Harvard/Stanford vs. Dartmouth/Kellogg

For those who qualify for the full Post 9/11 GI Bill and attendant Yellow Ribbon Program Benefits, an MBA from Tuck or Kellogg would cost about $35k in total less than one from Stanford or Harvard. Curious as to thoughts on whether the quality/prestige/earning potential of the latter two institutions would justify the difference in price?

6 Comments
 

i mean as an employer, would you rather hire a top mba grad or a top 7 grad? I would definitely pay an extra 35k to be in the absolute top tier of graduates

 

I disagree with the above comments. For someone with what I assume your background is (i.e. experience as a military officer, but no relevant private sector experience), your realistically going to be targeting either MBB or plain vanilla IB as your top career destinations.

Whether your coming out of HBS or Tuck, your going to be getting the same ~$130K + bonus pay package. Similarly, after adjusting for the strength of the student body & interest, placement in these careers is not meaningfully different across the M7 + Tuck. Banking and MBB interviews are for all intents and purposes open sign-up for those who don't shoot themselves in the foot during a coffee chat or networking dinner.

If your going to drop the extra $35K for HBS or GSB, you should realize that your doing it primarily for the prestige, and on the off chance that at some point down the road it will matter to your career that your bschool alumni network is 10% more baller. Among this group of schools, the name on your sheepskin will have minimal impact on your first post-bschool placement (NOTE: Does not apply below Tuck, stick to the M7 + Tuck).

Also, just so you can properly weight the validity of my opinion, I have an MBA from a top school and work for one of MBB through the engagement manager level.

 

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