Seeking Advice

3 5

Posted May 23, 2024 17:13

Dear folks,

I need a bit of advice on which school to choose for better career prospects,

Offers:

- Bayes Business School: MSc Banking and International Finance
- EBS Business School (Oestrich Winkel) : MSc Finance
- Antwerp School of Management: MSc Finance
- Henley Business School: MSc Corporate Finance
- Queen Mary : MSc Banking and Finance
- Vlerick Business School: MSc Finance

Profile:

International, Male, 30 year old

fluent in English

Non-quantitative/business undergrad

1.5 years in business consulting

7 months in start up consulting

I already know it would be extremely hard to break into IB or AM with these schools but i like to try to get a foot in the door or at least start with Big 4 consulting or CB, and before you say these are non targets, i wouldn't be able to get better places with my undergrad.

Personal Opinion: I feel Bayes is the best in this list but considering the UK high competitive job market and costs and current graduate visa discussion i'm a bit worried and although i dont speak german i feel that i might have a better chance gettin internships in big4s and start to build my way up from there and i feel theres less risk less reward situation in Germany.

I'm open to suggestions, alternative routes, anything you guys think it would increase my chances.

Thanks

quote

Duncan

13.874 15.397

Posted May 23, 2024 19:28

Bayes, Vlerick and EBS are all viable routes. Which of these has the best programme design for your goal?

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Mfrostman

3 5

Posted May 23, 2024 20:03

Bayes, Vlerick and EBS are all viable routes. Which of these has the best programme design for your goal?

My goal is to get into high finance, IB, AM and i'm sure non of these will get me directly + i have no experience so big 4 and CB would be the goal.

Well, Vlerick had the best filtering of applicants (1 Exam , 2 Interviews) and they are serious specially i think in placing people in consultancy, good modulus, very practical, only 1 year, but i don't speak dutch or french (i am willing to learn and im counting that Brussels is more international than Frankfurt.

EBS is a private B school and among top ones in Germany it does not seem top notch by academics and seems a haven for rich people and speculators which i dont see necessarily as a bad thing and take it as a place thats viable for networking and making connections, cause i generally think banking culture and speculation is very different in Germany and it would be good to have access to such people, also again i read in forums here than the program does not place international students well in IB or CB in Germany, but my only problem is the german language.

Bayes, im just a bit worried that its too competitive, and worried that i gotta go back if i dont find a job or sponser, i think the program is great, i think the school is great and better than all of my options , i dont have any language barriers i speak english like a native, and i like UK the most and feel UK is the real deal. I'm just worried that i get washed out by the job market specially with an election coming in July. But I think the language factor is huge here, because i like to think of myself as a good negotiator and someone who can talk and connect to people which counts a lot in finance.

I'm hesitant cause i'm 30 and this is nearly the only shot i get, i wanna stay and work in finance in the country that i choose, i know that its not practical or possible to attach the weight of all these changes and goals to one university or program but i like to be able to make the best out of it, i self-studied finance for year and half and got all the credentials i could get to get these offers, and no matter where i go i'm gonna still grind.

Thanks Duncan btw, i've seen your answers and comments on the posts which are very informative and helpful.

[quote]Bayes, Vlerick and EBS are all viable routes. Which of these has the best programme design for your goal? [/quote]

My goal is to get into high finance, IB, AM and i'm sure non of these will get me directly + i have no experience so big 4 and CB would be the goal.

Well, Vlerick had the best filtering of applicants (1 Exam , 2 Interviews) and they are serious specially i think in placing people in consultancy, good modulus, very practical, only 1 year, but i don't speak dutch or french (i am willing to learn and im counting that Brussels is more international than Frankfurt.

EBS is a private B school and among top ones in Germany it does not seem top notch by academics and seems a haven for rich people and speculators which i dont see necessarily as a bad thing and take it as a place thats viable for networking and making connections, cause i generally think banking culture and speculation is very different in Germany and it would be good to have access to such people, also again i read in forums here than the program does not place international students well in IB or CB in Germany, but my only problem is the german language.

