EssaySnark

  • about
  • contact
  • help
  • sign up
  • login
CLICK FOR MORE!
  • Essay Questions
    • Harvard
    • Stanford
    • Wharton
    • Chicago Booth
    • Kellogg
    • MIT Sloan
    • Tuck
    • NYU Stern
    • Columbia
    • Yale SOM
    • Berkeley Haas
    • UVA Darden
    • Duke Fuqua
    • Michigan Ross
    • UCLA Anderson
    • Cornell
  • Strategy Guides
    • MBA Career Goals in Entrepreneurship
    • School-Specific MBA Application Guides
      • Harvard 2020 MBA Strategy Guide
      • Stanford 2020 MBA Strategy Guide
      • Wharton 2020 MBA Strategy Guide
      • Kellogg 2020 MBA Strategy Guide
      • MIT Sloan 2020 MBA Strategy Guide
      • Columbia 2020 MBA Strategy Guide
      • Chicago Booth 2020 MBA Strategy Guide
      • *MORE SCHOOL-SPECIFIC GUIDES HERE*
  • MBA Consulting
    • Free essay reviews
    • What stage are you in?
    • Military MBA
    • BIPOC Program
    • Testimonials & Reviews
    • Guest Posts
  • My SnarkCenter
    • My Strategy Guides
    • My Favorite Posts
    • Discounts & Offers

($) School X? Or School Y with $$?

January 14, 2020 by EssaySnark Leave a Comment

It’s time for some “Deciding on a school!” posts!

This is where BSers with the enviable problem of having to choose between great offers come to us lamenting their fate.

If you’re still in recovery-mode from cramming in a bunch of Round 2 applications, then you’re not going to believe us but… Choosing between multiple offers is honestly one of the hardest decisions a person can make.

After all, it’s your entire FUTURE at hand here!

Sometimes it’s a fairly obvious choice. Like, if your favorite school accepts you, and a school that you only applied to on a whim, because your sister’s boyfriend’s buddy went there and was talking it up when you met him at the beach in September when you were working on Round 1.

(Side note: Doesn’t Round 1 feel like forever ago? Like, a really really long time. It’s crazy how quickly time passes, and how much you can change along the way! A big life change like applying to business school will do that for you.)

We recently gave our two cents to a bunch of successful Brave Supplicants who landed at multiple schools from their Round 1 apps and we wanted to share some highlights of those conversations with you — sans identifying information. These BSers are still trying to decide, and anyway, we keep client information confidential unless we get explicit permission to share.

The first bit o’ advice we will offer to anyone still thinking through their admit offers and trying to decide:

DON’T LISTEN

What we mean by that is, everyone is going to have opinions. But you’re the only one who has to live your life.

Some people might have a real agenda. They get fixated on a school’s brand, or they think that a certain school is way better than another, and they try to sway your opinion because that’s what they would decide.

But YOU are deciding. Not them.

So listen politely. Solicit opinions and feedback.

And then trust yourself.

Maybe your mom is trying to be really balanced and fair. She’s doing her darnedest to stay diplomatic. But you know that she wants you to pick the school in the same part of the country where she lives.

Is that enough reason for you to do so?

Well yeah, maybe. In some situations. If your parents are in ill health, or you just don’t think you could afford flying home much from another part of the country or the world, then sure, that might factor in.

But your family is unlikely to see much of you even if you are going to school right in there backyard. They’re going to have to get used to the fact that you won’t be as available as perhaps they’ve grown accustomed. It kind of doesn’t matter how far away you might be for school. You’re going to be busy!

(Pro Tip: Start preparing your friends and family for what this transition will entail. It may be a big change for some folks in your life.)

So what if you’re deciding between two offers: School X, which is a great school, and School Y, which is another great school that’s offering you some scholarship money along with the admit?

Do you automatically choose School Y?

Some people might, especially if the schools seem equivalent, in the way that we’re presenting them here.

But we would offer this observation: Not all schools are equivalent to any one individual candidate.

What we mean by that is, sure, every school is different in certain ways, in terms of the focus that it has, or maybe the type of urban or more rural environment, or the weather patterns in the geography where it’s located.

But even two schools that are very comparable across all of these dimensions would still be very different when examined by an individual person.

Take MIT and Columbia.

Both in big cities.

Both good for finance, and tech.

Both with strong alumni networks.

Both well-respected brands.

Both with similar weather, and comparable high rents.

But very different schools. Right?

If Columbia offered a little scholarship money, but MIT did not, would you just take Columbia and be done with it?

Or are they different enough, based on the attributes of each school that you personally care about most, to make this a not-easy decision?

Does it matter if Columbia offers a lot of money?

What if it’s flipped?

So we’re talking in hypotheticals here, which may be interesting as fodder for daydreams. But if this is YOU, how do YOU make the decision? Especially if you’re now feeling tormented, having lived with the multiple offers and trying to weigh them out for a full month of deliberations and discussions with everyone you know?

