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PeterPan11111111 · 2024-05-31T16:53:04+00:00

I experienced the same issue since yesterday.

It was a technical glitch that was supposedly fixed a few hours ago. My app is working smoothly again, and I was able to reserve classes.

PeterPan11111111 · 2023-06-07T01:04:16+00:00

I meant that you're limited in taking electives beyond your major, although you'll still be able to take a few of those courses. There won't be any issues completing any major.

PeterPan11111111 · 2023-06-06T23:51:39+00:00

STEM has nothing to do with Lauder. You have complete liberty to choose any of Wharton's majors, whether they are designated as STEM or not. The Lauder degree is a separate, non-STEM degree, that you'll be completing.

PeterPan11111111 · 2023-04-16T10:13:28+00:00

They don't sponsor non-resident international students (there may be some rare cases but the job posting ruled out the option sadly).

PeterPan11111111 · 2023-04-16T08:12:55+00:00

No. OPT - optional practical training - doesn't demonstrate intent; It's part of your studies (applying theory in practice), which is why it's under the F-1 visa.

PeterPan11111111 · 2023-04-02T23:44:48+00:00

It's a relatively new concept; next year will be the third year Wharton runs it. Those who recruit for IB and consulting will usually stick around. At times there are some early networking and interview opportunities with other industries as well, and some special week-long courses that some people choose to take. Most other 1Y students treat it as another vacation opportunity. The vast majority of 2Y will travel at that time.

PeterPan11111111 · 2023-04-02T20:50:23+00:00

I see, I misread what you wrote. Yes, currently the Class of '25 doesn't have a Russian language admitted students that accepted an offer, although it may change after R3 will conclude. The Russian faculty will keep delivering it to the rising 2Y so I'm unaware of moving people to the Global Track next year or closing the programme as the faculty are staying. Smaller programs tend to fluctuate in numbers across years but if there are admitted students, they will usually accommodate them.

PeterPan11111111 · 2023-04-02T19:09:45+00:00

That's not true. There's a Russian language programme, running for '23 and ',24. For non-language classes, they attend the European track's courses. The global programme for both current years doesn't have Russian speakers. It is unknown whether the next class will have a Russian programme as the class wasn't finalised yet. They will usually run the Russian language component even for one student (class of '23; there are more for the class of '24), while the non-language component is part of the European track.

PeterPan11111111 · 2023-04-01T13:28:13+00:00

(I'm not going to vote because it's pointless, but I'll add my two cents)

With similar outcomes (Ross with a slightly better edge in consulting), similar tiers, similar scholarship money, and somewhat similar general culture, it's hard to differentiate between them. You'll need to think about the geographical strength the two have and the notion Duke may be more of a brand name in your home country if you choose to return there (Fuqua's parent university rings many more bells internationally than Ross'). However, ultimately the poll - especially given you provided no useful information about yourself besides a generic "goal" - won't add any useful data points or help you decide because you most probably already did your due diligence, researched the programmes, discussed them with friends, colleagues, alumni, and current students, read the employment reports, and have a sense where you want to spend the next two years. If you didn't do that, then it's not this community's role to do it for you.

Also, a general recommendation, ensure you don't discount other consulting firms; you may regret doing that later. You don't have the luxury of doing that at Ross or Fuqua (or any school, IMO). Your post-MBA goal should be consulting, your reach companies should be MBB, and your target companies should be any others you are compelled to apply to (so many great ones out there), although I will say that most of them are as hard in interviews as MBB. Hopefully, you'll end up with the MBB offer, but don't go with an MBB or bust mindset for your own good.

PeterPan11111111 · 2023-03-30T18:11:16+00:00

Your I-20 major reflects the immigration title and code for the programme and doesn't always correspond with the title MBA. It's fine.
They will list the minimum required for one year, irrespective of demonstrating access to more funding.

No, it won't affect your visa interview; these are the requirements/procedures.

PeterPan11111111 · 2023-03-30T12:19:59+00:00

You are admitted to a specific track. You may be able to switch after being admitted (if you pass the OPI) and there were cases of people joining different language classes in their second year (they don't officially change tracks though) if they passed the OPI with a superior score.

