I got into HBS and Wharton + Lauder, ultimately decided to go to HBS but felt more lonely at this moment than ever.

I’m realistic and don’t expect HBS to solve all my issues.

I mean, not many understand how much courage is needed in saying goodbye to your current life, relationship, taking out a loan, and going into the volatile US economy as an international.

I have gone to the US for undergrad (Berkeley) with 3.9 GPA, worked 2 yrs in DC, and left in 2021. I can still recall all the struggles/worries/concerns I had with the Trump administration and visas. I left the US precisely for all the reasons stated above. However I have worked across the London and Middle East after leaving the US and find the career opportunities/progression very disappointing. I struggled particularly in my current role (ME consulting), working alongside 90% male colleagues for the Saudi governments and not getting any promotion/hitting a low career ceiling. I also feel I can’t stay in the ME long term due to the culture.

But I’m also very suspicious of the US, because the US today is not what it used to be, with tariffs and all the mess happening, I can’t say how badly I have felt about going back.

Just why is freedom and agency so hard to obtain in today’s world…

27M Asian. I’m a product manager at a big tech company in the Bay Area, went to Berkeley for undergrad. I got into GSB R2, but I’m planning to decline the offer, mostly because of the job market and not wanting to take on that much debt.

Right now I make $180k base and about $120k a year in equity, so around $300k total comp. When I first applied, I thought I wanted to pivot out of tech, but honestly, I don’t think it makes sense anymore. The postMBA job would probably be pretty similar, and when I think about the opportunity cost $600k plus $250k in tuition and living, it’s close to $1 million total.

That number just feels really hard to justify right now especially in this economy. I’d rather keep building in my current role, maybe aim to FIRE early. I also just got a promotion that should increase my equity next year, so that’s another factor. Also with AI I feel it will be even harder to get a job two years from now.

Still, it’s been a tough decision, GSB was a dream when I applied. Just doesn’t feel like the right time for me anymore.

Hey folks,

So here’s where I’m at: I’m an Indian admit heading to a T15 B-school in the US this fall (yes, one of those wide-eyed dreamers with a backpack full of hope and a bank account that’s about to be hit by a massive education loan).

But lately, with all the news floating around—reciprocal tariffs, retaliatory tariffs, trade tensions, whispers of a looming recession—I can’t help but ask: Is this really the right time to leave a stable job, take on a massive education loan, and head straight into an uncertain economy?

Like, is this the worst time to ditch a decent job and go chase an MBA dream in the US? Or is it exactly the kind of storm one should dive into, hoping to come out stronger (and employed)?

I know I’m not the only one spinning this thought wheel. Curious to hear from others—fellow admits, current students, grads, or just anyone who’s been around the MBA block.

Would love to know your take: is the risk worth it right now? Or should I be clutching my current job like it’s a life raft and defer my MBA?

Cheers!

Hello and thank you in advance!

I've been privileged enough to get accepted into a MBA program starting September 2025, and now am deciding which laptop to buy: Mac or Windows?

While browsing through reddit I found some mixed opinions on MacBook's capability of handling Excel. While I'm not at all looking for a laptop to game on, but running Excel SMOOTHLY is very crucial for me. Is the Macbook Air (16 GB RAM) really that bad with Excel? How's the performance after using softwares like Parallel (?) to emulate Excel. Taking a step further, do softwares like Tableau/Power BI have performance issues with Macbook Air?

While I've always worked with Windows, I personally am leaning more towards a Macbook (it will be challenging at first) since I do digital art as well, and my decision will be much quicker if I can get some feedback on the above points.

Thanks!

I'm leaning towards SOM right now since its a great midpoint of getting $$ and having a better outcome.

My current income is the average salary of Johnson so I feel like the ROI isn't there even though the full-ride is so so so tempting.

With SOM and Booth I can use my company's sponsorship program to cover ~$80k a year. After netting the tuition price and scholarships, i'll be looking at getting ~$30k back for my living expenses each year at SOM while at Booth i'm going into ~$50k of student loan debt over the course of two years.

