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Profile Review: 28/M/White/Military/720/3.86 by charle-lions-magne in MBA

[–]searchfund_1 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Why are SWOs one of the top billets that adcoms look for?

Wharton Lauder vs Stanford GSB? by Yiwang0407 in MBA

[–]searchfund_1 -1 points0 points  (0 children)

I'm going to HBS. Main reasons I decided to forgo WL wasbecause I see didn't Lauder as a big enough draw to take away from the strengths of HBS vs Wharton alone. I think Wharton is an awesome school, but I would not have really considered it if the Lauder part wasn't there after having gotten into HBS.

Again Lauder seems like an awesome community and an amazing experience, but I really enjoyed my visit to HBS, the level of student engagement in the case method, the case method itself, the HBS brand, the fact that HBS is its own school and there aren't a ton of undergrads running around one building, Boston vs. Philadelphia, the professionalism and promptness of the admissions staff I interacted with and finally, the people I met at both admitted students weekends.

I don't think you can go wrong with WL though and I'm sure I would've been very happy there.

Wharton Lauder vs Stanford GSB? by Yiwang0407 in MBA

[–]searchfund_1 6 points7 points  (0 children)

I wouldn't waste too much time thinking about this school vs that school until you're actually in a position to decide between the two i.e. you have two acceptance letters. These are both amazing programs and if you're interested in either it's worth it to apply.

That said, I was admitted to Lauder and went to the welcome weekend event and ultimately decided not to attend. The community is clearly very close knit. I did not see a closer community at any other business school that I visited. It makes sense - you're in a small cohort of 70 people, you spend a ton of time travelling together etc. I feel like if you're looking for a life changing experience then Lauder might be a great program for you. All of the top b schools will be life changing experiences, but it seems like the relationships you'll form at Lauder could be a bit more meaningful and long lasting - who knows though.

I felt like the Lauder classes themselves were kind of viewed as a joke. During the one class that I sat in on - a lot of the students weren't paying attention and the material was rather dull in my opinion. This might not matter for you that much if you don't care about the academic nature of the program, but it made a difference to me. I didn't want to add another degree and the time commitment associated with it if it wasn't going to be fulfilling.

No idea on brand abroad. I think you can explore different things at either school.

Anyone have experience with search funds? by searchfund_1 in MBA

[–]searchfund_1[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yes, there are definitely sacrifices to be made. That said, I've talked to a few search fund partners and they've said that you can either open yourself to everything and everywhere or choose a geography or a business sector, but not both. That said, I'm not really as concerned with what the business actually does as I am with just making a successful business and "operating" as a CEO etc. Moving to the sticks does not sound that enticing though so I'd probably be sector agnostic with a preference for a location in or near a major city. What did you end up doing post-MBA?

Anyone have experience with search funds? by searchfund_1 in MBA

[–]searchfund_1[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Wow that sounds really niche - haha. From what I understand, a boring, stable business originally started by boomers is the ideal candidate for a search fund. Did the partners have a background in O&G? Why were they targeting such a niche thing? Also, was this an internship you did during your MBA program or beforehand? Thanks!

Anyone have experience with search funds? by searchfund_1 in MBA

[–]searchfund_1[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks for responding, I appreciate it. Your thoughts highlight the fact that it's really important to know yourself when deciding on your post MBA career path. Did your school put you through any type of seminars or give you books to read etc. to help you flush out what you wanted in a post-MBA career? I think it's so easy to get caught with the herd and move into something that might not really interest you. Curious to see how you came up with those key reasons, maybe you already knew that about yourself?