I'm looking to do my MBA in Europe next year. My goal is to study abroad for a year and then come back to the US. I am looking at schools in the 40k-50k EUR price range. This is my short list so far:

Copenhagen Business School
Mannheim Business School
ESMT
ESSEC
HEC Paris

... would like to know if there are other schools I should consider or a better "bang for the buck."

Given that your goal is the USA, then HEC is the obvious choice as it has the biggest US network. Surely Oxford or Cambridge would be better. The Global Partners MBA would give you both a US and a European MBA.

Thanks for that! Cambridge and Oxford would really push my budget but if they're that much better (and hopefully if they offer me scholarships) one or the other might be worth it.

Certainly the Oxford / Cambridge brand names will help you. In that sense, it might be worth it. Why not search LinkedIn and find out what kind of representation these schools have in your industry/firms you want to work in?

Taking advantage of the topic...

What would be the best choice (and the differences) between the following full time MBAs?

- Mannheim Business School
- ESMT
- St Gallen
- RSM
- Bocconi

I´ve read many advices from Duncan in other topics, so I´d appreciate his (and from other colleagues here) expertise to help me decide which B school to focus on...

Regarding my goals and profile: I´m a brazilian (hold Spanish passport) electronic engineer and my goal is to move to Europe (Germany, Switzerland or Austria are my main options). I dont have preferences for specific job markets.

I´m 34 and have 11 years of work experience. I´ve lived in Germany for 1 year (did an internship in programming), I´ve worked for 5 years in a world class Swiss Company (regional office in Brazil) and I shifted carreer to the pubic sector in Brazil some time ago (so, my career is very diversificated). I speak english (fluently), German (B2) and some other european languages (also B2 level).

As said, my focus is to shift career by choosing a well recognized MBA that gives me the best opportunity to work in the countries stated above with a good salary.

Thanks in advance!