Bayes, im just a bit worried that its too competitive, and worried that i gotta go back if i dont find a job or sponser, i think the program is great, i think the school is great and better than all of my options , i dont have any language barriers i speak english like a native, and i like UK the most and feel UK is the real deal. I'm just worried that i get washed out by the job market specially with an election coming in July. But I think the language factor is huge here, because i like to think of myself as a good negotiator and someone who can talk and connect to people which counts a lot in finance.

I'm hesitant cause i'm 30 and this is nearly the only shot i get, i wanna stay and work in finance in the country that i choose, i know that its not practical or possible to attach the weight of all these changes and goals to one university or program but i like to be able to make the best out of it, i self-studied finance for year and half and got all the credentials i could get to get these offers, and no matter where i go i'm gonna still grind.

Thanks Duncan btw, i've seen your answers and comments on the posts which are very informative and helpful.

quote

Mfrostman

3 5

Posted May 23, 2024 20:13

Bayes, Vlerick and EBS are all viable routes. Which of these has the best programme design for your goal?

btw, EBS second year is practice year where the schools tries to place me in different internships for the last year of my studies so that is +

[quote]Bayes, Vlerick and EBS are all viable routes. Which of these has the best programme design for your goal? [/quote]

btw, EBS second year is practice year where the schools tries to place me in different internships for the last year of my studies so that is +

quote

Duncan

13.874 15.397

Posted May 23, 2024 23:03

EBS structure seems especially good for non-EU students. It feels weird to recommend it above Bayes, but placement matters more to you than brand equity.

Your overall assessment is convincing. The UK is a bit weird post brexit. Vlerick will place into the Netherlands too. All these programmes place well, and the EU options are lower risk. Maybe you work in the EU then move to the UK for career growth after a few years?

[Edited by Duncan on May 23, 2024]

quote

Mfrostman

3 5

Posted Jun 14, 2024 12:54

EBS structure seems especially good for non-EU students. It feels weird to recommend it above Bayes, but placement matters more to you than brand equity.

Your overall assessment is convincing. The UK is a bit weird post brexit. Vlerick will place into the Netherlands too. All these programmes place well, and the EU options are lower risk. Maybe you work in the EU then move to the UK for career growth after a few years?

Exactly Duncan, that is exactly my plan my goal.
Now the dilemma is that Vlerick offered a 50% scholarship which cut my costs in 10k, and EBS offered none. Vlerick Program only is one year and i can have a work seeking visa for one year, EBS is two years and i can get 1.5 years.

It terms of job market i'm sure Frankfurt has more opportunities than Brussels, but its most probably harder to grind and its much harder with the social dynamics that is goin on recently in Germany but if i make it i probably have more options afterwards.

Vlerick is hands down the best school in Belgium and i'm sure i'm gonna have much more fun and easier time through my studies but i probably have to move out to Netherlands and opt for less competitive jobs.

I also dont speak German, French or Dutch

[quote]EBS structure seems especially good for non-EU students. It feels weird to recommend it above Bayes, but placement matters more to you than brand equity.

Your overall assessment is convincing. The UK is a bit weird post brexit. Vlerick will place into the Netherlands too. All these programmes place well, and the EU options are lower risk. Maybe you work in the EU then move to the UK for career growth after a few years? [/quote]

Exactly Duncan, that is exactly my plan my goal.
Now the dilemma is that Vlerick offered a 50% scholarship which cut my costs in 10k, and EBS offered none. Vlerick Program only is one year and i can have a work seeking visa for one year, EBS is two years and i can get 1.5 years.

It terms of job market i'm sure Frankfurt has more opportunities than Brussels, but its most probably harder to grind and its much harder with the social dynamics that is goin on recently in Germany but if i make it i probably have more options afterwards.