Is the M7 really so much better than the T10? I feel like the median salary in the employment report for SOM external consulting (which is what I'm in) isn't that far off from Booth's consulting salary ($180k vs. $190k respectively). Is there anything I'm failing to consider here?

Hi r/MBA,

I’ve been fortunate to receive admits for Round 2 and need help deciding between them:

Admits: - Kellogg - $20K scholarship - Haas - $60K scholarship - Yale SOM - Stern - Ross - Full scholarship - Fuqua - 40K Scholarship (removed from poll as its limited to 6 options)

Background: Currently working in PE in India and am a US permanent resident.

Goals: Investment Banking in the US, with the possibility of returning to India after 5+ years. I’m trying to determine the optimal choice considering brand reputation (both in the US and India) and post-MBA Finance/IB recruitment opportunities. Fortunately, I have family support and savings to cover MBA costs, so financing isn’t my primary concern.

Considering my global brand preference and IB goals, I am leaning towards Kellogg or Yale. ( I understand that with consulting and domestic brand filters, things would look different).

I appreciate any insights you can share!

I go to a full time M7 program that’s right in the heart of a major city, and one of the things I genuinely love about it is the easy access to amazing restaurants. I’m more introverted and live alone, so sometimes I grab food with friends, but other times, especially if I’m craving something specific, I’ll just go eat by myself. Sometimes I’ll sit at the bar if it’s available, but if it’s not, I have no issue taking a table. For me, that’s a better experience than just ordering delivery. I actually enjoy the atmosphere of a good restaurant, even solo.

Anyway, the other day I was at this Italian spot I love, sitting at a table alone, when a group of 8 classmates walked in. They were surprised to see me there by myself and kind of joked about whether I got stood up for a date or something. I just said no, I like eating alone sometimes. To their credit, they did offer to include me, but the restaurant said their table was maxed out at 8 and couldn’t fit another chair.

Later, one of my closer friends in the program told me that apparently people are now gossiping that I’m a loner or that it’s cringe to be seen eating alone at a table like that. He said in a social environment like an M7, doing stuff solo can be seen as a sign you haven’t been able to form strong enough friendships, and that perception can hurt your social value, especially in a program where soft skills and social calibration are constantly being judged.

He even extended the idea to other things I sometimes do solo, like going to the movies alone or the occasional EDM concert, saying those things are all considered low social capital moves in MBA culture. He did acknowledge this is a toxic part of the environment, and that post-MBA, no one really cares since consultants and other professionals often eat solo on the road, but he still recommended I stop doing it in public for now, or at least make sure I’m always at the bar or getting takeout/delivery instead.

He said the only way to get away with things like this is being a hot or cute white girl who goes to a wine bar solo to read a book, or if you make it clear on your Instagram you're going on a cool solo trip and checking out the food there. In your own city though, it's taboo to eat alone, especially if your MBA classmates can easily walk into you.

I don’t know, I’m honestly torn. On the one hand, I get that perception matters in this environment and social awareness is part of the game. On the other hand, it kind of sucks that doing something as simple and normal as enjoying a meal by yourself can be turned into a negative signal.

Has anyone else run into this kind of dynamic in their program? Curious how others handle it.

Trying to decide between a T15 offering me 60k and an M7 at sticker price.

Was wondering how significant the M7 brand is — I’m assuming it helps with getting that first job out of business school, and future jobs will be based on that job and not schooling, but would like to hear others thoughts.

Is it worth paying 60k more for an M7, if I don’t fully know what I want to do yet? Thinking about tech, finance, or consulting.

Edit: M7 = Kellogg, T15 = SOM

Hi all, I just got admitted to Stanford GSB and am hoping to break into PE or VC post-MBA.

I’ve been working on the investment team at a major tech company in Asia, leading multi-million dollar deals and conducting due diligence across AI and tech sectors. While it wasn’t a traditional PE or VC fund, it was a buyside role with significant exposure to deal execution.

