I know Wharton is the best for Biz in general, but Babson has been best for 11 years. It's the only place u start a biz as a freshman.
Though I have some concerns: Babson has TOO much work (so I hear) and therefore no social life. It is full of rich snobs.
Wharton is also full of a bunch of wealthy and rich snots, which I am defintely not. Plus, I hear the program is too competitive so you learn only on improving your grades, not learning for the sake of learning business.
I am concerned about the latter problem, because it seems at Babson peeople are all rich and drive BMW's and Audi's.
I want to have fun, but get a good education that will help me start a business. I don't want to work for an i-bank.
Penn is SO HARD to get in, so should I apply ED and Early Action to Babson? I am not too sure I want to go to Penn, but it is so prestigious and I am guessing Wharton must be good for being #1.
Please no simple answers, thanks.
I do not think you should make a decision based on stereotypes of a student population. Though many students may be rich snobs, that doesn't mean you have to be, or that you must hang out with that kind of crowd.
However, your concerns about work level and grade competitiveness are valid. It seems like if there is a lot of work, you probably learn a lot more than less rigorous institutions. If you're sure you want to learn business, then work is what you want. And I'm sure you'll still have fun no matter the work level. But at the end of your education, both degrees are probably similar in value, if not practically equal. Though everybody hears about coming out of Wharton with a six-digit salary, that's a result of a great reputation.
I would apply to both schools, but not early decision anywhere. (It's probably too late to apply anywhere early anymore.) Don't worry about not getting in; keep your options open. It seems to me that you prefer Babson at heart. Just because another school's reputation is great shouldn't affect your individual college decision.