It's Tuck!

I submitted my deposit yesterday, and I don't have any regrets today. :)

To respond a bit to people's comments, which I always love:
* I am indeed all about general management. I don't think I have a finance bone in my body.
* I do plan to stay in the US, or at least I don't have plans to leave it.
* I tested Chicago and Tuck career services and I found Tuck to be a lot better suited to my needs. Admittedly, it was just a test, but it's the best information I have to go on.
* Having gone to Harvard undergrad, I am unimpressed by rock star faculty. I care a lot more about the student/faculty ratio and the way faculty engage with students. From what I hear, it's point Tuck here.

Also, on a totally unrelated note: If you are going to HBS or Sloan next year and you are looking for a nice place to live in Cambridge, leave your email address in a comment and I'll send you a link to the listing for my condo on craiglist. It's up for rent, but I'm also meeting with real estate agents to talk about putting it up for sale.

Unwillingness To Take Next Steps

In my head, I have made up my mind that I am going to Tuck. I was so impressed by the students, the administration, the faculty, and the community as a whole! And I do like the idea of a more coherent core curriculum and a better-rounded general management program.

I am having trouble telling either Tuck or Chicago as much, though. It is really hard to let go of Chicago. I don't think going there would be the right thing to do.

I think one thing I'm a little scared of about Tuck is housing. I have a condo and I was thinking I'd rent it out and find a place to rent at Tuck. (I can't live on-campus.) But the quality of the rentals in the area is discouraging. Now I'm wondering whether I should sell my condo and buy a house in Hanover. The inventory of properties to buy seems a bit nicer.

I think it's because I care so much about my living conditions that I'm so fearful of committing to Tuck. But there's no way I can resolve that before next week, when my decision is due. So I expect that I send the necessary letters off this weekend. It's just so hard to do! I really would like to go to both.

Where My Tuck/Chicago Head Is At

You wouldn't believe how much I've been thinking about Tuck v Chicago these days!

Unfortunately, I change my mind about which way I'm leaning every few days, which is very hard. I will admit that I have probably spent more time leaning toward Tuck than I have toward Chicago.

I had previously posted pros and cons for each. What I'm going to share now are the things that might make me really pick one school over another.

You may disagree with some of these! Please bear in mind that I'm presenting them as my analysis, not as facts.

Tuck:
* More individual attention due to smaller class size.
* Better general management program.
* Better connections to socially responsible firms, especially in my target industry.
* Scholarship $$.

Chicago:
* Better brand name outside of the Northeast.
* Slightly more rigorous/quantitative program.
* Slightly better caliber students.
* More to do outside of class.

So as you can see, it's not clear-cut for me yet. Tuck's ASW is this weekend and Chicago's is the next. I promise to update you if my perceptions change!

P.S. I'm really surprised to have been nominated for a ClearAdmit Best of Blogging Award! I started so late and posted so much less frequently than other bloggers. But I am flattered, and I appreciate the nod!