Top tier MBA or MBA in city you want to work?

So I'm still a few years out from applying to an MBA program but have been thinking a lot about it lately.

As I start to target in on schools that I want to attend I have to start being real with myself about the schools that I can feasibly get into. Based on how I've done with standardized testing in the past, I'm guessing my GMAT will be in the high 600's/ low 700's. Obviously this isn't great, but not horrible.

So my question to everyone: would you be just as well off as going to a bus school in the city/state you want to work/live in long term vs getting into a top tier program?

7 Comments
 

What are your goals? Why are you getting an MBA? That'll heavily influence your list of schools. Eg: I'm looking to do IB, so I'm targeting schools like Virginia, Columbia, Duke

 

Start GMAT'ing now. And I wouldn't necessarily base your GMAT expectations on past standardized test performance. That is, unless you studied like crazy for a few months for the SAT and still scored under 1200.

To answer your question, I'd say it depends on which industry you want to work in post-MBA, and whether any schools in your desired region feed well into that industry (e.g., a candidate wants to work in Houston IB, so he chooses Rice over Kellogg).

 
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Agree that goals are the #1 driver. For 90% of exits, M7 trumps a regional program. T15 is more of a mix and depends on the end industries the school is strong in.

If you're talking about a regional school in a major city (NYC, SF, Chicago, Boston in particular) national top schools usually take precedence.

For consulting/IB, it's almost always top programs.

Startups/tech may skew towards a regional school.

Corporates are a mixed bag.

 
"Nelson_Van_Alden" So if I'm understanding what you're staying correctly, a grad from Kellogg would take precedence over a grad from BU/BC in Boston?

All else equal? Yes. If the company is willing to hire you as a Kellogg graduate, they'll have no issue with you starting in their Boston office.

 
 
"Nelson_Van_Alden" So if I'm understanding what you're staying correctly, a grad from Kellogg would take precedence over a grad from BU/BC in Boston?

Sure, if you can get into Kellogg go Kellogg. But if you want to live and work in Boston, I’d take BC/BU over some higher ranked schools like Emory, Vanderbilt, Georgetown, etc.

M7 > regional school > T30

 

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