This is the time of year where some of you are having to make some tough decisions. Maybe you got into your top two choices and you have to choose between those. Maybe you are being offered a significant scholarship from a lesser school but you also got into your "reach" school. Or maybe you're deciding whether to go to b-school at all. A legitimate question, given the economy we're in.
I was faced with this decision last year as well. My memories of the period are intense -- it was a stressful time for me; I was fortunate enough to have a choice between three great options.
I was deciding between three schools. Let's just call them A, B and C. A and B were my co-top choices; similar academic reputation, both in great locations in major metropolitan areas, phenomenal faculty at each. C was one of my backup schools, but had given me a very generous scholarship offer (significantly more than either A or B offered me).
The first thing I did was eliminate C. Even though it is also a very strong school, I knew from the outset that I wasn't in this to save money. The difference in 2 years of tuition would be dwarved by the difference in the experience I would have; and even if you want to get picky about the numbers, then the increase in expected salary upon graduation makes up for the difference, anyway. I have never regretted this decision.
The much more difficult choice was between A & B. In situations like this, I usually like to trust my "gut" -- and so I visited each school and really tried to channel my instincts. But even my instincts were undecided. Both schools felt good.
How did I end up choosing A(nderson)? The people. The students. Having visited a number of b-schools and knowing people from a handful of others, I feel confident saying that this school has the most outstanding student body of any in the country. In my class of 375, there are people representing every continent (ok, not Antarctica, but I'd stake something large on the fact that someone in my class has spent time there), every type of work background, dozens of races and cultures, dozens of mindsets and perspectives, many dozens of industries and job functions ... to call this a "network" is a vast understatement. To call it a "family" is a little gushy, but still an understatement. You know that trust game where you fall backwards and trust that your coworker will catch you? I'd jump off the Anderson roof and know someone would catch me. Ultimately, the students here are in it as a team, and that manifests itself everywhere from the classroom to recruiting to the bars, after-hours.
If you have a tough decision on your plate, just remember that you're going to b-school to get a job, sure, but that you're choosing a culture, too. If this sounds like the type of place where you want to spend two years of your life, Anderson is the right choice.