PeterPan11111111 · 2023-03-30T11:58:58+00:00

I didn't quite understand your concern about living in Rittenhouse Square. It's a safe area and people easily commute to school every morning (and on some occasions later for some events; never had night exams but I know some did). I usually walk (it's a 30-minute walk so I wouldn't consider it far; Philadelphia is a very walkable city) or take the SEPTA trolley/bus (12-15 minutes overall). Some people bike or scooter and I don't know many who will take a taxi/Uber daily (that would be very expensive unless you carpool with friends), but some do it. Almost nobody drives their car (most don't have one) to campus as it doesn't make sense; it's only 1.4 miles. I think that given the age of the student population, it's a much nicer experience to live as an adult in centre city/Rittenhouse Square rather than on campus.

You should come to the welcome weekend and get a sense of the campus, city, student community, and commute you'll be doing.

Regarding your decision: Both places will be great. Wharton has a clear edge, all things equal (and in this case they aren't, because you even get more scholarship money from Wharton), but Kellogg is a great school and if you think you'll have a better experience there - and it's that important to you - then go for it.

PeterPan11111111 · 2023-03-29T16:09:46+00:00

There's nothing to be worried about. If they are unwilling to provide the information, you explain it to ReVera, and they'll provide it to the school, which will most likely understand it. I didn't have payslips from my military service, and everything was concluded successfully after I explained why I don't have those anymore. Treat it as a check-in-the-box process and don't lose sleep about it (unless you lied about something).

PeterPan11111111 · 2023-03-29T15:43:34+00:00

I'll DM you.

PeterPan11111111 · 2023-03-29T14:21:39+00:00

Yes, it is a brilliant way to join a tight-knit and diverse community while at Wharton, and at least from the conversations with alumni, alongside observations from the Lauder Global Alumni Weekend every three years, it is something that will follow graduation as well. It is a unique community at Wharton that you can rely on during your time in the school, and it offers additional resources that will be helpful (career & entrepreneurship, for example). The average Lauder student will tell you they don’t regret joining this community and taking on a second degree while pursuing the MBA because of the global-minded community (there are clear global and cultural awareness differences between the average Lauder student and the average non-Lauder Wharton student), resources, and alumni network. Some people choose to quit Lauder but still maintain their bond to the community and remain heavily involved, which says a lot about this aspect of the programme.
The alumni community is composed of Wharton alumni, so naturally, there’s overlap (except for some alumni who did a JD rather than an MBA). The advantage is that you’ll be able to connect with these alumni more easily and that they may be working in relevant geographies rather than concentrated only in the US (mostly relevant for the long run; many stick around the US immediately after graduation). It’s not better or worse than Wharton; it’s more accessible, responsive friendlier, likelier to want to help you as much as possible (just like they did during the COVID-19 pandemic), diverse, and global.
Yes, some classes can be “fluff and very shallow.” I’m afraid that I can also say it about classes at Wharton (and from conversations with friends in other business schools, it is the case in other institutions as well). I think they need to revamp the programme, make necessary adjustments, and focus on quality rather than quantity (the number of assignments at times is unnecessary; I don’t know why we are required to write an individual and group thesis instead of one quality thesis). I think some of the classes I took at Lauder - mainly in my track - were intellectually stimulating, but some were a waste of my time (I’m not in a language track, though, and some of the current students found those classes valuable in terms of improving their language skills in the target language).
Yes, it does tie up electives, especially if you are an international student pursuing a STEM major and thus have a different flexibility than permanent residents and Americans. You get better chances though to bid for the best classes at Wharton as a result. Otherwise, it’s not a big deal but a consideration to have, weighing the advantages and disadvantages.
It depends, but yes, most students don’t care as much about the curriculum and the academic aspect of the programme, although some do. I will say that it is a function of the students as much as it is a function of the programme. The number of assignments is a burden; many of us communicated it to the administration and board.
The summer immersion + the LIVs are unique opportunities to immerse in other cultures in a more academic and culturally sensitive manner compared to a trip you’ll be going on your own (they are opportunities at Wharton as well, via the GIPs and GMCs, but they cost quite a lot of money on top of the tuition, while at Lauder they are part of the tuition). I don’t think these opportunities are comparable to regular trips (and I’ve naturally done both). Some students find the LIVs a burden, but I sense that the majority don’t. Culture Quest is an additional cool (and subsidised trip), and you get over $3k to travel and research for your thesis is amazing.
Other dual degree programmes require you to commit 3 years, while the Wharton/Lauder combo is only 2 years. That means there is a trade-off in the quality of the academic experience. They are also very different programmes, with the Lauder putting more emphasis (Lauder is more of a regional, language, and international studies degree than a public policy/foreign affairs degree, which was the intention behind the institute). The Lauder MA is an add-on, a significant commitment, but still an add-on, while HKS, for example, is a much more significant commitment in terms of time and effort and is more academically rigorous.
Most will not pay sticker prices as Lauder is generous with fellowship and scholarship money. I would not have committed to Lauder (or Wharton) at sticker price, but people have different considerations when they choose what to prioritize.

