Happy New Year!
As I prepare for my Super Saturday interview, I’m reminded of why I applied to Haas in the first place. When I visited campus, I felt a true fit: academically, culturally, personally. I did not feel this glove-like fit when I visited Duke or Kellogg (I never visited Wharton. Can’t stand Philly).
However, I’m in love with the prospect of living in Chicago and experiencing something completely new. I went to UC Berkeley for my undergrad (1 hour from home), currently live thirty minutes from where I grew up, and work less than five minutes from my parents’ house. I know more Kellogg alumni than I do alumni from any other school and admire all of them (except one). I’m a little bit intimidated by the young, party school image. While I like the sauce (I’m in sales/marketing–we drink a lot), I am no longer young enough to go three nights in a row and still be functional the next day.
Ten days ago, I had pretty much decided I was moving to Evanston in August. I made an opportunity cost spreadsheet. Factoring in lost income, I don’t save any money by going to Haas. In fact, I lose $30k by staying in school an extra semester. If I consider my biological clock (which isn’t ticking, btw) and the boy I am committed to, this is my only chance to ever experience life outside of California. If I’m going to be a mother in my mid-/late-30s, does it even matter if I have an MBA/MPH vs. MBA or do I gain more with an extra 6 months of work experience? How much does motherhood set me back?
I’d never considered having children until my bf asked me to lay out a five-year plan for our relationship. While I’m still not entirely sold on children, I’m completely sold on grandchildren. I guess you have to pass through Point B to get to Point C.
Having grown up poor, I’ve always made financially prudent decisions as an adult. I make more than most of my peers but live a significantly more frugal lifestyle. I try to always live below my means so that I will never be in a position of need. Perhaps it is time to splurge on myself and make a decision based on want rather than need. Is this my last hurrah?
We’ll see how things play out. Maybe I’ll hate DAK and fall in love at Super Saturday. Maybe the opposite happens. Maybe Haas doesn’t accept me and the decision is made. Who knows. In either case, I fully comprehend that I’m in a great position and whichever way I go, I’ll be on a great path.
Perfect fit vs. almost fit? Blue & Gold vs. Purple & White? Bears vs. Wildcats? Berkeley vs. Evanston? old vs. new? status quo vs. total change?
If I choose Kellogg, I don’t have to finish my calculus class (which I still haven’t started). If Haas chooses me…blech, calculus. AND possibly microeconomics.
vidiviciveni said,
January 1, 2008 @ 10:48 pm
both Kellogg n Haas are top schools, listen to your heart now – no need for any more financial analysis
cesquita said,
January 2, 2008 @ 3:40 am
i went to haas for my undergrad and am a HUGE berkeley fan (i am the dork with the Cal license plate holder). i love the bay area and have a significant other who isn’t leaving town anytime soon. that said, i am probably going to wharton over berkeley even if i get in (no matter how much i love it). i have never lived anywhere else in the us except for the bay area and – like you – this may well be my last hurrah before i come back to the bay area for good (i hope anyway). but this is just my experience. i say follow your heart on the school and your course of study. and enjoy!
mbabound08 said,
January 2, 2008 @ 7:25 am
I’ve got the license plate frame too!
JulyDream said,
January 2, 2008 @ 11:23 am
Cesquita is dead on! (IMO) I too am from the Bay Area, born and raised. I spent 4 PERFECT years in Colorado and would have stayed if I didn’t love the Bay as much as I do. I view an MBA as my chance to try something new, so I applied to schools outside the Bay Area with the closest being Kellogg.
That said, another thought that went through my mind, I want the FULL MBA experience. I’m not about to half this one. In my mind, staying in the Bay Area may complicate what I want – trying to incorporate the life I have setup with an MBA could lead to the feeling that I am missing out on something. I don’t want to neglect the important people in my life, but I feel if I am near them, they may feel that way. Although I know they will always be supportive, it’s easier (in my mind) to not have to explain why I am going out with some new MBA friends on Thursday night instead of my local friends I’ve known for over 10 years. (Hope that makes some sort of sense.)
Follow your gut! You can always return to the Bay…it’s only 2 years.
mbabound08 said,
January 2, 2008 @ 11:30 am
Gut and heart say Kellogg. Brain says Berkeley.
jay said,
January 3, 2008 @ 5:33 pm
Hey you
Congrats on your Super Saturday invite! I’ve also received the invite (just wanted to say hi, I think it was you who asked me my location on the BW forums). Is it not a bit weird that there’s only been a handful of Super Saturday invites on the forum? I was glancing at previous years, and it seems that by now there’d more.
I think you shouldn’t trouble yourself with Kellogg vs. Berkeley thoughts until you finish Super Saturday – no need to crowd your mind with hesitations just yet, I’m sure there’ll be a lot more time for that after you get the official Haas invite! Good luck with everything! Fingers crossed for the both of us.
mbabound08 said,
January 3, 2008 @ 6:26 pm
haha. no, i’m not on the BW forums.
Clear Admit: MBA Admissions Consultants Blog » Fridays From the Frontline said,
January 4, 2008 @ 1:39 am
[...] more locally than globally, Mbabound08 had some deep thoughts of her own, on Kellogg vs. Haas and motherhood versus not. On a lighter note, Power Leveler stepped out on the town in Montreal to shed her French speaking [...]