Hey MBACrazy - thanks for the additional info.
You're right about coming from oversubscribed class - and you're esp. right about the $$$ - Wharton is expensive! (sticker shock right?!)
We've seen UCLA be a little more flexible in admissions just lately - we think maybe they're expanding their class size (they now have that FEMBA Flex option which probably you'd be taking advantage of) so it seems they might have extra capacity - the fact you were admitted so late in the game also points to that. The requirements for FEMBA and EWMBA are similar (pretty sure both require the TOEFL - if you didn't have to submit that for UCLA you may have to for Haas if you weren't already educated in the US - the UC schools tend to be stricter than others on this requirement). So first suggestion is make sure you don't have to deal with an additional test if you switch strategies. The TOEFL is not a difficult test for most people but it's still a nuisance to have to deal with it.
We take a little issue with your implication that a) there's more of you Indian techies at Haas than UCLA - our impressions (not based on hard data only experience w/ the schools) are that both have a comparable mix of nationalities) -- but more importantly b) your statement about how this would "compromise the experiential learning aspect"
Absolutely don't think that's the case - why would it matter?
Are you saying that going to the ISB would be a lesser learning experience? (Since your profile is so common there?)
Seems to be a flaw in the logic, just from how we're understanding the comment.
Anyway, totally off track....
What we would do is try to conduct an objective analysis of this. Get out some paper and tally up the costs - $$$ and opportunity cost and time -- and then make some lists of the soft factors you care about like school location, culture -- just break it down.
What typically happens when we do this process around a big decision is that even if the data points in a particular direction -- we can often discover what we really want to do even in spite of the data.
You probably will be able to understand where your heart is leaning this way (which doesn't have to agree with the data, right?)
Then you have a better sense of what YOU want to do, and can act accordingly.
Might not be the way someone would want to run a business, but with very personal decisions like this that have so many contributing factors associated, sometimes you just do what you feel is right - rather than what the evidence points to.
Right?
You'd do great at Anderson - that whole 'bird in hand' thing - and you'd get started in the next phase of your life NOW. Gotta be some value in that!
Keep us posted - very curious what you decide!!
EssaySnark
