Ross vs Darden vs Stern mba

First time poster here. I have a family healthcare business in Asia. I'm thinking about doing something in the lines of healthcare PE or VC for the family business but also want to learn management skills as I might one day take over the business. Also I hope to have a strong network that will help with the VC and PE or just contacts into the healthcare industry. I'm having trouble deciding between ross darden and stern as all three have their strengths.

Ross: more graudates into healthcare field

Darden: stronger alumni network and engaging case study method

Stern: More brand recongnition in Asia, smaller classes and its NYC

Which do you guys think I should choose and why?

Thanks!

20 Comments
 

not sure where you are in Asia but I think darden would have the smallest (maybe not weakest) alumni group of the 3 in Asia. I don't think industry focus of the school should be a primary consideration - you already know healthcare so who cares if that's a strength at Ross? Those graduates are not primarily going to be doing healthcare VC or PE, they will join industry jobs. All else being relatively equal, my money would be on Stern. You get a stronger brand in Asia than the others, and I would much rather spend 2 years in NYC vs Ann Arbor or, god help you, Charlottesville.

 
"srangoon"

not sure where you are in Asia but I think darden would have the smallest (maybe not weakest) alumni group of the 3 in Asia. I don't think industry focus of the school should be a primary consideration - you already know healthcare so who cares if that's a strength at Ross? Those graduates are not primarily going to be doing healthcare VC or PE, they will join industry jobs. All else being relatively equal, my money would be on Stern. You get a stronger brand in Asia than the others, and I would much rather spend 2 years in NYC vs Ann Arbor or, god help you, Charlottesville.

Thank you, that helps a lot! So I'm pretty uneducated in the field of PE and VC but I think I will be doing PE, VC, and more probably JV after graduating. Am I correct to understand that knowing people in industry doesn't actually give you much opportunities for JV's and that being in PE and VC field would give one more exposure to an industry's environment and trends?

 

Ross - seems too focused on consulting & Industry. Darden - great program, but very limited brand recognition outside of US. Better finance network than Ross. Stern - Great brand recognition worldwide, especially Asia. Top finance faculty, very strong finance/PE/VC network. Also NYU has one of the top Medical schools/faculty in the country, which should lend to some good networking opportunities.

I'd go with Stern for sure.

 
"Guest1655"

Ross - seems too focused on consulting & Industry.
Darden - great program, but very limited brand recognition outside of US. Better finance network than Ross.
Stern - Great brand recognition worldwide, especially Asia. Top finance faculty, very strong finance/PE/VC network. Also NYU has one of the top Medical schools/faculty in the country, which should lend to some good networking opportunities.

I'd go with Stern for sure.

NYU has worldwide brand recognition?

 

Tough. In this case I think location is the tie breaker, so I'd say NYU as well.

"They are all former investment bankers that were laid off in the economic collapse that Nancy Pelosi caused. They have no marketable skills, but by God they work hard."
 
CountryUnderdogTough. In this case I think location is the tie breaker, so I'd say NYU as well.

Agree with this. I think from a reputation standpoint, they are all on par with one another. I don't think any of them are a clear cut winner over the other, with regard to investment management. That would push me to think about the intangibles of how much I would enjoy the student body (pun...well, kinda intended) and what benefits each location provides (strong in a region you want to live or work post MBA, access to certain networks).

Because of that last point, I think NYU is the better choice on paper. As I said above, I think 'fit' within the program is an important point that often gets overshadowed by prestige...so I would also keep that in mind.

Congrats on the acceptance and best of luck.

Regards

"The trouble with our liberal friends is not that they're ignorant, it's just that they know so much that isn't so." - Ronald Reagan
 

Congratulations on your acceptances to these programs. How is Darden perceived in the investment management/banking world? I know it is great for general management and I know their employment statistics show people going into finance post-MBA, but I'm curious how people who work in finance/banking perceive the school and if people with non-finance backgrounds are able to transition easily to investment management/banking from Darden?

 

NYU is the best for access to top firms on the street. but go to school where you want to work after. That's the best advice I can give

 

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