Anyone reading this blahg who has gotten into one of these premier institutions is most definitely set up for success, both in terms of the incredible education they’re going to get, and the amazing experiences, and the connections, and the happy hours, and the lucrative job coming out the other side. Because of that, having some perspective can help.

Sitting here now, on this side of the mountain of debt you are about to incur, it may seem like you should be optimizing this decision based on the financial aid offer that you’ve gotten. But optimizing for finances can be shortsighted.

When you graduate, if you’re like most people, you will come away with a diploma that says “Master of Business Administration” along with a six-figure loan that will start to come due six months after graduation.

And, you will have the means to pay off that loan. If you’re like most people, you’ll be in a job paying more than you’ve ever earned in your life. That’s, like, the whole point of this. Right?

Unless you’re a crazy type who wants to start a business through bschool. But even then, you’ll have a plan for how to recoup your investment in the education, and you’ll be about to go after venture funding, or whatever is your on-ramp to building your own success.

So yes, sitting here now, the amount of student loans you’re about to take on seems like a MASSIVE amount. (And it is! We’re not trying to pretend that it’s not.)

But if you are weighing out which school to go to, and you’re leaning in a certain direction based on one school offering you $20,000 more in free money… That does not seem like the way to be thinking through things. In May of 2022, when you’re graduating and celebrating and about to embark on yet another big new adventure in your post-MBA life, you are not going to notice that $20,000. Certainly five years post-MBA, you totally will not. Five years post-MBA, that $20,000 that seems so significant today will be only an extra $4,000 per year, or around $350 and change per month even with interest.

We’re not saying it does not matter. But looking objectively at opportunities without getting your decision tainted by what, in the grand scheme of things, is not a huge chunk of money… That is your goal right now.

So don’t give it outsized importance today.

Of course, you may be sitting here going, “‘Snark, you’re crazy. $20,000 is a huge amount of coin! What are you thinking?! This is BS advice. There’s no way I can make this decision without factoring in the finances.”

That’s totally legit too! Some people really do need to place a higher priority on the cost of the MBA, and the extra $20k (which we’re just using as a made-up number for the purpose of the discussion) truly does matter in the calculus they’re making. We don’t discount that as meaningful, depending on life circumstance, or family situation, or pre-existing debt loads, and all these other genuinely good reasons to make this decision based on financial aid.

For some candidates, a scholarship award is indeed significant, and it’ can sway the thinking to taking that school’s offer, over another school that they may feel a greater affinity for.

But we’d just suggest that you stop and think.

If money were totally removed from this equation, which school’s admit would you be most excited about? Which school do you feel the strongest affinity for? Which one made you so incredibly thrilled and excited when you found out you’d gotten in?

Try looking at this through that lens alone. If you can.

We’re not saying to disregard what your mom wants you to do, or pretend that money is no issue.

Just getting some perspective is also important, and listening to your gut, and what you really want to do, deep down inside.

That may coincide completely with the school that offered you some money.

Or it may not.

Either is totally fine. You’re going to end up exactly where you should when the dust falls and the decision is made.

We have no doubt about the success you’re going to create for yourself from this point forward.

It’s impossible to choose wrong.

Truly.

 
 

If you feel like our perspective on your specific situation would be valuable, our Private Consult lets you send in your dilemma about offers and decisions, and we’ll let you know our perspective from this side of the table! Sometimes it can be useful hearing what a stranger with no skin in the game can see in the facts that you lay out. And, sometimes, hearing an opinion that is opposite to yours can actually help you become more confident that what you’ve already decided is right for you! So a win/win either way. 😉
 
 

Filed Under: deciding on a school (multiple offers)

« Previous: ($) “What’s the latest I can submit to Columbia Regular Decision and still have a shot?”
Next: ($) When to update the adcom after they have your app »

So who the heck is EssaySnark, anyway?!

We're the snarky experts in MBA admissions!

Sometimes amused and often appalled by what candidates write in their MBA applications to top bschools, EssaySnark created this little blahg to share common mistakes. Learn from them and avoid making admissions directors laugh (or want to hurl) when they read your essays. If you are hoping to have your essay reviewed anonymously on the blahg for free, submit it for consideration.

Want EssaySnark's personal assistance with your MBA applications? Start with our menu of consulting services and please read the Help FAQ to learn how we operate. Still have questions after doing all that? Email Team EssaySnark at gethelpnow at essaysnark dot com.

Good luck on your apps, Brave Supplicant!

Tell us what you think. Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Sign up for the 'Snark via email

Enter your address to get weekday blahg posts by email.

