CMU or USC

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CMU or USC

by victoryk » Sat May 26, 2012 9:37 am
I know I am waiting until the last possible moment to make my decision. I have been accepted to USC and CMU this fall. I ultimately do want to come back to CA, and I have been leaning towards USC for this reason. Post MBA I would like I have been leaning towards corporate finance.

Any suggestions will help

Thanks
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by ggibson » Tue Jun 05, 2012 10:08 am
I was in your shoes a few months ago, but career-wise aiming for tech/marketing. USC was tempting due to the network's reputation in CA and their marketing program is well-regarded. CMU has a great technology/product management program, and good connections in silicon valley which is more likely where I wanted to be long-term. Mulling the decision over in my mind, I would say "I'm going to Tepper" for a week, and then "I'm going to Marshall" for the next week. This process and thinking back to my visits to the two schools gave me a sense that CMU was more my style, so I chose Tepper.

I have heard a lot of bad about Pittsburgh weather, so if that matters a lot to you, CMU could be a hard choice. When I interviewed at Tepper, it was 30 degrees and had snowed the night before. The next week I interviewed at USC in 70 degree sunshine. Even though I've never lived outside of CA, I decided to be gutsy and try somewhere else.

For finance, I believe CMU has the stronger program, although if you're aiming for SoCal, USC's location/alumni network may benefit you more. Take a look at the companies that recruit at each and see which ones interest you.

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by Stacey Oyler » Wed Jun 06, 2012 12:44 pm
Hi,

Thanks for your post. I agree that this is a tough decision. USC does have a fantastic reputation in California as well as a great network. CMU is a great school with a great reputation. In the end you have to trust your gut feeling. Have you had a chance to visit both campuses? A campus visit can help sway your decision.

Best,

Stacey
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Stacey Oyler
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