Anderson FEMBA now Versus Haas EWMBA/WhartonWest next year

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Hi fellow MBA aspirants and pursuants,

I live in the bay area and only applied to the UCLA Anderson FEMBA program this year since it was the only one which had an app deadline until July. I recently received an admit from Anderson for FEMBA Class of 2015.

I am now in a dilemma if I should take up Anderson FEMBA this year or app for next year's Haas EWMBA and Wharton West's MBA for Executives.

Considering, the commute is a non-issue, what would you guys think I should be doing?

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by essaysnark » Sun Jul 29, 2012 8:53 am
Hey MBAcrazy - congrats on getting into the FEMBA program!!

We don't have a lot to go on with your question but we see this sometimes from other Brave Supplicants - they get into one program and then regret not applying to more. They wonder if they coulda "done better" - they don't want to settle. It sounds like that's where you're coming from so we'll address those angles -- but we honestly can't advise on which of these schools is gonna be better for you or not -- or whether you'd be able to even get into one of these other two programs in the first place (!!) -- 'cuz we don't have info on you/your profile/your goals to discuss those realities. When you consider that question, first and foremost should be WHAT DO YOU WANT TO DO - career goals and opportunities. Certainly the Bay Area location would be massively more convenient to you than commuting to LA but maybe you're in the FEMBA Flex and maybe your goals are in media or something that UCLA is stronger for... there's still reasons why Anderson might be the right choce.

In terms of whether you should ditch UCLA and try for a local program, the only warning we have is that both those other programs are more competitive - in the case of Wharton, MUCH more competitive. Just because someone gets into one very good MBA program does not mean they'll have a similar outcome anywhere else. Maybe your app is over-the-top amazing and all the adcoms will respond the same way - but we also get a little nervous with this. We tend to have a 'bird in hand' valuation on these issues. It's very personal and you need to decide what's right for you -- is it worth delaying all your plans for an education for whole 'nother year?

Keep in mind that both Haas and Wharton F/T programs are among the most selective in the world - their admit rates are very very low. The admission percentages for P/T progams are much higher and they're a bit 'looser' in terms of what types of profiles they'll accept to those programs - but in our experience, UCLA is the 'loosest' of all. Each outcome is independent. (Yes we're trying to scare you a little - again we don't know nuthin about your profile, maybe you're a total superstar and this will be a cakewalk to get into another great P/T MBA for you - but we see good people turned away from these programs all the time).

Again, the best way to evaluate this will be CAREER GOALS - which of these programs will set you up for success in what you want to go do next?

The other realities like cost are also very relevant - and you need to add in your commuting cost and the mere inconvenience factor into how you assess this - getting on a plane that frequently might wear you out (we're assuming you don't have a family - if you do then it's gonna be a pretty major stressor for you frankly).

If you want to provide more details about where you're coming from and where you want to go we can maybe offer more of value here. Wharton and Haas both look for different things, their student profiles are rather different, so these aren't interchangeable programs ... you'd need to be targeting them appropriately yada yada yada....

Hopefully something here has been helpful! Write again if you want more. :-)

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by MBAcrazy » Sun Jul 29, 2012 10:10 pm
Hi EssaySnark,

Thank you very much for the detailed response. I sincerely appreciate it. In addition to the other channels of information, your answer has afforded a sense of clarity to my decision.

I work for a large (Fortune 500) software firm in the bay area in sotware development. I want to utilize my MBA to transition into strategy, product management and the business side of my company's operations. In the long term, I also would like to have access to a network of VCs that I can leverage if I stumble upon a start-up worthy idea.

I am a techie of Indian orgin from the bay area. That makes my background over-represented in the Haas EWMBA class and therefore compromises the experiential learning aspect for me.
I also see that, in light of my career goals, both Anderson and Haas will provide me the same level of impetus. Their faculty, ratings and internatial study programs are at par.

Although I would greatly benefit from the Wharton West program, the cost seems unmanageable. At $175K, it is way beyond what I can afford to spend for an MBA.

Although I am strongly leaning towards starting at Anderson this Fall, any further inputs in this matter will be sincerely appreciated. Thanks again for your time :)

Best,
MBAcrazy

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by essaysnark » Fri Aug 03, 2012 7:12 am
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? :-D

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!!

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by MBAcrazy » Tue Aug 07, 2012 9:54 am
Hi EssaySnark,

Thanks again for your insights.

Getting started at Anderson this year does seem to be the right thing for me to do, especially from the point of view of leveraging the benefits sooner (rather in a more timely manner) in the context of my career graph. I see certain opportunities presenting themselves in the forthcoming year. Having started my MBA from a reputed school will give me the required edge to capitalize on those oportunities.

