great MBA schools...if you don't care about IB/Consulting careers

Let's just say that getting a IB/Consulting career is not the be all end all of your life. And you want to attend a MBA school more for the reflection/transformational, taking a break from the office, meeting interesting and inspiring people, being around laid back down to earth people, who may not be Type A over-achievers, but perhaps "Type B+" personalities.

While most of these things will naturally be found at all top 10-15 MBA programs, I was curious to know what other MBA programs that most people overlook will provide these experiences. The high cost of tuition at the top schools, requires people to get top paying jobs to pay their loans off. However, if you' re not interested in getting a IB/Consulting type gig, and you're not interested in the brand-name pedigree, why spend the extra money.

I know there are a ton of MBA programs, but not all will provide the dynamic environment attracts people from diverse backgrounds, which will in effect provide the "environment" that many of the top programs have. I know a number of no-name MBA programs are cash-cows for universities, and they will accept a whole bunch of 22-24 year olds who haven't matured to the point where they can really add to the classroom environment.

Essentially I'm looking for programs (that aren't top 15), that give a good balance between a dynamic environment that foster long lasting relationships, with career focused (but not obsessed) individuals.

I would appreciate anyones educated/mature thoughts on this.

 
Best Response

Keep in mind that you'll still find plenty of folks at all the top schools that have zero interest in consulting or financial services.

At virtually all the US 16 + INSEAD/LBS, roughly 1/2 to 2/3rds of the class end up in consulting or finance (IB/IM/PE/HF/VC). So while that's a majority, there's still a ton of people who aren't.

The only exceptions within this list are Haas (Berkeley) and Anderson (UCLA) where only 1/3rd of the class goes into consulting or finance -- and it's not a coincidence that they're both in California. (And as an aside, even though Stanford prides itself on being individualistic, entrepreneurial, etc. around 60-70% of their grads still end up in consulting or finance right after b-school).

Also, keep in mind that not everyone who is going into consulting or finance are super obsessed with their careers. A lot of times it's a matter of practicality -- for the internationals, they're the industries that are most willing to sponsor folks for US work visas. For others, it's the quickest way to pay off student loans (because they tend to pay the best). And for others - it's just a default choice because they aren't as certain about what they really want right after school, and everyone knows that you take these consulting/finance jobs for 1-3 years and then go from there (80-90% don't stay in consulting or finance after that).

I think you're overestimating how "hardcore obsessive" MBAs really are. They're certainly not the super-intense business undergrads (cough cough Wharton undergrads) whose dedication to building a resume and mapping out a career is terrifying. Again, most people going to b-school have a few years work experience -- and if anything, those years of work experience have matured them, mellowed them out a tad, and also many are closing in on a different stage of their lives (engagements, marriages, children, etc.) that are either happening while they're in school or just a year or three down the horizon that they're a bit more mellow than you may realize.

Also, remember that people don't go back to b-school just for career advancement. Yes, that's what you say in your essays, but there's an ulterior motive for many that will be similar to why you want to go back -- to take a sabbatical from work, meet new people, recharge, etc. And this goes for ALL the top b-schools, and even for a lot of folks who end up in consulting or finance.

Alex Chu www.mbaapply.com
 

Older students, more industry oriented => IMD

Valor is of no service, chance rules all, and the bravest often fall by the hands of cowards. - Tacitus Dr. Nick Riviera: Hey, don't worry. You don't have to make up stories here. Save that for court!
 

Not to highjack OP's thread, but I'm somewhat interested in this as well. My end goal is a solid position in industry finance at a large company or becoming a very high exec/CFO of a smaller company. Does anyone know schools that place very well into industry finance positions that aren't as competitive (in terms of getting in and atmosphere) as some of the elite MBA schools? I'd probably still want a decently prestigious school (i.e. definitely top 20), but I don't know if HSW/M7 or bust is the right mentality for me either.

Pretty women make us BUY beer. Ugly women make us DRINK beer.
 

TBH I would like to go here, if I were thinking about industry as I love europe: http://www.imd.org/programs/mba/admissions/upload/Class-and-placement-o…

78% go to industry and I would say is right up there with LBS, INSEAD and IESE in europe. Btw, I am not getting paid nor thinking about going there, but I researched the programs some years ago.

Valor is of no service, chance rules all, and the bravest often fall by the hands of cowards. - Tacitus Dr. Nick Riviera: Hey, don't worry. You don't have to make up stories here. Save that for court!
 

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