DUKE Fuqua or UCLA Anderson

Graduate School Business School - MBA
1

Hello guys,

I’m am experiencing a really happy problem, having to choose between Fuqua or Anderson.

My background:

I worked on investment banking for 4 years and 1 on a real estate developer.
I am from LatinAmerica and it would be great after the MBA to land a job on USA.

I am happy to explore jobs on Real Estate, Tech or Banking (asset management o inv. banking)

In favor for DUKE I feel that:

  1. Has a better Brand that UCLA and have the chance to land a job throughout USA while UCLA I see it more centered on California only.
  2. Stronger Alumni Network (TEAM FUQUA BRAND), even though Anderson has a strong alumni network too.
  3. GATE initiative will help me open my mind to new cultures.
  4. Finance Certificate and interesting concentrations to follow.
  5. Better Ranked (if that matters…)
  6. Very focused on Consulting jobs.

In Favor of UCLA I feel that:

  1. Great Real Estate background, with the RE Center, RE Association, RE Career Path and LA being a prime location for that
  2. Great Tech Background, with the Tech Association, Tech Career Path and California being a naturally tech market.
  3. I feel that could be a weaker in the finance than Duke.
  4. More people landing jobs on my actual area interest.

In General

  1. LA I feel it more attractive to live but my wife feels Durham… so it is a match.
  2. In LA I feel that there are more jobs opportunities for my wife (en eventually me part time while studying) than on Durham.
  3. In the scenario of wanting to move Out California, maybe the Duke Brand is stronger (Europe, north east USA, etc)
  4. Both have recreational clubs that suits my hobbies.
  5. In an economical analysis, I got a bigger scholarship on UCLA (30k more than Fuqua) so they are kind of matched, but still LA is a expensier city…
  6. It may look pretty the “California Experience”, but there is a B-Side of it, traffic jams, etc that I am not aware at… but something simiilar could happen on Durham
  7. UCLA weather beats Durham… but not for that
  8. Excellent professors on both of them.
  9. Maybe more prestigious elite alumni on Duke (Tim Cook for example).

What do you think?
Is there anything I could be missing? Or some edge I am not covering?
Being from that far away blurs a bit preceptions!

Thanks a lot!!!

2

the overall difference in ranking between #12 and #15 is immaterial, but for Finance, UCLA is top 10, whereas Duke is not.

I would not agree that Duke brand is stronger in the US Northeast. (hint, Wall Street knows that Anderson has been top 10 in Finance for a long time.)

For your goals, which include Real Estate, I’d pick UCLA.

3

Either school is fine with what you want to do. I would go to Anderson for less $$. Don’t count on landing a permanent job in the US as most companies are reluctant to sponsor foreign workers now. Most foreign students get a visa for one year post grad that allow for some type of internship.Check on the type of visa you will get as most student visas don’t allow spouses to work in the US.

4

Agree, you may be undervaluing the UCLA brand. In NE and West, UCLA has a better reputation than Duke. You can’t go wrong with Anderson. That would be my pick for all the reasons you mention hands down.

5

Duke has an exceptional alumni network and is very highly regarded on Wall Street.

Here is a snapshot:

https://www.businessinsider.com/dan-dees-named-co-head-of-investment-banking-at-goldman-sachs-2018-9
https://www.businessinsider.com/goldman-sachs-names-ashok-varadhan-sole-head-of-securities-2018-5

^ Both Duke alums

6

If your primary focus is on real estate, then UCLA is the clear choice.

For finance, UCLA is ranked slightly higher than Duke by US News.

On the East Coast of the US, my understanding is that Duke Fuqua carries a bit more weight than does UCLA.

Your linguistic skills should help with job placement if you are proficient/fluent in Portuguese as well as English & Spanish.