Decision time: Admits v/s $$. - Pretty sticky situation.

[wackyacky]

Dear Consultants,

I need to take an informed step to decide my B school.

My Profile:
Indian male - 27.5 yrs.
B.Engg. (Comp. Sc.) - Very Average acads @ Mumbai Univ.
GMAT - 740, 4.5; TOEFL - 110.
WE - 68 months by Fall '09.
48 months: Three Indian IT service firms with >2 yrs global medical device clients.
20 months: Now, and till MBA admit, at a leading global medical device firm (GE) in India. Also part responsibilty here is to manage IP.
Intl Exp: Japan and U.S.
ECA - Co-founded a film society. Organised a film festival. Also a filmmaker. Trekking (been atop Mt.Fuji) and sports (soccer at college).
Goals - Strategy Mgmt in a medical device (or related) firm or healthcare related consultancy. So looking for a healthcare major or MBA.

Applied B schools status:
Duke (EA) - Waitlisted. (Essays n interview were not very polished).
Vanderbilt - Admit with $25k/year. Need to accept by Feb 15.
Boston Univ and UNC - Both decision by Feb 10. (Expecting admit - hoping for $$)
Wharton and Kellogg - Decision by late March.

I would really appreciate if you all could reply to my queries below:
Q1. I need to decide between Boston Univ and Vanderbilt, assuming equal $$.
Q2. I need to decide between answer to Q1 and UNC(without $$).
Q3. I need to decide between (Kellogg or Wharton) and UNC(with $$).
Q4. Comments on the applied schools about option to work part time.
Q5. An other comments on my school selection or any other school suggestion.

Your inputs will be very invaluable to me in making my decision.

Thanks,
wackyacky.

[Lisa Anderson]

Dear wackyacky,

It appears you might have some great options and will definitely be in a great program this fall. Where to go to school is really a decision you should be making based on how you feel each of these schools matches what you seek in a MBA program. Schools vary in terms of culture and curriculum, as well as other resources and programs that might be important to you. I would suggest you make a list of what you seek in a program and then prioritize that list. Then you can compare each of these schools to rank them. In terms of scholarship money, you need to decide in your list where that ranks in priority and if a scholarship award will cause a school to jump another school or not on your personal school ranking.

Congratulations on your admission!
Lisa

[wackyacky]

Many thanks, Lisa.