Vlerick is hands down the best school in Belgium and i'm sure i'm gonna have much more fun and easier time through my studies but i probably have to move out to Netherlands and opt for less competitive jobs.

I also dont speak German, French or Dutch

quote

Duncan

13.874 15.397

Posted Jun 14, 2024 17:35

This might come down to setting and language.

PS To expand on that.... EBS would see you in Oestrich-Winkel. So, a campus experience and probably a better setting to learn German. Vlerick runs it's MSc in the Brussels campus: that's a mostly French-speaking city with arguably more English- than Dutch-language infrastructure.

I definitely would not make this choice on the basis of the scholarship. A €10k scholarship to Vlerick when Vlerick alum earn an average of €20k less sounds like a false economy. Other things being equal, I would pick EBS, especially since it has many more international students in the cohort, yet similar employability.

[Edited by Duncan on Jun 14, 2024]

quote

Duncan

13.874 15.397

Posted Jun 14, 2024 18:37

EBS also gives you the option to graduate after two semesters or, if that doesn't not get you to the role you want, to do intensive German or a double degree.

[Edited by Duncan on Jun 17, 2024]

EBS also gives you the option to graduate after two semesters or, if that doesn't not get you to the role you want, to do intensive German or a double degree. <br>
<br>

quote

Mfrostman

3 5

Posted Jun 14, 2024 21:55

EBS also gives you the option to graduate after two semesters or, if that doesn't;t not get you to the role you want, to do intensive German or a double degree.

I agree with you Duncan, 10K is is not my incentive here the only thing that it might bring is some savings that i might able to pursue further studies or extracurricular activities which is not what i have in mind cause i'm 30 and time is the most valuable thing i have.

EBS has a more networking and money making vibe to it and Vlerick is a bit more neat or European.

I'm doing the 2 year program on EBS which does include a practice term (its not placement), and buys me more time on the visa to study German, I actually planing to set up myself in Frankfurt to be close to networking opportunities and get as much exposure as possible, the idea here is not just about survival or PR but it is to get a good internship and land a job in a solid international company such as big 4 and if an act of God happens IB, to be able to build good foundation on that and then maybe start moving pieces on the chess board, cause as of now i don't intend to stay in Germany.

I know it's much easier said than done, and does look like a long shot specially now with this amount of global uncertainty but i think i might be able to make something out of it if i play my cards right.

[quote]EBS also gives you the option to graduate after two semesters or, if that doesn't;t not get you to the role you want, to do intensive German or a double degree.

[/quote]

I agree with you Duncan, 10K is is not my incentive here the only thing that it might bring is some savings that i might able to pursue further studies or extracurricular activities which is not what i have in mind cause i'm 30 and time is the most valuable thing i have.

EBS has a more networking and money making vibe to it and Vlerick is a bit more neat or European.

I'm doing the 2 year program on EBS which does include a practice term (its not placement), and buys me more time on the visa to study German, I actually planing to set up myself in Frankfurt to be close to networking opportunities and get as much exposure as possible, the idea here is not just about survival or PR but it is to get a good internship and land a job in a solid international company such as big 4 and if an act of God happens IB, to be able to build good foundation on that and then maybe start moving pieces on the chess board, cause as of now i don't intend to stay in Germany.

I know it's much easier said than done, and does look like a long shot specially now with this amount of global uncertainty but i think i might be able to make something out of it if i play my cards right.

quote

Duncan

13.874 15.397

Posted Jun 17, 2024 11:17

The internship makes all the difference, and Germany is well-equipped to support interns and people who complete their studies while working. Take the internship in the third semester if you can to have the option to enter employment during the fourth semester, while completing the thesis.

PS Personally, I would stay close to Oestrich-Winkel in the first two semesters in order to make the most of on-campus events and to free up travel time for additional language study.

[Edited by Duncan on Jun 17, 2024]

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