Sticker Shock

I've been working on my budget for next year, and I am so relieved to be going to the school that offered me the most money. It isn't a factor I considered when I was choosing schools, but it sure is nice to know that I'm not spending more than I have to! These numbers are unreal.

I've also been looking for housing up around Hanover. Hanover is surprisingly expensive, and I'm not a fan of the quality either. Things seem to get better in Vermont, especially as you move further from the White River and deeper into the state. Of course, I want to live as close to campus as possible for convenience as well as to minimize gas consumption.

Also, thanks to folks who voted for this blog in the "ClearAdmit Best of Blogging 2008" awards!

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!

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.