Multiple Acceptances.

What a sweet, savory choice! You've been accepted at multiple schools. Now you have to make a decision.

Several years ago I wrote an Odds 'N Ends newsletter article "Great Options" which provides tips on choosing schools. That's a concise, advice piece and if you have great options, you might want to read it.

In a related, but different vein, last year on BW Forum I was asked what I would advise my son if he was accepted to Harvard Business School and Stanford Graduate School of Business. I've decided to share my reply here.

"I hope you are facing this delicious dilemma.

I am afraid my answer is going to be more complicated than you want because it is less far-fetched than you think.

I have 2 sons and 3 daughters.  Both sons are interested in business. One daughter is uninterested in business; the third is too young to talk about seriously; and the eldest one is actually quite interested in business, but pretty uninterested in the MBA. For purposes of this discussion, we'll just stick with the boys.

In any case, if one of my sons faced that option and I was in a selfish mood, I would just say Stanford, because I like my children close to me. Fortunately for my kids, we don't choose their schools on that basis. We look at the school, the kid, etc., much like I constantly tell you all to do.

Getting back to your question. There is probably a slight geographic benefit on the East Coast particularly Wall St., to attending HBS, and there is a slight geographic benefit to Stanford if you want to remain on the West Coast, particularly Silicon Valley.  Beyond that, both schools provide outstanding professional opportunity. Since professional opportunity is so good at both places I would probably focus more on the fit between each boy and the school.

If it was our older son, who is currently an undergrad studying computer science at a UC, I would first see what he wants to do post MBA.  If he was leaning towards strat consulting or investment banking and the Wall St. scene, I would particularly lean towards HBS for him. You see he is an outgoing, confident, and very personable fellow.  He likes to take a big picture view and frequently a contrarian view (or at least contrary to his parents).  I think he would do well with HBS' case study approach and the larger school.

Our younger son, who is only seventeen, is a quieter individual. Although as he matured he has acquired poise and has actually turned into a leader among his peers, he used to be quite shy.  I would have to see if he could thrive in the rough and tumble of the case study. Perhaps the more intimate environment and mix of teaching methods at Stanford would be more appropriate for him.

Finally, when really choosing schools for our children, we have found it to be among the most difficult of parenting decisions. Recently we were helping our seventeen-year-old decide on his post-high school program. He was admitted to two highly selective programs generally considered to be "the top ones." Program A is the one that most people we talked to said is #1, and Program B is the one referred to as being "as good as Program A" or "#2." My husband and I did extensive research on the two programs and talked to recent students and alumni. Our son did the same. We concluded that Program B was the better one for him, but if he decided on Program A we would let him attend A. Just last week he decided to go to Program B.

I doubt if this long-winded answer is what you wanted, but I still hope it helps. Good luck!

If anyone is curious, our younger son is thrilled with his program and is planning to return to it  next year.

Comments

[Ariana]

I enjoy reading through this informal place.
I will surely visit you again to see if anything new appears on it.
Good luck for the future.

[Linda Abraham]

Thanks for the feedback and the future visits.