MBA school...effects on where you work / settle down long-term
I was curious to know perspectives from people who went to top 10 (even top 20) programs, how their MBA school effected where they settled down long term, as well as how that effected their friends/relationships from childhood/high school/college.
I'm an individual who has pretty much spent my entire life living/studying/working within a 100 mile radius of where I was born and raised. Went to a large state school, where 99% of people live also within a 100 mile radius. I'm not happy/proud about this fact, hence why I'm considering MBA programs quite a distance from home (but not int'l MBAs). I'm thirsty for the transformational experience I think it will provide me, however I'm curious to know how much the location in which you decide to attend MBA school effects your career/life long term.
Thus, I'm curious to know what happens when people leave their hometown and go to a top program, where typically the best opportunities are in large cities, far from home. Do people typically move to large metro areas for a few years post-graduation for the career opps....and then eventually migrate/relocate closer to their friends/family? (Even if it means taking severe pay cuts, and working in a less prestigious position/company?)
For those who choose to stick in these large metro areas longterm, away from home... do they completely rely on their MBA network of friends as their new social structure in their city (as their hometown/college friends naturally fade away)?
I would appreciate some insight into this question from people have personal experience or have observed MBA classmates, as I feel many people tend solely look at what school will get them that "perfect" post-grad gig, not what MBA school will provide them with the long term satisfaction in both their career and life.
For some people who grew up constantly moving, went to college far from home, and/or worked in another city afterwards (as I noticed many ivy league u-grads do)...this question may seem, perhaps, a bit immature. However, if you are someone whose entire entire life network consists of people within a one-hour drive of where you grew up, you can understand the long-term "bigger picture" that faces someones decision to attend an top MBA program far from home.
As a final note, I would like people's honest observations/opinions about this, not b.s. motivational encourage. I'm not trying to say that moving away from home long term is bad thing, or that I'm afraid of childhood/college friends fading away.
tldr
I'm curious as well. I like the programs at stanford, but I would hate to live in california. I would love to live in an area like the one around Dartmouth, but where would I work afterwards? Being from the south, I am going to have to move to go to a decent business school, but the area outside of campus is important to me too, especially if it typecasts me to a job in the local area.
edit
um id definitely say there is a HUGE correlation between where your school is -- and what school it is -- and where you end up working. if you want to do energy and in texas, then its texas and rice -- these kids will have much better placement ability than even columbia kids just due to the natural networks down there in place. going to texas, however, is going to give you a hard time at getting into a job in seattle most likely
higher the ranking you have the more leverage you have in where you can go but ultimately geographies DO matter. if you have a strong alum network in one area over the other then you will be much better off.. to say anything otherwise is just false imho
Fair enough stw, but from what i know houston is a unique animal. If you want to work in sf, la, chicago, etc, i dont think theres as much working against you if you go to a school not in those cities. The diaspora of top MBA alums spans just about everywhere from what ive seen.
sure but youre gonna be wrong if you think anderson grads dont have the advantage in socal over johnson kids. like i said, it matters where your schools network is strong. of course there are alum EVERYWHERE, but it really just matters how concentrated / prevalent they are. and like i said, the stronger the school the more weight it will pull.
To the OP, I have a similar background as you in that I was born, raised, attended undergrad, and work in the same city my entire life. I will now be attending a top 10 MBA program that is on the other side of the US for me. There aren't that many great programs in the south, in terms of top 10, and when applying I knew that either way I would have to move if I wanted to spend two years of not working and paying for this degree.
A lot of the advice given to me was that it is easier to move from a top MBA program back to your hometown. Like you said, you already have connections, undergrad degree, etc. that gives you "local cred" should you choose to move back to your city. I've met plenty of people who have MBA degrees from the top 10 schools and work in my hometown - no problem. I've seen others who decide to work all over because of the strength of that MBA program. If your city is known for a particular industry and you have worked in that industry, you immediately have the same leg up, if not more (from what people have told me), because you attended a well recognized MBA program. Also, you have flexibility with a better brand name, be it across the US or internationally.
Either path you choose, there are pros and cons, but the general advice given to me was that I should attend the more recognized MBA program outside of my local sphere because of the life experiences living in another city offers you, and will grow your network and experiences more than a local program can offer. However you decide to progress your career is up to you - locally or in another metro area.
PS: I plan to come back to my hometown long term and I don't think attending a top 10 MBA will hinder my ability to move back.
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