Thinking About Round Two  

Posted by Dino in , ,

I suspect my recommenders would beat me to a plup if they knew I was lining up five more schools...

When you are sitting around, bored and waiting for responses from your R1 applications... you can not help but let your mind wonder about what the other options are. Particularly when you look around and the applicant blog-pool from last year seems to be filled with with sorrow such as this and this.

The plan behind pushing five apps for R1 was so I would not have to dip into R2. Hopefully that will still be the case. If I do need to dip into R2, these are the schools I have been thinking about...

INSEAD - I like the continental European feel of the school. I've always wanted to learn Spanish as another language; their requirement to know a second language in some depth appeals to me for this reason. Perhaps the only true world class international school, with options to utilise their great links to Wharton in the US and the INSEAD Singapore campus.

Chicago Booth (GSB) - Probably the most flexible curriculum there is. You get what you want from this MBA. The facilities have great style and class. Would be a great place to study I think.

Columbia - A rising school in my opinion (yes Tieny, you heard that right), and set in New York, New York. What more is there to say?

LBS - A top business school in my back yard. The only deterrent is that I have been in London most of my life. I don't think I will gain as many new experiences here as at other schools.

Tuck- A strong sense of community. For some reason or other, I've met quite a few of alum from this school in various places. They have all been likable and the network seems very, very strong.

Follow any responses to this entry through the

8 comments

Vitaly Kartsev  

Tuck folks seem very nice, and from everything I've seen, the network is as great as they say. I would have to say, though, that you Hanover visit for the interview will be make-or-break. I will apply R2 if I have to — interview and recs are done already — so I don't think it's a "love it or hate it" school like some say.

However, I walked away feeling like it was not a great fit for me. Subjectively speaking, it reminded me too much of where I did my undergrad, and that was isolating. Probably great for someone who likes the environment, but two *more* years of isolation would be hard for me.

I was also a little put off by how hard the students were trying to push Tuck and the program. By comparison, Fuqua folks were way more laid back, even though objectively speaking recruiting from Tuck is an easier path to a top job. I found that really odd.

There are some really amazing things about Tuck, though. Students definitely seemed warm and it's a close-knit community. They sell organic heirloom apples in the cafeteria — it really sinks in that you're in this gorgeous, crunchy part of the country. The only grocery store in town is a co-op.

Ok, long comment. I think you will get a sense when/if you visit whether it's for you. :-)

9 November 2008 at 07:43
Vitaly Kartsev  

Tuck folks seem very nice, and from everything I've seen, the network is as great as they say. I would have to say, though, that you Hanover visit for the interview will be make-or-break. I will apply R2 if I have to — interview and recs are done already — so I don't think it's a "love it or hate it" school like some say.

However, I walked away feeling like it was not a great fit for me. Subjectively speaking, it reminded me too much of where I did my undergrad, and that was isolating. Probably great for someone who likes the environment, but two *more* years of isolation would be hard for me.

I was also a little put off by how hard the students were trying to push Tuck and the program. By comparison, Fuqua folks were way more laid back, even though objectively speaking recruiting from Tuck is an easier path to a top job. I found that really odd.

There are some really amazing things about Tuck, though. Students definitely seemed warm and it's a close-knit community. They sell organic heirloom apples in the cafeteria — it really sinks in that you're in this gorgeous, crunchy part of the country. The only grocery store in town is a co-op.

Ok, long comment. I think you will get a sense when/if you visit whether it's for you. :-)

9 November 2008 at 07:43
D. G.  

Thanks for the note, Vitaly. It's very useful. You've done far more research on Tuck than I have at this stage. I'll be mulling it over as November and December unfold...

9 November 2008 at 16:23
D. G.  

Thanks for the note, Vitaly. It's very useful. You've done far more research on Tuck than I have at this stage. I'll be mulling it over as November and December unfold...

9 November 2008 at 16:23
TienyChesney  

i am glad my ears did not deceive me!

10 November 2008 at 16:50
TienyChesney  

i am glad my ears did not deceive me!

10 November 2008 at 16:50
Vitaly Kartsev  

Yeah, my boss pushed Tuck (for a lot of good reasons), so my wife and I went up to visit and for me to interview. It's definitely a great school, but there were several key elements that would make it a less good fit for me than the other schools on my list.

10 November 2008 at 20:44
Vitaly Kartsev  

Yeah, my boss pushed Tuck (for a lot of good reasons), so my wife and I went up to visit and for me to interview. It's definitely a great school, but there were several key elements that would make it a less good fit for me than the other schools on my list.

10 November 2008 at 20:44

Post a Comment