Hi everyone,

I need help. I've been admitted to HEC and Edhec's MBAs. HEC gave me a 16.000 euro scholarship (tuition would be 60.000) and Edhec gave me a 30% scholarship (tuition 29.000). I know HEC is number 1 in France and has an international reputation. However, as a background I would have to get a loan for everything, tuition plus living fees so my debt would be twice as big with HEC.

I honestly don't know what to do. I am a Colombian woman, 29, with a background in psychology and startups and I want to work in tourism or in a social company (but im not closed to anything). I also want to stay in Europe after graduation. I'm not sure if given my interests i would really get much better opportunities at HEC and much better salaries to make up for the debt cause Edhec is still a very good school.

I appreciate any opinions!! Im very very confused and need to decide this month.
Thank you!

You don't need an MBA to get into tourism or a social enterprise. If you want to work in France, learn French in a diplome universitaire. 

With those career goals, it will be hard to work in an MBA-level capacity, in those fields, without language fluency. If you speak French, then your options are better. But if you were to open your goals up to more traditional post-MBA fields (finance, consulting, etc.) then your options widen. In most cases, HEC is probably the safer bet. 

I would go to HEC hands down. I would take debt because HEC is regarded as one of the best schools in France. Edhec does not have a very good reputation. Trust me take the debt you will never regret it. Worse case you repay it after 3 years but have a much much better degree with more reach and reputation. 
PS: Also from Colombia! Suerte ;) 

That's a ridiculous comment to make about EDHEC. It's in the top five French business schools in the vast majority of rankings produced in the last 20 years. Those rankings reflect outcomes for students. 
- Figaro https://etudiant.lefigaro.fr/etudes/ecoles-de-commerce/classement/ 
- l'Etudant https://www.letudiant.fr/palmares/liste-profils/palmares-des-grandes-ecoles-de-commerce/palmares-general-des-grandes-ecoles-de-commerce/home.html#indicateurs=900709,900710,900711&criterias

Hi StuartHE, I agree with you for France but in continental europe it does not have the same ranking or reputation. Between both, I think any french student would take HEC without even blinking but after it is her choice to decide, we are here only to give our advice (based on our experience). Good luck with your choice! 

[Edited by Andy776 on Jul 04, 2021]

That is nothing to do with EDHEC having a bad reputation. That's to do with national labour markets, and the fact that most French students study in French, meaning that most alumni are in France. The number five business school in the UK (Imperial) does not have the same ranking or recognition as the number one (London Business School), and that same s true of the first and fifth school in any country. Does Imperial have a *bad* reputation? Does HHL, the number 5 in Germany? Does Dartmouth College, the number 5 MBA in the USA? It's a really odd way to frame the market for business education. 

With all my respect, this is how it works informally in business. The better university you go to and the more respect you get (ESPECIALLY in France). Also, the more competitive and the more opportunities you get as a person! I agree it is sad to frame but it is how it works in real life! 

[Edited by Andy776 on Jul 04, 2021]

I don't think you are engaging with the discussion. Are you making the point that HEC has a better reputation than EDHEC, or are you claiming that EDHEC has a bad reputation? 

The only thing I am saying is that HEC has a much better reputation but that does not take out the credit of EDHEC. It is a good university if you aim to work in France on the long term :) 

[Edited by Andy776 on Jul 05, 2021]

I mean, this is what you said:

Edhec does not have a very good reputation.

In Europe, it does not.

But, it is not my goal to "attack" the reputation of the university but I am speaking on my name and the experience I have. 

By no means, this is the truth. 

[Edited by Andy776 on Jul 07, 2021]

I don't think you are engaging with the discussion. Are you making the point that HEC has a better reputation than EDHEC, or are you claiming that EDHEC has a bad reputation? 

With all my respect, I replied to your question :)

I think you are not brave enough to say why you think Edhec has a bad reputation. It's ridiculous innuendo. 

Well, Edhec is really recognised in France. However, only the best ones in a country are recognised globally. The only exception is the UK and the US. Going to like a top 5 in another country does not make sense, except if you want to stay in the country. PS: I have studied in a business school, worked and studied abroad. Got some experience to say :)

[Edited by Andy776 on Jul 11, 2021]

I am glad I have your experience to learn from. As you can see from my profile page, I am pretty much a beginner at this. 

But still, there is a difference between not being well known and having a bad reputation. Very few people in the US know HEC, Insead, LBS, IESE. iMD etc and the average employer will prefer local universities. That doesn't mean they have a bad reputation. 

Hi, Duncan! I know that you are very knowledgeable about this but the same applies unfortunately to Europe. 

Do you think a lot of Europeans know about Caltech, Northwestern or Dartmouth?
I agree with you it does not mean that they have a bad reputation but in the end it really helps if you go the best university in the country ;) (reputation and job opportunity wise) 

Indeed, Stuart gave the same example of Dartmouth above. It has low brand equity in Europe, but it doesn't have a bad reputation here. However, you said EDHEC does has a bad reputation here.

Well, I find it a very odd to compare Dartmouth to Edhec. They have nothing to do (plus the US is way different than France). Just to end the discussion, the university has a good reputation in France. But for your future international prospects, it is ALWAYS better to go for the best university in the country (despite taking on some debt that will repay itself in a few years). The difference in what you can achieve (with the reputation + network) is HUGE. All the best with your choice, Maria ;) 

[Edited by Andy776 on Jul 12, 2021]