Hi,
I would be thankful if someone can share his or her experience if he or she has gone through this dilemma.
Though the rankings put IE clearly on top, warwick also weighs due to its reputation for the university and the pedagogy.

Please share your thoughts.

Thanks,

What are your goals?

What are your goals?

What are your goals?

I have clear goals of entrepreneur in long run , say 5 years down the line.
But, immediately after graduating from MBA, I want to serve in technology sector at
product management role. I will have 9 years of work ex in technology by the time I join MBA this september.

Thanks,

Take a look at How to use LinkedIn to find the best school www.find-mba.com/board/33571
and Do you need to speak the local language? www.find-mba.com/board/34713

IE certainly is a better choice than Warwick, other things being equal. IMD might be an even better fit, considering your experience.

Thanks Duncan for your suggestions.
My little concern is about Visa hussles. Could you provide your inputs on UK visa problem.
Thanks,

Take a look at International students and working in the UK http://bit.ly/1RGJIoH

This article also:

http://find-mba.com/articles/uk-visa-issues-staying-in-the-country-after-an-mba

The situation is a bit mixed. There are fewer foreign students staying in the UK today than there were pre-Financial Crisis, but the numbers are rising again.

Duncan,

I am in dilemma on how choose : IE or IMD for Jan 2017. I will be employed and will return to my company promoted to strategist. I have 10 years of experience in telecom industry and high tech. From the initial search, it seems IMD is stronger in brand and reputation, but the issue is the alumni in my region, IE enjoys strong presence and in particular, my industry, the telecom industry. Our VP did his MBA in IE, the other operator's CFO also has IE MBA. When I met them I was impressed by the warm welcome, down to earth attitude, and loyalty to the school. IMD on the other hand has little alumni and they don't seem to be supportive as IE people. Although, I am employed, still will look for better chances in the future, where I believe (from the impression that I have got) IE alumni will be more supportive. I would appreciate it highly if you share some thought.
Kind Regards,

Interesting question. To be honest, it never occurred to me that anyone would attend IE if IMD was an offer unless they either needed a Spanish-speaking network (in which case, take a less demanding course there) or just didn't want to work very hard (of course IE is demanding but IMD is at a much higher level). That said, you are right that IE alumni are very Latin, with everything that means, and IMD alumni are.... not so much. I do think that the IE network is more helpful and active, partly because they are much more junior on average.

Interesting question. To be honest, it never occurred to me that anyone would attend IE if IMD was an offer unless they either needed a Spanish-speaking network (in which case, take a less demanding course there) or just didn't want to work very hard (of course IE is demanding but IMD is at a much higher level). That said, you are right that IE alumni are very Latin, with everything that means, and IMD alumni are.... not so much. I do think that the IE network is more helpful and active, partly because they are much more junior on average.

Sorry I wasn't clear. When I said that IE students are more junior, I don't mean that they are necessarily older or younger but that they arrive from more junior roles in which they are earning less. On the other hand, that makes it easier for them to have higher percentage increases in salary. However, it also means that IMD is *much* more successful at placement (26th worldwide, and 2nd in Europe) than IE (73rd worldwide and 13th in Europe), according to the FT rankings. IMD is certainly a niche school: it's tiny and there is an intensely connected family since they are the only full-time students in a luxurious executive education centre in a small Swiss city. IE is different. It is a huge, multi-site, business school in a vast capital with many other attractions pulling people off campus.

In terms of value, both schools rate well in the FT ranking: IMD is 5th and IE is 23rd. IMD also get more alumni recommendations, which is remarkable for such a small school and reflects the greater prestige of IMD as a luxury brand (even if that means IMD people tend to network more extensively into roles and often take longer to accept an offer). IE is more accessible, like other for-profit schools.

I certainly don't think that IE is a weak choice, especially if the Spanish-speaking markets are where your future is. IMD will probably give you a better education and make you a better manager, but only if the setting works for you. If you fundamentally are choosing Madrid over Lausanne, or the Latin culture over the central European, well perhaps that is fine. But viewed dispassionately as a business decision, most MBAs would rate IMD as the better asset to invest in.

[Edited by Duncan on May 28, 2016]

Duncan,

Thank you very much for your informative reply. You said "most MBAs would rate IMD as the better asset to invest in.", how much IMD is better than IE? how big the gap between them? Is it fair to ignore all factors of alumni loyalty and support, less expensive, and more enjoyable program, just because IMD is better overall? You may say yes, but how long its superiority will last? I am looking for the long term value? Because the immediate value (for me) is to have the opportunity I am looking for with the support of the alumni.

I think you have obviously made up your mind, and that is fine. It's not my role to chance your mind. IMD is an older and more stable institution than IE, and it's much less likely to mutate or risk its brand. I think the IMD alumni network is not to be underestimated. These are potent people who are loyal: as you will know, three-in-five students at IMD are there because of a referral from an alumnus. The connections that you will use the most - with the other people in your cohort - will be closer. Enjoyability is subjective. A course that challenges you the most and develops you the most could be the more enjoyable for some people.

I am not sure that the immediate value is the support of the alumni. Networking takes time. The immediate value is the transformation of yourself.

The other reason why IE alumni are more junior is that the MBA is not the only degree. There is a bigger undergraduate and preexperience masters cohort.

The other reason why IE alumni are more junior is that the MBA is not the only degree. There is a bigger undergraduate and preexperience masters cohort.

Indeed, IMD is around 30 years older than IE (1946). It has always had a strong corporate orientation, and its core market is executive programs for managers, while IMD is much more entrepreneurial and it focusses on full-time courses for younger people. The IMD students very much seem like Mercedes CLS types. IMD students feel more like a Land Rover Evoque or a BMW Active Tourer.

ESADE and IE are very different. ESADE has a semi-institutional role in Catalan society. It has a different scholarly position internationally, producing more widely-cited research (although those staff at IE who are research-active punch above their weight) and can place PhDs into world-class schools. It has a global profile in the Jesuit community. That's not like IE, which is more pragmatic and deeply tied into different networks.

PS Honestly, spend 24 hours in both schools. See how the students have grown: compare their ability to think, to be self-aware and to be successful.

[Edited by Duncan on May 29, 2016]

Indeed, IMD is around 30 years older than IE (1946). It has always had a strong corporate orientation, and its core market is executive programs for managers, while IMD is much more entrepreneurial and it focusses on full-time courses for younger people. The IMD students very much seem like Mercedes CLS types. IMD students feel more like a Land Rover Evoque or a BMW Active Tourer.

ESADE and IE are very different. ESADE has a semi-institutional role in Catalan society. It has a different scholarly position internationally, producing more widely-cited research (although those staff at IE who are research-active punch above their weight) and can place PhDs into world-class schools. It has a global profile in the Jesuit community. That's not like IE, which is more pragmatic and deeply tied into different networks.

PS Honestly, spend 24 hours in both schools. See how the students have grown: compare their ability to think, to be self-aware and to be successful.

You need to review some Spanish car parks. BMW Active Tourer is very popular. Family won't fit in a BMW X6.

keep in mind that a school with such a long tradition as ESADE has a huge global Alumni network, and that is what you should look for when looking for a Business School.