Gen Z Guide to FI

I’m in a stage of analysis paralysis. Since my last MBA update, I’ve gotten into 2 more schools with full tuition scholarships – UCLA & NYU, which has been absolutely wild and amazing. I am ultra grateful. I know that no matter where I end up, I’ll find a way to make the best of it. I’m trying to figure out what my best option from a bunch of fantastic options – in terms of full rides from 4 top business school programs in the United States.

I started spiraling about turning down an Ivy League (Yale) to go to a school (NYU) which I’m more excited about. I’m a Nigerian immigrant and I would have sold my kidneys when I was growing up in Nigeria to go to an Ivy League. Now though, I don’t really care as much for status. I just want to live a life that I’m happy about.

The biggest question I’ve forced myself to find an answer to is “am I 100% certain that I want to work in entertainment industry?” An alumnus from Yale told me “if I ONLY want to go into a career in the film business, Yale is not the school for me but if I was 25% interested in anything else, then Yale would be great.” Now, I’m desperately doing some soul searching. I need to figure out if the entertainment industry is the only industry I see myself in. Is there anything else I could be interested in? Even if the plans change, could I still get into another field with either school? Or if, I decide to forgo the Ivy League brand name, will I regret it?

The regret is the most significant question mark for me. I honestly love NYU’s program based off what I’ve researched. The classes are actually interesting. The whole point of my return to school is to buy a network in the entertainment industry. My argument for moving to New York is that it sounds FUCKING EXCITING. I’ve never lived in a big city. As someone who lives in the middle of nowhere and who hates cars, living in New York City for 2 years sounds exciting. I think it’s time I lived a life I was excited about.

While I’m already 90% leaning towards NYU, I’ve decided to come up with a pros and cons list for each school. In terms of short-term & long-term benefits and basing it on the idealistic dream life I want. The life where I am not working for money by 40. The life where even if I am working for money, it’s in a field I’m passionate about. 

I still have a few weeks to decide on my programs, but the shortlist is Yale and NYU (unless Columbia takes me off the waitlist and offers me a full tuition scholarship). UCLA is out because I want to live in California long term, so I want to explore somewhere else in the U.S. for my MBA. Emory is also great but has nothing substantial for me trying to pivot into the entertainment industry.

Thanks for all the support! I’ll keep you posted on what decisions I end up making.

XOXO Gen Z Fire Baby