Undecided - 05-14-2021 | Clear Admit DecisionWire

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May 14, 2021 11:51am ET

Enrolled: Undecided

Admitted: Indiana / Kelley $ , Penn State / Smeal $ , UNC Kenan-Flagler , U. Washington / Foster , Vanderbilt / Owen $

Applied: Emory / Goizueta, Indiana / Kelley, Notre Dame / Mendoza, Penn State / Smeal, UNC Kenan-Flagler, U. Washington / Foster, Vanderbilt / Owen

Entering Year: Other

Post MBA Career: Undecided

GRE: 315

GPA: 3.5

Location: MidWest

Notes:

Can someone tell me the pros and cons of Kelley and Foster. I want to be in the Seattle area post MBA but dont know if it has to be tech necessarily. I like the program at Kelley, it very well rounded with a strong focus on academics and there I would need to pay only $30k for tuition vs $110 at Foster.

Like (2)

Show Comments (10) Last: May 24, 2021

alexbr4 Verified User. Likes Earned: 1677 Foster certainly makes geographic sense, but the programs are in the same tier, essentially, so the money differential might matter. You might be able to negotiate with Foster? How active is the Kelley alumni, in the region? (2)

anon28672 Likes Earned: 49 Hello OP here. Foster gave me a fellowship which reduces the tuition to about 53k which I am ready to pay. Only thing I am realizing is how expensive Seattle is. My living cost in Seattle will be double of what it would have been in Bloomington. I have not found many Kelley alumni in the West coast other than in the tech companies. From talking to them it seems like getting into tech is your own work as no company really does on campus recruiting. So paying more just to go to Foster does it have any added advantage? I definitely dont want to be in the MidWest post graduation and that was something which was bothering me about Kelley but I do like the Kelley program. (1)

anon10646 Likes Earned: 783 May be just me, but it would seem hard to be in Seattle and not be in tech. Foster's employment report is >50% tech as industry and 69% in WA for placement, so if you're okay with tech companies and really want PNW for placement Foster does hold a huge advantage over Kelley. I elected against applying to Kelley, but when I was looking at the program they do seem to highlight alumni either in the Bay or NYC for tech and IB respectively, but where IU is located you're not going to get as much OCR and it sounded like you'll need to do more work. I would perhaps see if you can see how current/alumni networked or recruited through companies looking for Chicago, but telling them you'd want West Coast. (1)

anon28672 Likes Earned: 49 I am fine with being in the West Coast (California, Seattle). I dont have a specific industry in mind but Tech seems like a good fit for me since I am an engineer. I did think about CPG companies and Kelley is really good for that but I dont want to be stuck in the Midwest after graduation. I dont intend to go into IB etc. I talked to student who got placed in Tech from Kelley it seemed like it was more personal work less university connections. I have an interest in consulting and both Kelley and Foster place similar only thing which was drawing me to Kelley was the great courses and the Consulting Academy where you get to learn all the casing frameworks and that the professors are more hands on while at Foster I might have to rely on second year students. I just want to make sure by paying more for Foster I will get a good education. (1)

anon10646 Likes Earned: 783 I just gave the IB example as how Kelley tries to highlight that they do place in NYC. When you say 'stuck in the Midwest' does this mean you don't want any part of the Midwest, ie even Chicago? Yes, if you want West, you'll have to do more legwork. So it sounds like a balance; consulting academy and networking hard via Kelley; or, doing more academic clubs to learn consulting and less networking legwork. You may have tradeoffs with either and need to determine if 80k is worth potentially placing at somewhere like Chicago (~50% Midwest). At least with a lower $ you'll be able to take a lot of flights if needed to CA or Seatlle. (1)

anon28672 Likes Earned: 49 I dont want to be in Chicago. My partner is in the West Coast and it is important my post MBA job is in the area. I am leaning towards Foster for the more experiential learning opportunities but the low cost at Kelley and the strong academics is what is making the decision tough. (1)

anon10646 Likes Earned: 783 Perhaps at least talk to Foster and explain you really like their program and would like to accept, but the cost difference of COL and tuition against Kelley is difficult. A small bit of merit aid could definitely make choosing Foster easier. (1)

anon28672 Likes Earned: 49 They have offered a merit scholarship which reduces the tuition to around 52k. At this point I am looking at close to 70k extra in total if I attend Foster instead of Kelley. So I am more focused on the quality of education and different opportunities both the program will provide. (1)

eliot Verified User. Likes Earned: 1903 Congrats on your acceptances and your scholarship offers at both Indiana/Kelley and UW Foster! Both are great programs. Given your geographic preference, it sounds like UW Foster makes the most sense for you. Best of luck! (2)

alexbr4 Verified User. Likes Earned: 1677 More details on this decision in this episode of Wire Taps: https://www.clearadmit.com/2021/05/episode-163-wire-taps/ (0)