free columbia versus H/S/W

Hypothetically, would it be worth going to H/S/W or H/S at full price if you had an offer to go to Columbia tuition free? In terms of exit opportunities, how big is the difference between Columbia and H/S?

27 Comments
 

You'd have a hard time convincing me that any of the above are worth their implicit/explicit costs. That being said, H/S/W - C $100,000.

The question you have to ask yourself is whether taking two years off is worth it, because nothing is "free".

 

Follow your heart... but if you were good enough to get into all 4 then you'll probably be incredibly successful whichever path you end up taking

 

don't worry about the money graduating from one of those will get the money you need to pay it back just choose the school you like the best

I'm not concerned with the very poor -Mitt Romney
 

Depends on what you want out of B-School, no? PE opportunities are pretty limited outside of H/S/W, but if you're looking for MBB or banking, I'd probably take the money and not look back.

 

My old boss' boss had a similar dilemma. Basically, I would go H/S then free columbia then wharton but thats just me.

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

10-20 years later, are your life and career more likely to be better because of an extra $120k in your bank account, or because of the HBS/GSB experience, degree, opportunities, and network? The answer will depend on your post-MBA plans, but I know I would choose Harvard or Stanford. Free tuition at CBS is great, but the money you'll be saving can't buy everything.

Also, don't forget that HBS and GSB can also be pretty generous with financial aid, so make sure you are making a fair comparison. The real difference in tuition out of your pocket is likely to be much less than $120k.

 
Best Response
seamlessftw

10-20 years later, are your life and career more likely to be better because of an extra $120k in your bank account, or because of the HBS/GSB experience, degree, opportunities, and network? The answer will depend on your post-MBA plans, but I know I would choose Harvard or Stanford. Free tuition at CBS is great, but the money you'll be saving can't buy everything.

Also, don't forget that HBS and GSB can also be pretty generous with financial aid, so make sure you are making a fair comparison. The real difference in tuition out of your pocket is likely to be much less than $120k.

In 20 years, at 11%, that $120K will compound into roughly $1 million.

I think $1 million can make someone's life better. Especially when the median HBS grad makes $250K twenty years later. In fairness, I'm compounding the $1 million without a reduction for inflation but not adjusting the $250K for inflation- so a better comparison might be $400K/year of income.

I'm sorry, but $1 million on $400K of income is the difference between owning your home outright and having a 30 year mortgage with an 80% balance on it. I think not having to pay a mortgage- and being able to fund your kids' education if you so choose- is a pretty big difference.

Not saying the choice is Columbia- just saying that you can't dismiss $120K (really $160K if they're helping with expenses)

 

Depends not only on post-MBA goals as others have said, but previous experience and background as well.

Frank Sinatra - "Alcohol may be man's worst enemy, but the bible says love your enemy."
 

First, please get into HSW and columbia full-scholarship before posing such a hypothetical.

Second, as many others have said, it really hinges upon your professional goals, social goals, and what you want out of an MBA. For those who just want banking or consulting coming out and care little about anything else, columbia full-scholarship would make more sense. For those who are looking for more competitive positions such as PE, HF, IM, VC, or something more "exotic" such as a startup or say working for wynn casinos, will be better off at HSW.

 

As a purely hypothetical answer, I'd take HBS over free Columbia (and probably over a Wharton full scholarship as well) in a heartbeat, but it's for weird personal reasons that'd probably be worth $150k to me.

 

Why are you so obsessed with HBS? Can you articulate on these "weird" personal reasons? Is it because you think HBS prestige will somehow trickle down on your social life and ability to score chicks?

 
mbavsmfin

Why are you so obsessed with HBS? Can you articulate on these "weird" personal reasons? Is it because you think HBS prestige will somehow trickle down on your social life and ability to score chicks?

No. To be honest, attending HBS would likely decrease my ability to get laid, as I'm a tall, good-looking white guy with a strong, existing social circle (that said, I'm currently tied down). I'm not applying to business school for that reason at all -- attending HBS might give a guy a better shot at a higher status spouse, but it sure as shit won't help him get laid.

And admitting that I would pay a premium to attend HBS over another school doesn't mean that I'm "obsessed with HBS."

(We've actually talked about my background via PMs in the past.)

 

Adipisci mollitia quasi in voluptates. Officiis dolorem repellat beatae et voluptas qui. A cupiditate esse quae aliquam exercitationem. Laborum magni reiciendis dicta eum et optio repudiandae. Voluptatibus molestiae blanditiis quo et ipsa.

 

Ex modi quaerat perferendis necessitatibus perspiciatis ducimus expedita ut. Dignissimos voluptatem aut et et dolor consequatur deleniti. Magni laudantium commodi quia nulla omnis quasi incidunt. Tempora et aut optio inventore. Id quia aut qui porro velit aut vero.

Aut minus harum aut dolorem aliquam et. Quia fugit et quos cumque tempore ad quia. Voluptate laudantium delectus expedita et. Vel amet voluptas sunt. Dolor accusantium quam asperiores consequatur eos. Nemo sed voluptatum doloremque qui rem.

Nesciunt labore fugiat similique reiciendis voluptas magnam. Explicabo a placeat sunt enim aperiam. Hic incidunt commodi tempore. Autem quia enim minus et laborum saepe ratione dignissimos. Impedit autem dignissimos ipsa quidem at quos. Illo id voluptatem officia quod dolores voluptas. Iste sint quia nulla expedita et aliquam et quibusdam.

Nobis itaque vel quas laboriosam. Aspernatur et facilis sequi dolorem. Aliquid nesciunt dolore fuga qui earum unde. Sint tenetur et dolor saepe.

Career Advancement Opportunities

September 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.4%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.3%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

September 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.5%
  • Morgan Stanley 03 98.9%
  • Evercore 01 98.4%
  • Banco Santander 02 97.9%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.3%

Professional Growth Opportunities

September 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 98.4%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.9%
  • JPMorgan No 97.3%

Total Avg Compensation

September 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (16) $429
  • Associates (51) $260
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (26) $182
  • Intern/Summer Associate (15) $159
  • 1st Year Analyst (84) $151
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (76) $101
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
3
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
4
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
5
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
6
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
7
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
8
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
9
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
10
Mimbs's picture
Mimbs
98.8
success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”