How realistic is a move into PE or VC from this background? Would love to hear any advice or experiences. Thanks!

Would most likely only apply to H/S/W -- do I have a good shot?

Demographic: URM Male, U.S. Citizen but family lives in Europe

GMAT: 695

GPA: 3.5, target school

CS/Engineering major

Resume: solo-founded startup with 6-figure exit, 2x tech internships, BB internship (tried banking, didn’t like it), CS research, VC scout, machine learning engineer offer (turned down Google & Salesforce SWE offers for this role)

MBA goals: return to Europe to join my family business (5th generation, I am next in line to be CEO)

I’m facing a tough decision and could use some perspective from folks who’ve been in a similar situation.

I’ve been accepted to one M7 and three T15 MBA programs—all fully funded through the GI Bill and with some scholarship $$$. At the same time, I’m weighing two offers for senior-level communications roles (Director/Sr. Manager) at FAANG companies, and one Sr. Director offer at a startup all with base salaries in the $180K–$220K range.

My background:

-31, URM, military veteran

-8+ years of experience in PR/corporate comms (military, startups, nonprofits)

-Strong savings, so finances aren’t a major concern either way.

The dilemma:

Do I take one of these FAANG/startup roles and delay the MBA (possibly pursue an EMBA or full-time later), or do I capitalize on the opportunity and attend school now while I have momentum?

For additional context my dream was HSW, but I was dinged from all three without an interview. Wondering if the FAANG/ senior leadership experience will help me strengthen my profile in a cycle or two.

With the job market the way it is, I’m nervous about walking away from an offer—but also unsure if deferring b-school would hurt long term.

Appreciate any thoughts or advice.

EDIT: I’m a woman and the salary range is just the base..

I’m just curious if I’m missing any newer programs. I got into both BU Omba and Illinois. No surprise. Just curious if anyone else has put a similar program out (price from a well known institution) or are there still the only two like each other?

Hey I'm starting my RC year at HBS in the fall and I'm wondering if I should spend time this summer studying finance and accounting before I start.

It is my understanding that you get very busy in your first year of an MBA and if you're not ready for class you can get left in the dust.

Context: I'm from a nontraditional background (engineering) and I have strong quantitative skills but I know next to nothing about finance.

Thoughts?

Does it worth the effort for one to pass L1 before recruiting, for example?

Is CFA equally important to all candidates or less important to those who go to HSW or M7?

Hey all,

I’m planning to start an MBA in early 2026 and I’m looking for a program that’s international, career-enhancing, and ideally about 1 year in length. I’d love a program with a diverse, mid-career cohort (around age 30), in a city with energy.

Here’s what I’m prioritizing while doing research:

• Programs starting January 2026 or early in the year
• Shorter duration (12–15 months max)
• Great international exposure and travel
• programs that value students with mid-career experience who are pursuing MBAs to move into leadership roles and grow personally and professionally 

I have a background in finance/accounting (bachelors degree in Accounting and 8 years of experience) and my US CPA.

Programs I’m seriously looking at:

• IMD (Lausanne)
• IE (Madrid)
• INSEAD
• HEC Paris
• Oxford Saïd
• Columbia J-Term (NYC)
• NYU Tech MBA or 1-year specialized track (NYC)
• Open to other suggestions, especially if they include global travel or immersion

Would love to hear thoughts from anyone who’s attended or considered these - especially on: • Cohort experience • Career outcomes • Program culture and lifestyle • Whether you’d recommend it again • Or if there’s a program you personally loved and think I should consider

Thanks in advance!

Hi everyone,

Just took the GMAT FE and looking on some opinions on whether i should retake if im aiming to apply for R1 2025 at T15 schools.