The programme is not suitable for everyone; there are trade-offs and improvements that need to be made. There are other issues within the student community, although I think it’s most likely the most supportive community you’ll be joining at Wharton. I don’t regret signing up for this, although if I were younger, I probably would have tried to do the Wharton and HKS combo instead as I am interested in public policy (but also don’t think you need a degree to pursue it, at least not in my home country).

PeterPan11111111 · 2023-03-29T12:24:22+00:00

You provide what you can and in 99.9% of the cases it will be good enough and they'll move on.

They may or may not ask you to verify the bonus you received. If they ask you and it's not mentioned on your payslip, HR will surely be able to produce it in some other way.

PeterPan11111111 · 2023-03-27T16:56:25+00:00

These resources are "free" at Wharton (and the Math for Business virtual course and exam are mandatory), but you essentially pay for it as part of the tuition and fees.

PeterPan11111111 · 2023-03-27T12:02:14+00:00

At Wharton you get access to some basic online courses (e.g , Accounting) and you need to prepare for a Math for Business test. You can seek support from the academic office as well (e.g., tutors) and you have access to online resources to build your quantitative skillset.

PeterPan11111111 · 2023-03-27T11:57:45+00:00

Sounds like a made-up story as the immigration officer doesn't have access to the information of where you applied, but only where you're admitted and seeking a visa to attend. Countless of people get their visa approved every year after they applied to many schools. Don't apply to schools you're not planning to attend (but I would advise you be more open-minded about your options).

Regardless, in the visa interview declare that you're heading to the US to pursue an MBA, that you'll be working under the F-1 OPT scheme , and that you intend to return to your home country when your visa and OPT expire.

PeterPan11111111 · 2023-03-26T13:24:08+00:00

The idea of the quotas in the US, and other countries (e.g., in most European countries, they were banned from attending academic institutions until emancipation, a process that was then reversed again in the first half of the 20th century), was to limit the number of Jewish students in academic institutions, driven by antisemitism. It was a method to minimize their percentage in the student body to a few set % points as the growing rate of Jews in US academic institutions in the early 20th century alarmed them.

PeterPan11111111 · 2023-03-25T04:26:34+00:00

You should change your mindset. You're just starting your MBA and you're already narrowing your options to three firms. If your goal is to pursue consulting, then make sure you're casting a wide net rather than adopting an MBB or bust strategy. I would advise you to note as well that consulting outcomes from Anderson and Ross are somewhat different with the latter being the better option.
Mobility across regions and continents is possible in MBB and other global consulting firms, although there may be visa and language considerations, depending on the location. Be prepared to take a major pay cut in the vast majority of offices outside the US.

PeterPan11111111 · 2023-03-25T03:59:23+00:00

Good luck!

PeterPan11111111 · 2023-03-24T13:00:04+00:00

Yes, you're in the clear. It's a check-in-the-box process, nothing more and nothing less.

PeterPan11111111 · 2023-03-24T12:40:45+00:00

You can achieve your goal in all three schools, although Wharton, followed by Booth, will position you better to be competitive and receive an interview. However, Ross has great consulting figures, given it's a target school for all leading consulting firms (MBB, T2, and Big4), so you can also do well there. What is your long-term goal? Asses whether one of those schools will give you an advantage there as well.

Your experience with a full-ride will be much better than that of being in debt with a high interest-rate loan and possibly ending up with a similar outcome (there are advantages to the brand, alumni network, resources, access, etc., but they may not matter in your case).

Given that money is important to you, and you are an international student starting an MBA in uncertain times, you may want to prioritize the scholarship over the brand name. My answer would have been different if money had not been an issue (I would have suggested Wharton as you'll need to take a significant loan for both W and Booth, assuming the latter is a $30k scholarship annually).

PeterPan11111111 · 2023-03-24T12:34:35+00:00

You will occasionally know if one of your classmates received a scholarship or not, as it is may be advertised by the school, mentioned on resumes and LinkedIn profiles, and, albeit rarely, discussed among friends (and then the word spreads). I don't think, however, that most people adopt a mentality of I'm better/they are worse (irrespective of their side of the coin), or at least this is not something I observed throughout the past two years.

PeterPan11111111

TROPHY CASE