HBS vs. GSB vs. Booth (full scholarship)
I'm in the very fortunate position to have been admitted to my top choice schools!
I've worked in finance for the past five years, and post-MBA the two main options I'm considering are: 1) growth equity (slightly earlier stage then what I do now but very similar), or 2) operations / strategy at a start up to medium sized company. I've never explored anything in the second category, so I would love to do an internship pre-mba or during the school year to learn more and understand whether it could be a good long-term fit.
Which school would you choose based on below criteria (+ anything else important that I'm not thinking of!)
- Opportunities to recruit for 1) growth equity, or 2) strategy/operations at anything from start up to small/medium sized business
- Network (I grew up on the east coast and have a light preference to move back here post graduation, but I'm open to either cost)
- I think I would really benefit from the case study method (sat in on some HBS classes and loved them), but I also love the outdoors and everything the west coast offers there (hiking, Yosemite, etc.)
- Class size + feel + vibes
- Booth Polsky center seems amazing
- I will be financing my MBA entirely myself and also help my parents financially. How much should I consider the full ride to booth (includes living stipends) and graduating entirely debt free vs. potentially a lot of debt at GSB/HBS? How does this weigh against the opportunity differences across the schools?
- Financial aid at the GSB and HBS is a total black box. Does anyone know what to expect here with say $200K total comp and $100K in assets?
Based on the most helpful WSO content, here's a breakdown of your decision factors:
Opportunities for Growth Equity and Strategy/Operations:
Network:
Case Study Method:
Class Size and Vibes:
Debt-Free Booth vs. Debt at HBS/GSB:
Financial Aid at HBS/GSB:
Recommendation:
Ultimately, weigh the financial implications against the long-term career opportunities and personal preferences. If the debt at HBS/GSB feels manageable given your career goals, they may offer a higher ceiling for growth equity and startup strategy roles. If not, Booth's full scholarship is a compelling option.
Sources: GSB overtaking HBS?, Stanford vs Wharton vs Booth vs Columbia for PE, Booth vs. Columbia for MBA, https://www.wallstreetoasis.com/forum/private-equity/wharton-vs-stanford-gsb-for-private-equity-recruiting?customgpt=1, HBS vs. GSB
You would be crazy not to take Booth. It's a better business school than HBS and Arguably GSB, even without the scholarship
Agree that Booth is great, and arguably better. But also for OPs career choice?
GSB is ranked #1 by US News.
All great options but makes sense to take the $$ if you ask me.
IMO the Harvard / Stanford brand is worth paying for the MBA yourself.
Those schools are in a league of their own. You will make plenty of money afterwards and for placing into buyside post-MBA, you cannot do better than those two schools.
Your decision between those two falls to where you want to place. Growth Equity probably favours Stanford, though I’m always partial to HBS for high finance. Just can’t go wrong with the most pedigreed Ivy.
You should make your mind up on whether you want to live on west coast or east coast post grad and go to GSB or HBS accordingly.
It can be very hard to get an investing role post-MBA depending on what your pre-MBA work experience is, so I would maximize my options by going to GSB personally. There are many more growth equity opportunities in the bay area than on the east coast (I know first hand).
GSB is the most selective and best school period. HBS is also great, and I think miles ahead of Chicago.
Don't listen to the others, it would be foolish to go to Booth (even with a scholarship) over GSB or HBS. I would go to GSB personally.
Not even going to read your post. If you take booth over H/S that might be the most short sighted thing I’ve ever heard of.
There are no wrong answers here, but I'd probably pick GSB first then HBS. If you asked me 15 years ago, I would have said HBS, but currently I just really love the area around Stanford and have met a lot of Stanford grads who are creative innovative thinkers. HBS grads are more the CEO types. Good luck on your choice.
I wouldn’t even consider Booth unless they give you a full scholarship. Out of the top MBA alum I know, Booth alum are comparatively mediocre. Personally know many and simply haven’t been impressed by many of them
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