why is USC Marshall not as respected?

Graduate School Business School - MBA
1

<p>In the current US News b-school ranking, at the MBA level, it is ranked 20. But when people talk about MBA schools in California, it's almost always just Anderson and Haas. Marshall isn't even in the picture. It is ranked in the top 20 and ahead of Goizueta, but it seems like it doesn't get much respect. I also took a look at the recruiting companies compared to similarly ranked schools, and it seems like some of the companies leave out Marshall in its recruiting efforts. Why is that?</p>

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<p>though it may be lower, it’s still pretty highly respected–</p>

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<p>Check out its Employment Report, and compare to the spreadsheet I posted last week in the thread I started. Career opportunity begets student interest and demand.</p>

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<p>In California it goes</p>

<p>1) Stanford GSB (top 2 program)
2) Berkeley Haas (top 10 program)
3) UCLA Anderson (top 15 program)
4) USC-Marshall (top 20 program)</p>

<p>…and then it’s a big drop-off to number five.</p>

<p>Marshall holds its own, with an average comp of 113.5k, acceptance rate of 23%, and median GMAT of 700. [USC</a> Marshall Class Profiles](<a href=“http://www.marshall.usc.edu/mbaadmissions/class-profiles-overview.htm]USC”>http://www.marshall.usc.edu/mbaadmissions/class-profiles-overview.htm) But those numbers are still slightly lower than Stanford, Haas, or Anderson. The top hiring list looks pretty solid, so not sure which companies you are referring to:</p>

<p>

</p>

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<p>compare that with the in-town rival UCLA Anderson (their rank is not that significantly higher, right?)</p>

<p>Off the top of my head, companies that recruit from Anderson but not Marshall
Mckinsey, BCG, Blackrock, JPMorgan, and a few other companies</p>

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<p>I’m just guessing here, but I suppose it’s possible that while there were a few hires from the firms you mentioned, there were not enough to make the list of “top hiring firms,” (assuming the list is based on # of students hired, and there is some cutoff like 4 offers or something)</p>

<p>But UCLA Anderson is generally better than USC Marshall, save for a few concentrations like real-estate development, accounting, probably a few more. So I’m not too surprised. Like I mentioned earlier, Anderson is top-15, Marshall is top-20. Sometimes that makes a difference for elite firms.</p>

<p>For what it’s worth, as a Marshall undergrad I’ve has exposure to most of the firms you mentioned. Speakers from McKinsey and Blackrock. A close friend is working for JP Morgan in Japan as an analyst. I looked through my e-mail inbox and found a job posting for Blackrock. See pg 7 of <a href=“http://www.marshall.usc.edu/assets/054/10791.pdf[/url]”>http://www.marshall.usc.edu/assets/054/10791.pdf&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>So basically while they might not hire enough students to make the “top hiring companies” list, they do have a presence.</p>

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<p>there’s also gradations of value within a company - not all positions at a firm are created equal. the list of employers by itself doesn’t say much.</p>

<p>For example, on that list you have Deloitte Consulting - Human Capital. Deloitte Consulting happens to have 4 (really 5) branches of consulting, and HC isn’t nearly as challenging, prestigious or profitable as Strategy & Operations. </p>

<p>The positions at listed financial firms - how many are front office, M&A or Capital Markets at ibanks, investor positions at money management firms, vs middle office or operational?</p>

<p>Those kind of considerations will show a lot of difference between the various schools.</p>

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<p>The short answer is that -the story that USC has a very strong, loyal and devoted alumni network is just a myth, for if it was true then it would have been a highly ranked business school. </p>

<p>Stanford (top 2) and Haas (top 7) are the strongest business schools in California.</p>

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<p>USC has the strongest real estate program by far in California.</p>

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<p>I would have to guess it has something to do with the student body</p>

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<p>I do think USC has a powerful network but it’s limited to Socal. I still see it as a ‘regional’ program.</p>

