Cornell vs. UCLA. Which should I attend?

Weather. Do you really want to live in Ithaca, NY? Fuck that. Not for the value Cornell adds on top of UCLA (if any). Harvard? Sure. But not Cornell. Don't downplay this. I know you're not there to dick around like undergrad, but are you gonna drag your ass out of bed to go to a networking luncheon when it's 15 and snowing? Nope. I think the weather plays a large factor in creating opportunity because you'll be more willing to do shit if it's nice out. I go to NYU and there's nothing I dread more than having to throw on nice clothes in the snow for some event.

Yeah, I see what you mean. Weather's not a huge deal for me. I'm at home in the snow. Two months ago I was skiing in -15, so I don't expect Ithaca will be a problem. I work in North Jersey now.

I'm more concerned about it's remoteness than anything else. It's a long drive to NYC, which is something I think about if I have trouble landing a job second year.

You're from the northeast. Everyone from the northeast looking for jobs in the northeast goes to school in the northeast. Going to UCLA would make you stand out. It's something interesting to talk about in an interview -- far more interesting than going to the bottom ivy.

True, I did think of this, and honestly, I think this was probably a factor in being admitted. But say I want to work for Deloitte in NYC. Will I get to choose my office, or will I be placed on the West Coast?

I tell people in NJ that I got into Cornell an they're really impressed, probably just because it's an Ivy. But most people who aren't recruiters don't know UCLA, and people judge it by its undergrad reputation.

Anything can happen. Plain and simple, Cali is the place to be right now. Go to Cornell and you know what you're going for. Go to UCLA and who the fuck knows? It's still a phenomenal school and you'll have a great degree. The potential impact is just much greater because you're deviating from the path you set.

I love the idea of UCLA for all those reasons, and I think it's awesome that part of their admit weekend in on the beach. But I'm also Northeast prep school stock. I have a lot of friends who made it out to LA, but most were trust fund babies in search for a more exciting night life. That's not my scene. Even if it were, I wouldn't have time to enjoy it during recruiting season, and definitely not after graduation working 80 hour weeks. I'm more focused now on opportunities post-MBA and what doors I might close by choosing each. If UCLA means I still have choices about where I live and work after graduation, then it's an easier decision.

/r/MBA Thread Parent