want to network with someone for a specific job or meet them in person for a brunch - you don't need to fly in if you attend CBS. You will  be right there in town and can meet them at any time. Some goes for internship - with CBS you are right there in town!
  3. Social life. Do you have any friends/family that you have in either city that you will be spending your time with? or living with? 2-years is not a long time, but it can go quicker if you know someone in the area.
  4. Curriculum. Often times people ignore this because we only care about the end result of getting the dream job. But are there any specific courses/electives/global study that interest you more at either school that you want to partake in? Make your 2-years more enjoyable.
 

No scholarship to Booth, won’t know CBS money if any until spring next year. I currently work in New York and all my friends and family are nearby as well. I’ve never even set foot in Chicago. Good point on the academics and I’ll take a closer look, thank you.

 

Don't think there's a wrong decision and most of it is a wash (program, cost, etc.) so I think it really comes down to whether you'd like to get away from NYC for a couple of years, knowing that you're coming back, or whether you'd rather stay. On the one hand, you're close to your network (and family and friends) if you stay and that might make some recruiting easier in the short term. On the other hand, two years in Chicago can grow your network in ways you might not expect and expand your geographic reach. 

But to your question about long-term career prospects, I don't think it really matters either way.

 

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