Consulting Career: Stanford MS&E vs Columbia MSOR

[testarossa]

Hello,

I haven't heard any decision from both schools yet. I just want to gather more opinions and informations regarding both programs.

My background is an BS in Electrical & Computer Engineering with minor in Computer Science and Management. I want to have a career in consulting with firms like McKinsey or BCG.

I want to know which program is a better fit, Stanford MS&E or Columbia MSOR.

I know Columbia OR is famous for their quantitative financial engineering and very reputable to Wall Street firms but I know nothing about how consulting firms view their Operations Research MS degree, and Operations Research program in general? Is it the type of person they are looking for?

I also want to take into account their campus city: New York vs San Francisco environment .

[testarossa]

You are asking all the wrong questions.

The name of your school can only carry you so far. Completion of either program will present you the opportunity to apply for consulting jobs. Landing a job at a top consulting firms ultimately comes down to you as a person and your interviewing ability. Are you articulate? Are you confident? Do you have leadership skills? Can you pass a problem solving test? Do you hold up well in tough interviewing situations? Neither Stanford nor Columbia can teach you how to have strong interpersonal skills or how to be an effective leader. You may be the smartest person in your class, but if you aren't good with people, your degree won't help you in the slightest get into McKinsey or BCG.

Well, I do know that it takes more than a degree to get into top consulting firm.

What I was asking is where is a better environment to train those skill between Stanford and Columbia. From what I have researched, Stanford MS&E has a better placement into consulting industry than Columbia but I was afraid that MS&E is kind of redundant when my plan is to get a MBA eventually.

[JerryLandis]

Testarossa, I don't know anything about your field, but I just thought I'd suggest that you take anything seadub says with a gigantic grain of salt. He is not here to give helpful advice, but to yell at people and ingratiate himself. I haven't seen any posts by you before, so, assuming that you are new, I thought I'd give you a heads up.

[JerryLandis]

Yes, I am stalking you. Look out your window if you don't believe me. I do offer relevant insight here, the advice that anything you say should be received somewhat skeptically. I'd hate to think what my application process would have been like If I'd received "advice" from you.

[hubris]

For what it is worth I fled consulting to go back to the street.

Both schools have nameplate, which will start the conversation, but Columbia will put you closer to NYC and Boston for a marginal gain.

However, the MBA will not be "value-added" after one MS, but a Ph.D. might be required.

You need to keep in mind that consulting does not make $$ and from there you can figure out how to get in.

Edited March 1, 2010 by hubris

[testarossa]

Thanks seadub and hubris for your insights and I do take criticism as better advice than "oh you have the chance, just apply and you'll get in" type of advice.

Since my background is pure electrical engineering with research and programming from a non-top university, I figured that my chance to get into consulting firm would be very small. Therefore, I am trying to find a brand name non-MBA program that would improve my chance to a consulting firm, maybe not big name like McKinsey, BCG or Bain.

I know that top consulting firms hire a lot of top MBA graduates. However, I only want to get MBA after I get some working experience because I want to get the best out of a MBA program (and hopefully get the company to pay it for me).

Right now, I am weighing Stanford over Columbia since the MS&E is more diverse program. I do prefer NYC over California for the lifestyle and people but the MSOR program at Columbia happens to be less prestigious (Columbia's MBA is really good though).