Hi, I got accepted at both IE and Ashridge for the full time MBA, not sure how to decide. Age 38, 12 years experience in marketing/communications, thereof 6 years self-employed. Definitely into career change. Not necessarily interested in working in Spain, but internationally. Any thoughts?

Hmm. The answer is almost certainly IE. These are very different programmes, schools and cities. At IE you get a real full-time experience, and a much larger school with a real careers service.

I think the answer is almost certainly IE, but it depends on your wishes after the MBA. Claiming that IE has a career center might not necessarily help you. What would help you is IE's reputation in LAtin America and Spain.

Niels
MBA Q&A

IE does, indeed, have a careers centre called the "Careers Management Center". Searching the IE website produces around 17,500 references to it. http://bit.ly/TM3Pom

Yeah, having a center does not tell you much about its effectiveness.

nor about the job-market in the country IE is located in. If you like to work in England, Ashridge might give you the edge. If you like to work in Latin America, Spain or other parts of Europe, IE will be your choice. I have not experienced the IE management center to be effective in case of Careers in the UK.

Why did you write: "Claiming that IE has a career center might not necessarily help you"? Were you suggesting that IE did not have a careers centre. I'm not really sure what your recommendation is, other than hiring you.

I am not saying that IE does not have a Career Center, nor saying that anyone need to hire me. You must have misread my post Duncan.

What I said was is that having a Career Center (which IE indeed does have). Does not in any way guarantee that you land a job. AS IEs career center is very heavenly focussed on Latin America and Spain and this individual who is posting, is not interested in a career in these Geographies. That might mean that his other admit (Ashridge) might be more beneficial to this individual.

Hope this helped clarify!


Niels
MBA Q&A