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<p>Obviously Harvard/Stanford/Wharton have national reach, but graduates of other MBA programs most often stay put after they graduate, and in this sense USC would be at no disadvantage because of its strong ties in California. One can argue that it is not more “regional” than any of the following programs:</p>

<p>Berkeley Haas:
Within North America, graduates who accepted full-time jobs in the following regions:
Northeast: 4 %
Mid-Atlantic: 3 %
South: 3 %
Southwest: 1 %
Midwest: 3 %
West: 87 %
Source: [University</a> of California-Berkeley: Full-Time MBA Profile ? BusinessWeek](<a href=“Bloomberg Businessweek - Bloomberg”>Bloomberg Businessweek - Bloomberg)</p>

<p>Columbia:
Within North America, graduates who accepted full-time jobs in the following regions:
Northeast: 88 %
Mid-Atlantic: 2 %
South: 1 %
Southwest: 3 %
Midwest: 1 %
West: 5 %
Possessions and territories: 0 %
Canada: 0 %
Source: [Columbia</a> University: Full-Time MBA Profile ? BusinessWeek](<a href=“Bloomberg Businessweek - Bloomberg”>Bloomberg Businessweek - Bloomberg)</p>

<p>NYU Stern:
Within North America, graduates who accepted full-time jobs in the following regions:
Northeast: 84 %
Mid-Atlantic: 4 %
South: 2 %
Southwest: 1 %
Midwest: 1 %
West: 8 %
Possessions and territories: 0 %
Canada: 0 %
Source: [New</a> York University: Full-Time MBA Profile ? BusinessWeek](<a href=“Bloomberg Businessweek - Bloomberg”>Bloomberg Businessweek - Bloomberg)</p>

<p>UCLA-Anderson
Northeast: 6 %
Mid-Atlantic: 1 %
South: 1 %
Southwest: 2 %
Midwest: 4 %
West: 75 %
Source: [UCLA:</a> Full-Time MBA Profile ? BusinessWeek](<a href=“Bloomberg Businessweek - Bloomberg”>Bloomberg Businessweek - Bloomberg)</p>

<hr>

<p>For reference, here is USC which lands a decent amount of opportunities in the northeast, more than either Berkeley Haas or UCLA Anderson.</p>

<p>USC-Marshall
Within North America, graduates who accepted full-time jobs in the following regions:
Northeast: 20 %
Mid-Atlantic: 1 %
South: 1 %
Southwest: 2 %
Midwest: 2 %
West: 74 %
Possessions and territories: 0 %
Canada: 0 %
Source: [University</a> of Southern California: Full-Time MBA Profile ? BusinessWeek](<a href=“Bloomberg Businessweek - Bloomberg”>Bloomberg Businessweek - Bloomberg)</p>

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<p>That really isn’t a compelling piece of evidence.</p>

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<p>Although this thread is about USC Marshall, Michigan-Ross would be considered a national MBA program.</p>

<p>Entering North American citizens by region:</p>

<p>[University</a> of Michigan: Full-Time MBA Profile ? BusinessWeek](<a href=“Bloomberg Businessweek - Bloomberg”>Bloomberg Businessweek - Bloomberg)</p>

<p>Northeast: 21 %
Mid-Atlantic: 11 %
South: 5 %
Southwest: 3 %
Midwest : 34 %
West: 25 % </p>

<p>Michigan Ross alumni are well-represented in the United States.</p>

<p>The same proportional representation occurs with Northwestern Kellogg:
<a href=“Bloomberg Businessweek - Bloomberg”>Bloomberg Businessweek - Bloomberg;

<p>Entering North American citizens by region:</p>

<p>Northeast: 28 %
Mid-Atlantic: 11 %
South: 9 %
Southwest: 6 %
Midwest : 23 %
West: 23 %</p>

<p>Both Michigan-Ross and Northwestern-Kellogg have national representation.</p>

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<p>PIMCO’s Bill Gross went to UCLA and BlackRock’s Larry Fink went to UCLA. So, I imagine that’s why PIMCO and BlackRock recruit at UCLA and not USC. Just Sayin’.</p>