Hello all,
I am a 33yo Indian chief officer and certified captain working on oil/chemical tankers (maritime, O&G, Logistics, Operations) with a total of 9 years of work ex. in a top shipping company.
Short term : Get into supply chain design/strategy and focusing of sustainability, preferably in Energy / O&G, or Amazon-like companies.
Backup : Operations management with focus on sustainability, preferably in Energy / O&G.
Long term : Start own venture in sustainable supply chain/manufacturing in global/Indian maritime sector.
Geography no constraint.
GRE Score : Total 322(Q170 V152 AWA4.0)

Very confused between :
1. US vs EU/UK programs , or 2-yr vs 1-yr MBA : Factors such as ROI, Niche background, extensive experience, current job market, opportunities, etc. Is it worth taking a huge financial commitment in US programs, and 1 additional year out of employment, when I'm aware that I'd have a difficult time making it to MBBs and Big4s and when I'm not very keen on them. Plus I'm not very sure on the opportunities that I would get in the USA.
2. MBA program within EU/UK : Have come to know through various interactions with Alumni/current students that the institute name does not matter much to the employers in EU. Going just by the brand of the program, paying bills doesn't seem a good idea. Eg, IMD vs. Mannheim. Do these high-cost MBAs actually offer something unique or am I just paying for the ranking? On the other hand, whether lower ranked schools such as Mannheim and RSM are equally productive for my profile, considering the strategic location and economy of the country.

Schools shortlisted for USA (with planned improved GRE score) : Tuck, Duke, Ross, Tepper, Emory and Kenan-flagler.
Schools shortlisted for EU/UK : HEC, IMD, Ox SAID, Rotterdam School of mgmt, Mannheim, MAYBE INSEAD.

Experts please assist in the selection of program.

If employers don't care about the schools, how do you explain the enduring difference between the average salaries of graduates from the better and worse schools?

If employers don't care about the schools, how do you explain the enduring difference between the average salaries of graduates from the better and worse schools?

[Edited by shashankss3 on Aug 21, 2024]

You can answer most of these questions yourself. Look at https://rankings.ft.com/rankings/2954/european-business-school-rankings-2023 - Let's look at the gap between the highest and lowest-ranked schools in the major European countries in terms of average graduate salaries:

France: 116.9% gap
Italy: 107.0% gap
UK: 85.8% gap
Spain: 71.0% gap
Netherlands: 30.1% gap
Germany: 20.9% gap.

These are all excellent schools. Even the lowest-ranked school will have a median salary far ahead of the average of all MBAs in that country. But even between these excellent schools, there are massive differences. This is so easy to discover: Are you avoiding facts because you have already made a choice?

Your GRE score is broadly in line with a 650 GMAT, but you are targeting schools where you are not a competitive candidate. Because your work experience is not in roles that traditionally feed into MBAs, and since you are an older international applicant, most schools with a 650 GMAT will think you are harder to place into an MBA-level role. Here are a few suggestions:

United States

University of Washington (Foster): With a strong focus on innovation and entrepreneurship, Foster could be a great choice for your career aspirations.

Indiana University (Kelley): Kelley's emphasis on practical experience and strong alumni network could be beneficial for your transition into supply chain design and strategy.

Vanderbilt University (Owen): Owen's focus on leadership development and global perspective could align well with your experience and goals.


United Kingdom

Lancaster University Management School (LUMS): LUMS's emphasis on sustainability and social responsibility could be particularly relevant given your interest in this area.

Schrödinger's MBA applicant: says there's no difference between better and worse schools; targets primarily top-50 global MBAs like Dartmouth, Duke, Emory, HEC, IMD, INSEAD, Michigan, Oxford and UNC.

Your GRE score is broadly in line with a 650 GMAT, but you are targeting schools where you are not a competitive candidate. Because your work experience is not in roles that traditionally feed into MBAs, and since you are an older international applicant, most schools with a 650 GMAT will think you are harder to place into an MBA-level role. Here are a few suggestions:

United States

University of Washington (Foster): With a strong focus on innovation and entrepreneurship, Foster could be a great choice for your career aspirations.

Indiana University (Kelley): Kelley's emphasis on practical experience and strong alumni network could be beneficial for your transition into supply chain design and strategy.

Vanderbilt University (Owen): Owen's focus on leadership development and global perspective could align well with your experience and goals.


United Kingdom

Lancaster University Management School (LUMS): LUMS's emphasis on sustainability and social responsibility could be particularly relevant given your interest in this area.

Schrödinger's MBA applicant: says there's no difference between better and worse schools; targets primarily top-50 global MBAs like Dartmouth, Duke, Emory, HEC, IMD, INSEAD, Michigan, Oxford and UNC.

[Edited by shashankss3 on Aug 21, 2024]

You can answer most of these questions yourself. Look at https://rankings.ft.com/rankings/2954/european-business-school-rankings-2023 - Let's look at the gap between the highest and lowest-ranked schools in the major European countries in terms of average graduate salaries:

France: 116.9% gap
Italy: 107.0% gap
UK: 85.8% gap
Spain: 71.0% gap
Netherlands: 30.1% gap
Germany: 20.9% gap.

These are all excellent schools. Even the lowest-ranked school will have a median salary far ahead of the average of all MBAs in that country. But even between these excellent schools, there are massive differences. This is so easy to discover: Are you avoiding facts because you have already made a choice?

I think a small improvement in the verbal side of the test will be the best tactic. You are in the top ten per cent on both sides, but take a look at GMAT Tiers - strong schools for your GMAT www.find-mba.com/board/27082 to understand that as an Indian male, your chances are hampered as they make up a large part of the applicant pool. Your work experience will be very differently valued: on the one hand, you are not in a typical role for an MBA, which makes you hard to place. On the other hand, you will have outstanding leadership experience that office workers will rarely have. The right school will value you. So, I think RSM is great. And Bayes in London has always been robust for shipping. I also do wonder if MIT, Ross or Kellogg might be intrigued by you, especially if you have a more balanced GRE. I also wonder about NUS, SMU and the MSc programmes worldwide in the MIT Scale consortium.

@Duncan : Your post on GMAT Tiers is very insightful. Can you please elaborate on "You are in the top ten per cent on both sides" ? I couldn't quite get it.
My colleagues and seniors(basically ex-seafarers), almost my age or a tad younger have graduated from schools such as Duke, Ross, Insead, IMD, etc. Though their GMAT/GRE was above 700 level. Placement in today's scenario might be unpredictable, as you implied. The only thing that favors me is the unique leadership experience lol.
Thank you again for your input and valued suggestion.

On the verbal and quantitative side of the GRE, I think your scores are both in the top 10%.

On the verbal and quantitative side of the GRE, I think your scores are both in the top 10%.

Oh! In that case you definitely need to punch up your verbal score for any school that uses the case method. They will want to be sure you have the oral acuity needed for fast paced class rooms.

@Duncan : Sure Duncan, will get on it. Thank you. :)