Hi all,

I am going to apply for the HEC 2011 - January because of the strong connection the school has with Paris businesses, and also because of the great "value" for the money of the program (much cheaper than other European MBA as IESE or LBS) BUT reading oI AM WORRIED about 3 main things:

- HEC MBA

1 - Placement (both from the website and the blogs it seems to me they want you to be the main (only?) actor of your career and I am afraid they put themselves in the corner when it comes to create recruitment opportunity)
2 - Program Structure - I read that (http://blogsbyrahul.blogspot.com/2009/04/hec-mba-differences-between-sep-and-jan.html) the January intake doesn't give the opportunity to do both an internship and an exchange program... is it true?
3 - the network possibilities. Since the jan intakes involves more or less 60 students, will I have the possibility to have at least the electives with the other 140 students of the September intake?

Can anyone answer my doubts? Should I consider to postpone my application to September 2011?

Thanks a lot

Hi SustainConsult,

I am part of the HEC MBA January Intake 2010, so here are some answers to your questions:

#Placement: they create recruitment opportunities, but it can more or less fit you, depending on your industry... and your French empathy. Whatever MBA program you choose, you still are the main actor of your life.

#Program Structure:
YES you can do an internship AND an exchange program. But be aware that they are just around 20 positions abroad for the Jan intake (vs around 70 for the September intake, even if they are more numerous they have more choices, like Wharton, and all the big names they claim to have). Moreover the selection process for exchanges is not cristal clear... this is the minimum I can say. It creates more frustrations than anything.
Beware also of the double degree option. These programs are "officially" opened for Jan Intake, but in reality you have no chance. Applications have to be submitted less than 2 months after you start the program, so they do not have any tool to evaluate you. No participant from the Jan intake was qualified to any of them.

#Networking possibilities: Jan intakes mix with September intakes, so this is not an issue. And YES we all share the electives Jan intake can attend.

I would definitely recommend you to wait for the September intake for other "insider" reasons: you will have the best professors (they don't teach in winter), you will have access to the full portfolio of electives (Jan intake are also frustrated by this), you will have access to more exchanges and double degree opportunities, and you will have more chances to be active in students clubs as soon as you arrive.

Last, if you want to do consulting, definitely go to Insead! If you want to do finance, go to LBS. For other matters, HEC is not so bad.

Thanks platinum!

I was just looking for some insightful and very punctual answers like the ones you gave me. Just some notes about your comments:

Placement - Yes, I agree that you are the first actor of your life, I was wondering though about whether the career office is offering the same opportuinities of other comparable business programs as the spanish and some english ones... speaking with other students it seemed to me that at least half the people find their job contacts outside the opportunities/services offered by the university... maybe also because of the not-so clear attitude of french businesses towards this kind of programs...

Program Structure - the double degree is one of the very distinct factor of the HEC MBA in my opinion... it's a pity january-intake students almost don't have a chance...

Optional courses - well this is not so clear from the website description...

Thanks also for the final suggestions....

HEC MBA attracted me mainly because Paris is very very beautiful , learning french would be great, I like the sustainable energy/development initiatives of the HEC MBA and living in the campus would be a great experience... but I will probably not go for HEC in January and I'll consider INSEAD (I have to admit consulting is my first ambition)... IE and IESE...

Bye

Talking about jobs "contacts", the first business school in Europe provide a lot of them. Obviously all the major French and European companies, but also American ones.
For consulting issues, check with McKinsey and others. Ask them where they are recruiting (they must be more reactive than HEC admin).
Last about Pairs, let's be honest: HEC campus is 20 mm far from city centre, ie 30-60 min by car, 40 min by train (as you have 15 min walk to the station). People first live on campus for core phase, then commute for the personalised phase. You can therefore enjoy the 2 sides of the experience.
Insead is 60 km far from Paris, people only live on campus... it's much more time-consuming to commute (I did not take Insead for this reason, no networking opportunity in Paris and a weaker network in France).

Platinum, due to professional reason for me would be very interesting to start a MBA on January. I live in luxembourg working for an american bank for 3 years now plus one year consulting in Italy (internal audit), I'm 29 y old.
Also I'm French intermediary level.

My option are : RSM or HEC (January intake)

Would you suggest my profile could suite the program? on your experience what's the GMAT score average I should need?

Hi gabrielelux,

Apparently you have a suitable profile for HEC. The GMAT average at HEC is around 680. You can submit your profile for free, they make a first selection. If your score is too low but your profile really interesting, they can ask you to pass it again.

HEC or RSM, I can only refer you to the FT ranking... and to your own projects. Would you prefer to work in the Netherlands or in France? As you have an intermediary level in French, no doubt you will be fluent at the end of the HEC MBA!

Hope it will help.

Dear Gabrielelux,

I think "platinum" is right when he says that your choice depends really on your future objectives. I also considered HEC back in the days but was concerned that it would be dominated too much by the local culture. If you are looking to work in France after the MBA, then you should definitely go for HEC. Besides, the weather and the food is also much better there!

On the other hand, if you are interested in a more multicultural environment I would suggest you consider RSM. The programme starts in January and you get to bid from a complete list of electives as well as exchange destinations.

Good luck!

pwllo

Program Structure - the double degree is one of the very distinct factor of the HEC MBA in my opinion... it's a pity january-intake students almost don't have a chance...

I agree with you Bianca, but HEC should be more transparent regarding these options when they communicate.

The new website does not clarify these options, neither the administration when you call them.

They keep the option open even if there is no chance for Jan intake to do a double degree at NYU Stern for example.