I'm trying to decide between Hult and IE. Seems like there's a decent amount of dislike towards Hult. Can anyone that's actually attended weigh in? Things I'm looking for in a program; 1 year, international, diverse student body, practical teachings, ability to rotate/exchange to other campuses. I'm not concerned about post mba employment or salary, I believe that's up to the individual, not the school you attend.

Obviously, you are mistaken in thinking that it's only the individual and not only the school that counts. There are large, sustained, differences between the outcomes of MBAs that graduate from different schools. The school is clearly a causal factor of the different outcomes, especially for those want the mainstream MBA programmes at large organisations that recruit from the traditional business schools.

If you want campus rotation in a full-time MBA then Hult is your only option. There are no other schools with more than two owned locations for a full-time MBA.

PS But, that said, why take an MBA?

[Edited by Duncan on Mar 11, 2016]

Thanks for the input, Duncan. I'm not necessarily looking to get recruited by a firm as I already have something lined up post graduation. Reasons for the mba; grow my ability as a leader in business, hone analytical and technical skills (accounting, valuations, marketing, entrepreneurship), grow as an individual in a unique setting outside of Canada, and lastly to grow my network of like minded individuals outside of my home country.

@Canadian1234

My 2 cents. Go with IE.

There is no black or white answer to post MBA recruitment and if its 100% upon students and 0% on the school. Thinking about it, if this was the case then students could do any mickey mouse MBA and yet end up in Boston Consulting Group. Theoretically, they still can and there might be one off case where they might have.

During your MBA, you learn not only from the professor and the curriculum but also from the students around you. A "better" school will attract high caliber students and participating with them in classroom discusses, student clubs etc would enrich your learning experience.

Sure there might be few highly motivated individuals in Hult, however there is high probability that you'll be in the company of several such individuals in IE. Also think about the kind of signal you are sending to recruiters - maybe not immediately after your MBA. Perhaps 3 years down the line when you want to switch industries? Your MBA degree will be on your resume for life.

If global rotation is what you want, then maybe look into the likes of ESADE, ESSEC, Mannheim if not IE.

Good Luck!

Any top-tier MBA outside the USA or India will give you a diverse cohort. The world comes to you, and the advantage of being in other countries is limited if you're there with the same ex-pat crowd. At a great school, the quality is better is so many ways. I'm a Hult alum (because I am an Ashridge alum) in addition to an alumnus of UCLA and London Business School. I've studied at several other schools and made many friends and clients who've been at those schools and others. You'll get the most rigorous MBA at schools that select the best students and faculty because they start at a higher level, bring better skills with them and have more personal efficacy. That not brings better momentum but also gives them a setting in an ecosystem where there's fewer obstacles to them meeting their goals. By using EF's huge marketing machine, Hult is able to get a lot of applicants and has a massive MBA full-time programme: probably the biggest of any AMBA-accredited school. It doesn't have to be as selective or as rigorous, and it isn't.

If you want great skills and a great international network, go somewhere that will work you like a dog and force you to have a great time while doing it: IESE, Insead, IMD, LBS, Cambridge... if those schools are too much then certainly IE, Cranfield, NUS, ESADE, Lancaster will stretch you and put you in a cohort that is not only international but also full of successful people with great motivation to help grow each other as humans and as leaders.

Ok thanks for the fantastic insight guys. It's looking like IE is the clear winner here. That said, I am interested in growing analytical and technical skills - finance/accounting etc. An it seems IE is heavily focused on entrepreneurship. Should I be worried about that fact or will there be enough electives to focus on the areas I want?

One other thing I wanted to point out attracting me to Hult was something the recently launched; their dual degree program, where you can also obtain a masters in finance in boston in 6 months after the 12 month mba program.

It would be cheaper for you to take the Harvard masters in finance, online through the extension school, after your MBA. You would get into the workforce earlier, be earning a much more valuable qualification in addition to access to a further alumni network, and learn from seriously impressive academics: Christopher Alt, Bülent Aybar, Ned Gandevani, John Komlos, Robert Neugeboren and Peter Marber teach on that course, as do impressive practitioners like Teo Nicolais, Faris Saah and Yvette Austin Smith. Viktoria Dalko from Hult is also part of the faculty.

[Edited by Duncan on Mar 15, 2016]