Silly question - why do you care about the methodology? Is it just out of interest? Or are you using these rankings to select schools?

humblebee wrote:Silly question - why do you care about the methodology? Is it just out of interest? Or are you using these rankings to select schools?

Both. What I have been told these rankings are not for fun and is fairly an accurate assessment of the schools. Of-course every applicant may not suit every school, but overall for choosing schools, ranks does play a role.

To be honest, I think if you're focused on comparing a school ranked 6th v a school ranked 2nd, you're not focusing on the right things. You're looking at the dollars and cents.

Any school on that list is great. Let me leave you with an anecdote my colleague gave me

"If you're looking to get into a strategy consulting firm, say a top-3, they take the top 10% of students from the top 10 schools. The percentage may be higher at the higher ranked schools, say 15% to 20%, but at the end of the day the top candidates rise and get chosen regardless of the school they go to"

The take away is
1.) just apply to all the schools that interest you
2.) if you are in a lucky position and have been accepted by all the top schools, go to the one you think is most interesting e.g. classes, location, etc
3.) Work your ass off to rise to the top, network like crazy.

Good luck.

humblebee wrote:To be honest, I think if you're focused on comparing a school ranked 6th v a school ranked 2nd, you're not focusing on the right things. You're looking at the dollars and cents.

Any school on that list is great. Let me leave you with an anecdote my colleague gave me

"If you're looking to get into a strategy consulting firm, say a top-3, they take the top 10% of students from the top 10 schools. The percentage may be higher at the higher ranked schools, say 15% to 20%, but at the end of the day the top candidates rise and get chosen regardless of the school they go to"

The take away is
1.) just apply to all the schools that interest you
2.) if you are in a lucky position and have been accepted by all the top schools, go to the one you think is most interesting e.g. classes, location, etc
3.) Work your ass off to rise to the top, network like crazy.

Good luck.

I have already said that not every applicant may want to go to Harvard or Wharton on whatever remains in the Top-3.

However, for some one who has no idea about MBA Schools, the only way to start is with the list of ranks. There are thousands of b-schools around the world, so how does some even start knowing about the good schools? Its ranking.

For me its important to understand how the ranking works. And hence I was comparing schools within the top-10. Please understand this is my basic research. When applying obviously I will apply where I feel the school "fits" me and vice-versa!

The difference between say rank 1 and rank 100 is more obvious, than difference between top 5-10 schools. And there in lies the detail and significance!

I will repeat, I am not going to applying blindly on 5 schools, rank 1-5, but for me its a helpful assessment!

Recruiters make the best b-schools there first choice for recruitment as they are fairly confident of the talent and skill level they need.

If I do MBA from some XYZ college and even if I stand first...am I equal to a person who did MBA from Stanford??? I don't think so!

Degree is same...but MBA is not about a paper degree!

But I totally agree with your "take away" points...may be except a part of 3rd point! Rising to the top...its very subject and rather an illusion...for me! Its a trap!

anirudhbhalotia wrote: I have already said that not every applicant may want to go to Harvard or Wharton on whatever remains in the Top-3.

Don't want or can't get in? Big difference...

anirudhbhalotia wrote: However, for some one who has no idea about MBA Schools, the only way to start is with the list of ranks. There are thousands of b-schools around the world, so how does some even start knowing about the good schools? Its ranking.

For me its important to understand how the ranking works. And hence I was comparing schools within the top-10. Please understand this is my basic research. When applying obviously I will apply where I feel the school "fits" me and vice-versa!

Agreed.

anirudhbhalotia wrote: The difference between say rank 1 and rank 100 is more obvious, than difference between top 5-10 schools. And there in lies the detail and significance!

In terms of what you learn content wise, I reckon it's 70-90% the same regardless of which school you go to. But in terms of delivery, what electives you can pick up and how many, and 'culture', yeah that's different.

anirudhbhalotia wrote: I will repeat, I am not going to applying blindly on 5 schools, rank 1-5, but for me its a helpful assessment!

Makes sense.

anirudhbhalotia wrote: Recruiters make the best b-schools there first choice for recruitment as they are fairly confident of the talent and skill level they need.

If I do MBA from some XYZ college and even if I stand first...am I equal to a person who did MBA from Stanford??? I don't think so!

If XYZ was say Darden and you were Valedictorian, than yes you are better than 'someone' who got an MBA from Stanford. There are average ('capability' wise) people who get let in because of their exceptionally unique background e.g. say if you were the youngest high school graduate from Somalia... Otherwise a McKinsey or Goldman Sachs would only recruit from HBS, Stanford and Wharton. But they don't. They take the best from a range of schools.

anirudhbhalotia wrote: Degree is same...but MBA is not about a paper degree!

Absolutely I agree - an MBA is about a branded piece of paper. But to use a car analogy, Ford makes expensive luxury cars too.