Tuck V. Chicago Pros And Cons

I've been thinking hard about this over the past few days. I've also been getting input from friends, family, and select colleagues. It's hard to do so, though, when I'm still trying to keep this a secret at work!

So here we go:

Tuck Pros:

• General management focus (I have a liberal arts background and broad exposure to business fundamentals)
  
• Sizable merit scholarship
  
• Very strong brand in Boston area (but I don't know whether I ultimately want to be here)
  
• Responsive alumni network
  
• Small class size (as an undergrad my class size was 1650, so this would be a real treat for me)
  
• Family feel
  
• Country living
  
• Close to family and friends (most of whom are in Boston)
  
• Easier to manage condo (I'll be renting it out)
  
• Dartmouth Farm (super cool)
  

Tuck Cons:

• "Drinking in the woods" culture
  

Chicago Pros:

• Better brand nationally and internationally (I would love feedback on this. In Boston Tuck almost has a better brand than Chicago. What's the case elsewhere?)
  
• City living
  
• Good to live outside of Boston
  
• Large alumni network
  
• More flexible curriculum
  

Chicago Cons:

• Commuter culture (strong negative)
  
• Finance focus (not to the exclusion of other fields)
  
• Far from family and friends
  
• Can't fly with two cats (I have two cats, and I'm figuring that to go between Boston and Chicago I'd have to drive 15h. Airlines let you fly with only one cat per person on board. No, I'm not checking them!)
  

The one thing that's not on this list is the quality of the students and professors. That's probably one of the most important things to me. I want to go to a school where people are smart, people are nice, and I fit in. I got a good sense of that at Chicago, where I really liked everyone I met and I felt like they would be great people to be in class with. I didn't get that impression at much at Tuck, but I also didn't get to interact as much with students there.

And YES, I plan to attend both Admitted Students' Weekends. I'll have to make my decision immediately after Chicago's, though, so I am going to try and have a tentative decision before then.

Your input much appreciated!

First thoughts post-admits

To start with, I am thrilled. I was so worried that I wouldn't get in anywhere!

It is so much more fun considering where to go than it is considering where you will or won't get in.

So to dive right in: Right now I am thinking Dartmouth or Chicago.

I really like UVA -- just not as much as I liked Dartmouth and Chicago. I'm not sure why, but I am sure of it.

I wasn't happy with Duke. My experience there when I visited was disappointing, and there were times when I considered withdrawing my application altogether. It would have been good to visit before applying, but that wasn't possible given my travel schedule.

So that's where my head is right now. I'm going to try to visit both Dartmouth and Chicago. I'm not sure if it'll prove problematic that Dartmouth wants an answer BEFORE Chicago's admitted students weekend. I am hoping they'll give me a few more days.

I'm also drawing up a pros and cons list, which I'll share soon.

In the meantime I would love to hear people's early thoughts!

Admitted to Chicago!!!!

I am SO excited.

I can't express how thrilled I am to have these great options to choose from.

ADMITTED TO TUCK!

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

With $$, too!

Admitted to UVA!

Not sure what the $$ situation is, but I'm psyched about the admit!

Waitlisted by Berkeley

This is actually a pleasant surprise. I had expected to be rejected outright since I didn't get an interview invitation.

That said, I am kind of appalled by how much they expect of waitlisted candidates. They indicate that we should: 1) schedule an interview 2) retake the GMAT 3) enroll in courses at a community college 4) submit more recommendations and/or 5) submit an "update" essay.

That's an awful lot of work to do for a slim-to-none chance of acceptance! I feel like one or two of these would be reasonable, but all five? That said, I'm sure waitlisted candidates will end up doing all of these things whether or not the school suggests them.

I think my game plan is to accept a place on their waitlist and then see what Tuck, Chicago, and UVA have to say. If I get into any of those schools (FINGERS CROSSED), then I certainly won't bother with the Berkeley waitlist. And I'll wait until then before I start doing heavy lifting.

Admitted to Fuqua!

HOORAY!