Hello everyone, I wonder which is more important? to choose a more ranking school or to choose a program? Just as the comparison, I got the admission to Audencia MBA, but I am not sure if there will be a better future if I plan to work in consulting field after graduation, compared with MSc Strategy & Management of International Business of ESSEC. (MBA fee in ESSEC is so high, I cannot afford it. ) The alumni network in ESSEC is a big advantage as reported. So I don't know how to choose. Which is more worthy?

I plan to work for one year in France after graduation and then choose wether stay in France or not. Besides, I have not related working experience about consulting. But I have 3 years working experience in Government and environmental field. I am worried if I can find a consulting job in France after graduation.

I choose France because I like to experience the life in France and want to study in a French native country to practice my French. I have studied a little French but not proficiency. And my boyfriend is living in North Africa and maybe I will live there in the future. So I need to speak French.

Could you please give some suggestion? Thanks in advance.

It sounds like you would get more professional leverage in France by learning French. ESSEC is indeed a better school than Audencia but without fluent French what work could you gain there?

Thank you Duncan. I know fluent French is really important to find a job. I wonder:
First, does speaking French fluently count more than the school ? For example, a Andencia student with fluent French or an ESSEC student with basic French, which one does companies prefer?
Second, suppose I can speak French fluently, Audencia MBA and MSc in ESSEC, does companies prefer the specilization or the school tier?
Many thanks!

An Audencia student with fluent French is much more useful than an ESSEC student with basic French unless the ESSEC student has prior experience that makes their masters unnecessary. An Audencia MBA with fluent French will get around $85k and an ESSEC MSc students more like $55k. The MBA premium for ESSEC is around 30%, so an ESSEC MBA will be around $109k.

Thank you very much! Duncan. It's much more clear for me now. So helpful.

Hello Duncan,

I have got offer from DCU Ireland for MSc Business Management and Audencia Business School for International Masters in Management. I also got offer from Coventry London for MBA in International Marketing. i have 3 years of experience in Mechanical Engineering. Now i want to upgrade my role to management side.
I am confused which college to choose, i have gone through the pros cons for all three institutions, which made me more confused in taking proper decison as time is very less to decide.

Audencia Business School: Good ranking, nice exposure and industrial relations with average salary, but French is must. I am a beginer in French.

Dublin City University: Nice college with average reputaion with English language, but getting a job in Ireland post studies is really tough and not easy within stipulated time range.

Coventry London: Good exposure due to its presence in London city centre, English Speaking but expensive city with visa restrictions and max students has to return their home country post studies.

I am from India, and want to do job post studies for some years. Kindly give me soe genuine advise on which college to choose because i am not unable to come on any conclusion

Ask Audencia about the success rates of non-French speakers landing jobs after the program. The program's international mobility stats aren't great in the FT, so I'm not sure that the added value of having a ranked program would be super useful to you over studying at an accredited program (DCU) in a country where you speak the language.

Did you apply to any other programs?

Hi,
I have received admission to the Audencia MiM program with a scholarship. 
I would like to know whether I should wait for a year to get admit from Essec's SMIB program or should I go ahead with Audencia. I'm at B1 level in French.
Also, are the Management programs from universities such as Science Po considered equivalent to the Grande Ecole programs?

Depending on your goals, taking the extra time to improve your French and attend Essec is a great choice for most people in your position. 

Thank you for the response. However, age is a big consideration in my case. 

PS Sciences Po *is* a grande école. Its just not a grande école de commerce.

So Grande Ecole de Commerce is preferred at the time of recruitment or universities like Science Po? 
PS: I'm ineligible to apply for the MIM programs at Top 5 business schools but can pursue a Master's degree at Science Po in management course starting in 2023.

Sciences Po is the EU's leading school of political science: it's great for recruitment into diplomacy, international organisations like the EU and OECD, into the public sector, into highly regulated industries.  The grandes écoles de commerce are great for recruitment into the private sector. ESSEC for example places people into big enterprises, consulting firms, banks and tech firms. 

Hi Duncan,
Thanks for clarifying. I just want to know whether I should go again through the admission process to get admitted into ESSEC or Science Po in 2023, or shall join AUDENCIA in September 2022. Is it worth the wait considering I'm in my early 30's.

I think it's worth reading through all of the threads you and I have discussed on since last year. We're close to just repeating ourselves. It all hinges on your goals and language skills. If you want to work in France, you know I think you should come to a French university now, attend a language school with the FLE certification, and then take a degree taught in French at the best available school. Your age matters much less than your language skills and the quality of the school. 

After that, if you want to work in commerce then go to a business school, and if you want to work in the public policy or non-profit sphere then attend an IEP like Sciences Po.

[Edited by Duncan on May 25, 2022]

Yes, you're absolutely right but admissions to business schools are a tough decision and confusing at the same time since the cost and post-study career are very important components to look into.
And thanks for always replying to my doubts :)

Focus on clarifying your goals, then it's easier  

Thanks, Stuart for the advice.