Starting at Haas this year would have made more sense only from the point of view of the convenience by virtue of its bay area location. Only if I had applied :(

However, if I evaluate the learning experience in isolation, without allowing my specific situation to influence the evaluation, I still feel that I stand to benefit from a more diverse class rather than one with an over-represented student background. The benefits are not limited to the overall learning experience in class as a result of a variety of perspectives on a subject, but also consequently extened to a varied alumni network that one can tap into later in life.
If diversity in class wasn't a plus, then I would wonder why the best b-schools strive hard each year to achieve it in their class profile.

I would like to thank you again for your perspectives on the matter. Especially for having taken the time to detail you thoughts out my predicament.

Best Regards,
MBAcrazy

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by essaysnark » Tue Aug 07, 2012 10:06 am
Sounds like you've made a decision ... which is always a relief!

Just a follow-up question though - and maybe we misunderstood your point - but what makes you think that the UCLA MBA class makeup is any different from that at Berkeley?

Our understanding is that class composition at both schools in terms of ethnic, educational, and professional backgrounds are quite similar. How do you think they're different and on what are you basing that?

Just curious - we're always interested in hearing details on the student experience like this so please share where you got these impressions.

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by illini012 » Thu Feb 19, 2015 9:58 pm
MBAcrazy wrote:Hi EssaySnark,

Thank you very much for the detailed response. I sincerely appreciate it. In addition to the other channels of information, your answer has afforded a sense of clarity to my decision.

I work for a large (Fortune 500) software firm in the bay area in sotware development. I want to utilize my MBA to transition into strategy, product management and the business side of my company's operations. In the long term, I also would like to have access to a network of VCs that I can leverage if I stumble upon a start-up worthy idea.

I am a techie of Indian orgin from the bay area. That makes my background over-represented in the Haas EWMBA class and therefore compromises the experiential learning aspect for me.
I also see that, in light of my career goals, both Anderson and Haas will provide me the same level of impetus. Their faculty, ratings and internatial study programs are at par.

Although I would greatly benefit from the Wharton West program, the cost seems unmanageable. At $175K, it is way beyond what I can afford to spend for an MBA.

Although I am strongly leaning towards starting at Anderson this Fall, any further inputs in this matter will be sincerely appreciated. Thanks again for your time :)

Best,
MBAcrazy

FEMBA Alum here. In my view, and the numbers back it up, there are lot of Indian tech both in FEMBA and EWMBA. Although I cannot speak for EWMBA, I can assure you anyone who attends the FEMBA program that they will learn a ton, and that includes those with undergrad degrees in business.The Professors are geniuses. The lectures are top notch (you can tell Professors practices them a lot prior to giving you a lecture). The fellow students are world-class and extraordinarily talented and hard-working. I don't know any Alum who thinks they wasted their time or money by attending FEMBA. I hope this helps.

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by illini012 » Thu Feb 19, 2015 9:58 pm
MBAcrazy wrote:Hi EssaySnark,

Thank you very much for the detailed response. I sincerely appreciate it. In addition to the other channels of information, your answer has afforded a sense of clarity to my decision.

I work for a large (Fortune 500) software firm in the bay area in sotware development. I want to utilize my MBA to transition into strategy, product management and the business side of my company's operations. In the long term, I also would like to have access to a network of VCs that I can leverage if I stumble upon a start-up worthy idea.

I am a techie of Indian orgin from the bay area. That makes my background over-represented in the Haas EWMBA class and therefore compromises the experiential learning aspect for me.
I also see that, in light of my career goals, both Anderson and Haas will provide me the same level of impetus. Their faculty, ratings and internatial study programs are at par.

Although I would greatly benefit from the Wharton West program, the cost seems unmanageable. At $175K, it is way beyond what I can afford to spend for an MBA.

Although I am strongly leaning towards starting at Anderson this Fall, any further inputs in this matter will be sincerely appreciated. Thanks again for your time :)

Best,
MBAcrazy

FEMBA Alum here. In my view, and the numbers back it up, there are lot of Indian tech both in FEMBA and EWMBA. Although I cannot speak for EWMBA, I can assure you anyone who attends the FEMBA program that they will learn a ton, and that includes those with undergrad degrees in business.The Professors are geniuses. The lectures are top notch (you can tell Professors practices them a lot prior to giving you a lecture). The fellow students are world-class and extraordinarily talented and hard-working. I don't know any Alum who thinks they wasted their time or money by attending FEMBA. I hope this helps.