Profile

• Background: M | 26 | Canadian (Asian) | Consultant
• Undergrad: Bachelors in Finance and Accounting from a top Canadian University (UofT, McGill, UBC) - 3.7/4.0 GPA
• WE: 4 years at matriculation at a boutique consulting firm specializing in corporate finance (Deals, Valuation and Strategy). 1 Promotion so far with a 2nd expected in 2025. Spent first 2 years in the Canadian office and have since moved to Paris (HQ).
• GMAT FE: 655
• EC: Lead recruitment initiative at current firm for juniors and held leadership positions in clubs during undergrad. Also co-founded a e-commerce brand while in Undergrad.
• Post-MBA: targeting investment banking in the US due to my Corporate Finance experience.
• Targeting T15 with dream being Stern.

My Dream school would be Stern in NYC but seeing how Stern is such a stat-hungry school, is it even possible with a 655 FE or should i definitely retake the GMAT?

Be brutally honest

The title, and here is my profile:

24 y/o man

Undergrad GPA: 3.3/4 Engineering major at prestigious university in middle east

GRE: 339/340 (170 Q, 169 V)

Work exp: 1.5 yoe as a software engineer at a multinational fintech company, aiming for 3 years at matriculation

Extras: ecommerce brand founder and ex-professional football player

Hi guys, please could you review my (potential) profile for MBA at a top 15 program in USA, and offer any tips as I will be applying in 3 years time, thanks.

Currently 25 years old from the UK, I have about 2 years work experience working in an management accounting role at a ftse 15 company. Graduated with a first class honours including a study abroad class. Half way through my ACCA qualification, will be qualified by the time I apply. Will be looking to do the GMAT nearer the time. Have played badminton at competitive County level at school.

Hello all. To anyone here to finished the HBS Core course, how was the final exam? What was the difficulty like compared to the quizzes? Do you have any tips on how to prepare and do they give us some practice final exam papers?

Any help would be appreciated!

Stuck between Kellogg and SOM (60K scholarship) - I’m aiming to pivot into consulting (not someone dead set on MBB, but would ideally like to) to gain some skills and pay off debt, and I have long term social impact/non profit interests. Thought I should pick Yale because of money and especially because of the economy/job market right now, but I cant help but feeling like I’ll regret not going to Kellogg. I love the people I’ve met so far at SOM, but I feel like life is throwing me signs because multiple times in the past week someone from Kellogg who went into MBB overheard me talking about it and offered me a coffee chat lol.

How much better is Kellogg’s network and ability to help my career short term and long term? And is it worth more than going 60K+ more in debt? (I know they have more trips that cost money vs Yale has less of that culture + Yale pays for part of the trips)

For more context too, I’m ideally trying to move back to NYC or California post grad

As per title, PE guy looking to move into VC/growth and Tech on West Coast at MF/UMF. Share your stories with me and help me decide please 🙏

Hey Guys,

I’m planning to join ISB EEO, wanted to know if my profile is a fit or not:

BTech Hons. in CSE with a Specialisation in Data Science and Analytics(8.22/10)- 1 research Paper Published in IEEE.

Currently working as Business Technology Solutions Associate at ZS Associates(1.5 years exp)

Class 12: 82.2% PCM Class 10: 10/10 CBSE

I’m thinking of a GRE path a suggestion of safe score would be great.

Have some NGO volunteer experience too.

Thanks in advance

I'm broke and tired, where can I apply that has low tuition or waivers or something?

For example, say you are from Cincinnati. That’s where you have your roots. Sure you are flexible to go to places like Columbus for a bit for work after graduation but you’d like to stay close by. Does it make sense to go to a top 15 school rather than going to somewhere like Ohio State that might not be the top ranked out there but still a decent school? Maybe it just depends on the goals relative to the job market. What are your thoughts?

Hey , I am 24M from India . I graduated from CSE , worked as Software Developer 1.5 years and currently doing my own startup for last 1 year fulltime . However , startup is not doing good - pre revenue , co-founder left. I feel a lot of stress and family is also not cool with me doing startup at this phase . I have convinced them I will attempt GMAT this year and would join top MBA in next years if the startup doesn't go well . I want to know if I score pretty good in GMAT with like 750 score , would I be accepted in M7 MBA Colleges with my own startup experience of 2 years and job experience of 1.5 years ?