USC Marshall MBA

Hi all,

Recently accepted at USC Marshall for an MBA and interviewed at UCLA, NYU, and Duke (no decision yet on those three). If I don't get into any of the others, is an MBA from USC worth it? I know Marshall undergrad is well respected, but how is the MBA viewed?

Specifically interested in Media/Entertainment, which is why I applied to USC, but its ranking is a little concerning.

Thanks in advance!

 

If you plan on working on the west coast (especially SoCal) and going into Media/entertainment, I would not scoff at Marshall.

It is less about ranking more about alumni base, less what you know and more who you know. Trojan alumni are unlike any other breed. Not to mention Hollywood is stacked with Trojans.

"A man can convince anyone he's somebody else, but never himself."
 

MBA at Marshall is very legit, especially if you are going into media/entertainment. For Socal and entertainment, the national rankings don't mean much. The Trojan network will carry you further. That being said, the other schools are better if you change your mind or fail to get into your target industry.

 

What do you want out of an MBA? What do you expect it to be like? How important to you are factors like quality of instruction and formal recruiting opportunities versus living in Los Angeles?

If you want to live in LA and don't get an acceptance from UCLA, Marshall is your best bet. I won't go so far as saying that getting a 'local' MBA is better if you want to work in LA than a more prestigious degree from out of town.

 
Best Response
hamilton714:

I am very curious about the MS Finance program at USC. I'm interested because Marshall is a great business school and I think USC is going to attract some of the best recruiters in LA, bulge brackets and boutiques alike. But what makes me apprehensive is that this is the first year of the program. I have no idea, for sure, what to expect in terms of recruiting, or in terms of student body. Is it all international students from China, as someone suggested from an earlier thread about this? Why is the acceptance rate supposedly 7% when it is far higher for almost all MSF programs? Marshall's a good school, but it's not Princeton.

So if anyone else applied, regardless of whether you were accepted, what is your impression or understanding of the MSF program? Should I even be apprehensive about it? What are the general expectations of people who have looked into this, is what I am asking?

Decisions came out yesterday for first round applicants. Anyone get in?

How do you guys think this program will compare to schools like Vanderbilt, Wash U and Villanova? I think it has a huge advantage in that it is right in LA and has firmly established ties with all the investment banks in LA. The only other school that offers a decent MSF degree on the entire west coast is Claremont McKenna, and I see a few downsides there. First, it seems that most of their graduate students were undergrads there as well. Not sure what that says. Also, I think that any and all firms that currently recruit MSF students from CMC will start recruiting MSF students at USC next year. From that point of view, having CMC here already is huge for usc's new program. I think USC is going to steal a lot of potential students from CMC, but whether that's next year, five years from now, or later, I don't know. Just interested in another point of view.

A) The USC campus is UNREAL. Imagine buildings like east coast schools, traditions, HUGE sports history, great rival with UCLA, awesome awesome awesome campus! Then the women are unreal, your classmates are very cool, and the alumni group is so well connected its stupid (at least for CA, no offense to the all mighty ivy). B) The program will be good, no doubt. C) @"TNA" gives good advice - as usual - in this thread: //www.wallstreetoasis.com/forums/current-msf-students-qa

 

I applied in the first round but I am still waiting for the decision! Are you sure they notified yesterday? I was looking around some Chinese language forums and they are anxious about the notifications too.

 

I think the USC program will inject much needed competition in the West Coast, but I still think Claremont will be fine. Two different schools and different experiences. I am very interested in seeing how USC puts their program together. Anyone that gets admitted please shoot me a PM, it would be great to talk.

Either way I agree with you that the university and brand is phenomenal and will be a huge advantage.

 

I'm an undergrad at USC, and though I'm not in Marshall, I can attest to its stellar reputation and alumni base. I would assume our on-campus recruiting is one of the best on the west coast solely based on the firms that recruit on campus. USC makes a really strong effort to connect you with alumni, and if you want a job at Goldman or MS, they will help you get contacts/hold networking events to give you a leg up on the competition

 

No idea what the MSF program will be like, but if the school puts even half as much effort into the program as it does for its MAcc program, then it will soon be one of the top degrees on the West Coast. I can't imagine Dean Ellis not investing a huge amount in the program. Also, the alumni network. Best on the West Coast by far, and best in the country in my opinion.

 

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