Hi,


I have a GMAT score of 680[Q49,V34] and have 6.5 years of work-experience IT with a focus on Banking and Financial Services.
I have a less medium-more strong profile in terms of acads and extra-curricular activities.
I have some international work-ex and will actually start leading a team this year.
This is just a brief.

Please suggest what schools should be in my shooting range.

I am looking at a Sept 2015 or Jan 2016 intake and a 1 year MBA.

Please can the expert advisors on this forum pitch in with his/her opinions on this.

Many thanks,
Mallika

Without knowing your career goals, it's impossible to answer this meaningfully.

Take a look at:-

GMAT Tiers - strong schools for your GMAT www.find-mba.com/board/27082

Which schools start when http://www.find-mba.com/board/41131

PS If you are looking for a one-year MBA I assume that you want a modest change (i.e. only one out of country, function and industry). Look within the high-quality schools for the MBAs with the best support for the variable you want to change (e.g. no point going to the USA if you want to move to London). Also take a look at http://find-mba.com/lists/top-business-school-by-speciality/top-business-schools-for-a-career-in-finance-or-financial-services

[Edited by Duncan on Apr 17, 2015]

Hi Duncan,

I am focused on Program Management. I have ruled out the UK as I wouldn't get a visa easily with the new rules. Singapore and HK will be a bit of a stretch 16 months..So Europe it is for me.I am looking at a school that will give me a solid degree and will have close proximity to the business+technology world. I am considering Rotterdam-Erasmus, EDHEC and TIAS. Which ones can I add to this list?
Also, I think i will be able to pick up the basics of any language in an year.

Thanks,
Mallika

[Edited by Mallika Hunsur on Apr 17, 2015]

I can't imagine what sort of MBA role would involve only the basics of a language. Doesn't programme management involve a lot of coordination with clients and suppliers?

I can't imagine what sort of MBA role would involve only the basics of a language. Doesn't programme management involve a lot of coordination with clients and suppliers?

[Edited by Mallika Hunsur on Apr 18, 2015]

On the basis of more than ten years work advising MBA students, candidates and schools, I believe that you are mistaken. I suggest you read the comment by the St Gallen MBA programme on my post at http://board.find-mba.com/europe/do-you-need-to-speak-the-local-language-29546

On the basis of more than ten years work advising MBA students, candidates and schools, I believe that you are mistaken. I suggest you read the comment by the St Gallen MBA programme on my post at http://board.find-mba.com/europe/do-you-need-to-speak-the-local-language-29546

I have a list here: Which schools start when http://www.find-mba.com/board/41131

I have a list here: Which schools start when http://www.find-mba.com/board/41131

RSM has much better standing in the rankings than EDHEC. The placement rate and international mobility stats are pretty good as well.

Not sure why the school's career services gets poor reviews -- maybe it has something to do with the reviewers not being able to be placed in a country where they don't actually speak the language? But maybe try to connect with alumni -- from both schools -- to get a real sense of how their respective career services operate.

There was a long thread about this (which I guess the other person has found) at RSM, and I think a big issue was the expectation of students who expected a European school to place students in the same way an Indian school does. And, more broadly, expectations are higher at a higher-ranked school like RSM. That said, RSM is not in the high position it was in 15 years ago, then it had a US-style long MBA and was a European-level school. Now it is still strong, but more of a national player as the German MBA market has emerged. Either way, EDHEC does have great careers services.

There was a long thread about this (which I guess the other person has found) at RSM, and I think a big issue was the expectation of students who expected a European school to place students in the same way an Indian school does. And, more broadly, expectations are higher at a higher-ranked school like RSM. That said, RSM is not in the high position it was in 15 years ago, then it had a US-style long MBA and was a European-level school. Now it is still strong, but more of a national player as the German MBA market has emerged. Either way, EDHEC does have great careers services.

I think these are both strong schools. Some people say that Dutch is easier to learn than French if you already speak English, because Dutch is a close relative.

EDHEC is more highly ranked than RSM now (14th in Europe http://www.economist.com/whichmba/edhec-business-school/2014) by The Economist, but the small class size still makes it hard to get into the FT ranking. EDHEC's campus in Singapore gives it excellent profile there, but the school is nowhere near as well known as RSM.

RSM is now 20th in Europe (http://www.economist.com/whichmba/erasmus-university-rotterdam-school-management/2014) according to The Economist. The "Recruiters" tab in The Economist ranking shows how far that school has fallen. Honestly, any student who did not have a strong personal connection to The Netherlands would choose EDHEC.

So, I suggest you go to France as soon as you can and start on an intensive French course.

January starts can be challenging, because the September students are there already. I guess you have read the PDF on their website about the difference. Personally, I think the two-month summer gap is a huge asset in Europe, and that's why HEC, IMD and INSEAD also offer a January start so that students can still aim for a summer internship. You could also use that time for more language training.

[Edited by Duncan on Apr 23, 2015]

I think these are both strong schools. Some people say that Dutch is easier to learn than French if you already speak English, because Dutch is a close relative.

EDHEC is more highly ranked than RSM now (14th in Europe http://www.economist.com/whichmba/edhec-business-school/2014) by The Economist, but the small class size still makes it hard to get into the FT ranking. EDHEC's campus in Singapore gives it excellent profile there, but the school is nowhere near as well known as RSM.

RSM is now 20th in Europe (http://www.economist.com/whichmba/erasmus-university-rotterdam-school-management/2014) according to The Economist. The "Recruiters" tab in The Economist ranking shows how far that school has fallen. Honestly, any student who did not have a strong personal connection to The Netherlands would choose EDHEC.

So, I suggest you go to France as soon as you can and start on an intensive French course.

January starts can be challenging, because the September students are there already. I guess you have read the PDF on their website about the difference. Personally, I think the two-month summer gap is a huge asset in Europe, and that's why HEC, IMD and INSEAD also offer a January start so that students can still aim for a summer internship. You could also use that time for more language training.

I think you can answer this yourself. Look at the data about the schools and compare it to your goals.

I think you can answer this yourself. Look at the data about the schools and compare it to your goals.

Well, I think those are never the only choices. The parameters are always the candidates' goals, so those also vary. For placement, EDHEC is stronger.

Well, I think those are never the only choices. The parameters are always the candidates' goals, so those also vary. For placement, EDHEC is stronger.

The German-speaking part of Belgium is very, very small. In the area where Vlerick is, the language is Flemish (a dialect of Dutch).

I think you have to focus on the value of the outcomes. These are much larger than the difference in costs.

The FT rankings are useful but there are some great schools that have too few students to get into the FT rankings, like Ashridge, EDHEC and Edinburgh. You have to use all the information you have available.

The German-speaking part of Belgium is very, very small. In the area where Vlerick is, the language is Flemish (a dialect of Dutch).

I think you have to focus on the value of the outcomes. These are much larger than the difference in costs.

The FT rankings are useful but there are some great schools that have too few students to get into the FT rankings, like Ashridge, EDHEC and Edinburgh. You have to use all the information you have available.