UPCOMING MBA APP DEADLINES

  • INSEAD Round 4
    in 1 month, 0 weeks, 6 days, 0 hours
  • INSEAD Jan '22 intake Rd 1
    in 1 month, 2 weeks, 2 days, 0 hours
  • INSEAD Jan '22 Intake Rd 2
    in 3 months, 0 weeks, 3 days, 0 hours
  • (expected) HBS Class of 2024 app requirements released
    in 3 months, 2 weeks, 3 days, 1 hour
  • (expected) Columbia J-Term/ED app to open
    in 4 months, 2 weeks, 1 day, 1 hour
   
From a BSer January 2020:
"love the guide books!"


CLASS OF 2023 MBA APPLICATION STRATEGY GUIDES

     
    The 2020 Berkeley-Haas MBA Application Guide - updated for the Class of 2023 application!
SnarkStrategies Guide for Berkeley Haas - refreshed and updated, with brainstorming exercises and structured maps to help you focus your stories!
   
    The 2020-2021 NYU Stern MBA Application Guide that covers the main essay, the EQ Endorsement and Pick Six!
SnarkStrategies Guide for NYU - discusses your requirements for the Class of 2023 essays!
   
    The 2020-2021 Columbia MBA Application Guide
SnarkStrategies Guide for Columbia Business School for 2020-2021 applications
   
    The 2020 Harvard MBA Application Guide - completely overhauled and updated for the coronavirus era!
SnarkStrategies Guide for Harvard Business School!
   
    The 2020-2021 Duke Essay Guide - covers the 25 Random Things essay and all the rest too!
SnarkStrategies Guide for Duke Fuqua - up to date for the current season!
   
    The 2020-2021 MIT Essay Guide covers the org chart, the contacts for two references, and additional tips for the cover letter and 'introduce yourself' video -- and everything else you need to know!
SnarkStrategies Guide for MIT Sloan MBA - totally revised for the Class of 2023!
   
    The 2020-2021 Tuck Essay Guide has been refreshed with latest insights and advice for your essays about "investing generously" and "why Tuck"!
SnarkStrategies Guide for the Dartmouth Tuck MBA - completely overhauled for 2020, to help you demonstrate how you are nice, aware, etc stuff!
   
    The Yale SOM MBA Application Guide for Class of 2023 candidates!
SnarkStrategies Guide for Yale SOM - updated for 2020-2021
   
    The 2020-2021 Chicago Booth MBA Application Guide - ready to go to support your Class of 2023 essay strategy!
SnarkStrategies Guide for Chicago Booth for this year's MBA app!
   
    The 2020 Wharton MBA Application Guide - even more advice on how to get to a win with those essays!
SnarkStrategies Guide for The Wharton School - with new tips for 2020!
   
    The 2020 Kellogg Essay Guide - with a full methodology to identify your 'lasting impact' and your 'values' -- plus tips on 2020 world events and applicability to your essays!
SnarkStrategies Guide for Kellogg MBA - updated and revised for the new realities of 2020!    
      The 2020 Stanford MBA Application Guide - for "what matters most" in your MBA application!
SnarkStrategies Guide for Stanford GSB for the Class of 2023
   
    The 2020-2021 UCLA Anderson MBA Application Guide - updated for Class of 2023 on "impact"!
SnarkStrategies Guide for 
UCLA
   
   

Brave Supplicants' latest reviews on The 'Snark


Apr 10, 2020
by George on EssaySnark
Great Starting Point

I thought getting over the GRE/GMAT hurdle was fairly straightforward--disciplined study then test execution... Read more

Apr 10, 2020
by George on Single Shot Express MBA Essay Review
Worth Every Penny

I used the Single Shot Express to decimate essay #1 at my first-choice school. Paired with the school... Read more

Feb 9, 2020
by KA on Waitlist Assist
Committed

You continue to blow me away with your commitment to us BSers! Thanks again for everything. It's been... Read more






Not sure where to begin with EssaySnark?
Our Snark Selector
will tell you!



What were we snarking about at this time in past years?

  • 2020: ($) Updating the admissions office on changes to your profile post-submit: GMAT/GRE/classes
  • 2020: ($) The reality of applying to external scholarships for your graduate education
  • 2019: Harvard Business School is....
  • 2017: Military Candidate Question: "Why does Stanford have a smaller percentage of Vets?"
  • 2016: Success Stories that never materialized
  • 2016: Used to be, the waitlist meant you had a real chance.
  • 2016: ($) The biggest reason why Round 3 is not worth it.
  • 2015: The BSer's Quiz!
  • 2014: ($) Writing essays for MBA scholarship apps
  • 2014: Consider broadening your horizons.
My Tweets

See the Top U.S. Business Schools on a Map!


EssaySnark is currently available! We're accepting new clients! Standard turnarounds apply. If you're in a hurry, Speedy Review is available!

EssaySnark® is a registered trademark. All content copyright © 2010–2021 Snarkolicious Press · Privacy Policy

Where should you start with EssaySnark?

Which EssaySnark service is right for you? Answer a few questions to find out!

This field must be set to Everyone - then in the Settings -> HTML -> After Fields screen there's JavaScript to hide it.
Sending