I am completely stuck on a major decision and thought I'd reach out to the community for some feedback. In addition to your opinion on what I should do, it would be wonderful to hear from community members who have made similar decisions and how it has worked out.
I have been blessed to gain acceptance into two good MBA programs: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and the University of South Carolina. The Illinois program is a traditional 2-year program with a good track record of placing people into jobs in Chicago (my preferred destination after school). The South Carolina program is unique in that it has a 3rd year built in for language immersion and internship in a foreign country (Japan would be my choice). I am currently interested in studying marketing, in particular consumer decision and the influence of culture on those decisions. Product development is also a strong interest of mine. Both schools would be good for this course of study, but tackle it from different directions.
I have been in limbo/purgatory for the last two years as just about every major decision I have made in the last 10 years turned out against me. I am divorced, broke, and unemployed. Needless to say, I view the opportunity to go back to school as a godsend and just about every part of my life is now tied to this decision. Part of me wants the incredible experience of living abroad for a year. Experiencing a foreign culture up close, learning an incredibly difficult language, and being truly alone and independent for a year would be a life changing experience. However, I dislike the South quite a bit (no offense to any fine Southerners here), and would most likely need to spend several years in the South after school as 85% of graduates from USC are placed there (not ideal). Not only that, I will be 35 by the end of the program, and living anywhere I don't see myself settling down in for a couple years makes me anxious, as I do want a family of my own and feel like I can't really pursue that until I am settled somewhere. I have a very strong desire to get where I am going as soon as I can so I can start building my life again.
That being said, I tend to be a person who regrets decisions, and passing up the opportunity to do something that not only most people are too afraid to do, but rarely get the opportunity if they are willing might haunt me for the rest of my life. I fear that in my hurry to get back to a comfortable life that I might be passing up the opportunity to truly distinguish my experience from those around me. Then again, spending an extra year out of the work force at a school that has a slightly lower reputation and ability to help graduates get the top jobs, could end up impacting my career for the next 30 years.
So U of Illinois presents me with a safer, shorter path (in theory at least) to a good career in a great city where I can see myself settling down. It will by no means be a dull experience (I won't let it be), but it definitely involves less risk. USC presents me with a more immediately fascinating experience, but with far more risk and possible delays getting to a similarly comfortable level. With my recent struggles in life, I am afraid that my tolerance for risk and delay are not what they used to be. That said, I do see great value in breaking free of my inhibitions.
I think both would be smart, reasonable choices. Both, in my mind, have equal amounts of positives and negatives. Each would force me to make compromises that I really don't want to make. I am definitely leaning one direction right now, but I vascillate daily.
I think getting other opinions and stories might help me make a better decision, so have at it! Should I be a Fighting Illini or a Gamecock? And don't worry, this is more for curiosity's sake. Your opinions will not be factored heavily into my decision
I have been blessed to gain acceptance into two good MBA programs: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and the University of South Carolina. The Illinois program is a traditional 2-year program with a good track record of placing people into jobs in Chicago (my preferred destination after school). The South Carolina program is unique in that it has a 3rd year built in for language immersion and internship in a foreign country (Japan would be my choice). I am currently interested in studying marketing, in particular consumer decision and the influence of culture on those decisions. Product development is also a strong interest of mine. Both schools would be good for this course of study, but tackle it from different directions.
I have been in limbo/purgatory for the last two years as just about every major decision I have made in the last 10 years turned out against me. I am divorced, broke, and unemployed. Needless to say, I view the opportunity to go back to school as a godsend and just about every part of my life is now tied to this decision. Part of me wants the incredible experience of living abroad for a year. Experiencing a foreign culture up close, learning an incredibly difficult language, and being truly alone and independent for a year would be a life changing experience. However, I dislike the South quite a bit (no offense to any fine Southerners here), and would most likely need to spend several years in the South after school as 85% of graduates from USC are placed there (not ideal). Not only that, I will be 35 by the end of the program, and living anywhere I don't see myself settling down in for a couple years makes me anxious, as I do want a family of my own and feel like I can't really pursue that until I am settled somewhere. I have a very strong desire to get where I am going as soon as I can so I can start building my life again.
That being said, I tend to be a person who regrets decisions, and passing up the opportunity to do something that not only most people are too afraid to do, but rarely get the opportunity if they are willing might haunt me for the rest of my life. I fear that in my hurry to get back to a comfortable life that I might be passing up the opportunity to truly distinguish my experience from those around me. Then again, spending an extra year out of the work force at a school that has a slightly lower reputation and ability to help graduates get the top jobs, could end up impacting my career for the next 30 years.
So U of Illinois presents me with a safer, shorter path (in theory at least) to a good career in a great city where I can see myself settling down. It will by no means be a dull experience (I won't let it be), but it definitely involves less risk. USC presents me with a more immediately fascinating experience, but with far more risk and possible delays getting to a similarly comfortable level. With my recent struggles in life, I am afraid that my tolerance for risk and delay are not what they used to be. That said, I do see great value in breaking free of my inhibitions.
I think both would be smart, reasonable choices. Both, in my mind, have equal amounts of positives and negatives. Each would force me to make compromises that I really don't want to make. I am definitely leaning one direction right now, but I vascillate daily.
I think getting other opinions and stories might help me make a better decision, so have at it! Should I be a Fighting Illini or a Gamecock? And don't worry, this is more for curiosity's sake. Your opinions will not be factored heavily into my decision
