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I hate billing. That’s it. That’s the post
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Yup! Think m done here.
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Chief
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Eta on when bars will be fully open? 🧐
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I’ve lived in both areas and Chicago has more to offer than Boston, in my opinion. The summers are amazing, the people are a lot nicer, and the city has so much life in it. The cost of living here is also much less than Boston- rent is on average a lot lower- which also allows you to really maximize your experiences and enjoy a higher quality of life from more disposable income and more bang for your buck in terms of apartments. Chicago is also cleaner in my opinion
Also lived in both. Boston is a small city. Most areas you’d want to go to you can walk to. This can be good or bad.
Sloan specific area isn’t the most compelling.
I think there’s something to be said for the collegial/academic culture of Boston/Cambridge. I think there’s also something to be said for relative proximity to NYC.
I think a big consideration should be where you want to live after; you can absolutely recruit out of geo but I still think you’ll find a richer set of opportunities in the area where you go to school.
Agree Chicago cost of living is meaningfully lower. I think Chicago quality of life has fallen a bit though recently. I don’t know what that looks like in Boston these days.
I’m happy to be raising my family in Chicago but definitely don’t regret spending my late 20s in Boston.
Lot of closures on Michigan avenue (touristy, but local to booths building); more crime (had some rashes of carjackings even downtown recently). Lot of young/petty criminals not locked up due to policy choices.
I have not taken the time to actual quantify this vs general sentiment.
Horrible behavior driving; really taken a dive in the pandemic. Though that is also bad in Boston so I think that ones a wash.
General lower perception of competence of government due to crime as mentioned and total failure to contain the teachers Union (likely not relevant to you).
I still think Chicago is the “best deal” for a big city and have family in the area so I don’t plan to leave, but I think it’s on a clear, though maybe slow moving downward trajectory for people with money at least. I think it’s similar to what NYC is going through when you change from leadership that only wants to enable development and wealthy investors to those who try to take a broader view (competently or not). Future mayors may reverse the trend.
Chief
Booth is better for finance. Sloan for anything in tech.
What do you want to go into after?
Yeah I agree with the other comments. Living in that area is just “fine” I work right next to it, dated someone that lived there and went to Booth. It’s just dead after the workday and on weekends when everyone leaves the office and fairly high priced. It doesn’t have a unique neighborhood feel beyond looking at the skyscrapers, it’s just touristy. I do agree that it’s a good city to live but to the below posters point, I’ve been feeling less safe as a female lately. I would also look at top recruiting companies.
Lived in Boston for b school (though not Sloan, the other one) and now in Chicago. I’d heavily recommend Boston / Cambridge over Chicago as a MBA student. I refer to it as a “college city” and it’s also a great launching pad for other east coast and Europe long weekends! Chicago I’m enjoying for raising a young family but I don’t know if I would enjoy the streeterville/loop living and commuting to Hyde park every day.
Congrats on offers at both prestigious schools.
I enjoyed the flexible curriculum and economics based approach during my time at Booth.
I don’t think you can go wrong either way.
I can’t speak to Sloan’s consulting track record, but Booth sends about 35% of every class into consulting and 60% of those go to MBB. If you’re aiming for one of those firms, Booth will get you ready for it. I heard one of the MBB hired 50+ Booth MBAs this year.
On the tech side Sloan has a clear advantage, especially if you are entrepreneurial. I think about 20% of Boothies go into tech with the major employers being Amazon and Google.
If you want to work in finance, Booth is better known for that.
I think I can do well in both programs. Trying to make up my mind on where to live.
Native of Chicago and loved my time at Sloan. I found Booth a little arrogant, and the ability to blend MIT/Harvard is great benefit [cross registration encouraged], very entreprenueral focus and you are at the heart of innovation...from EV to robotics! Take a trip around media center when in Cambridge. Once in lifetime chance....best of luck.
I thought Booth was the nicer school 😧 Very interested to know more about your impression on that. Agree on MIT’s strength in entrepreneurship & network with Harvard 👍