Wharton or Columbia ($$)

I was currently admitted to Columbia and Wharton full-time. Columbia came back and offered 40K per year. Wharton won't match. I'm a 34 year old NYC based educator who founded a public school and looking for a career change to EdTech/VC. My current salary is already that of post-MBA grads from these schools. Given COVID/economy etc thoughts on which to go with? I'm also wondering if I can accomplish the same things with an EMBA and hang on to the salary.

4 Comments
 

You should reach out to EMBA people that went to Columbia on Linkedin, to get their view and experience of the program. I've heard Columbia classmates and alumni are extremely helpful and collaborative so don't be shy to ask for help. I don't think many people on this forum will know about EMBAs.

Assuming EMBAs are treated similarly to an MBA, I would go with Columbia as the difference between Columbia and Wharton isn't that much, and by going to Columbia you're able to continue making a salary.

 

Wharton has a much stronger presence in VC than CBS. The SF campus and larger alumni base help this. VC recruiting is very ad hoc and relies heavily on alumni connections. Coronavirus will only restrict the pipeline of VC jobs to HSW even further.

I do not think a $40k difference is worth turning down Wharton, particularly for someone with a high salary currently. COL is cheaper in Philly as well.

 

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