Oxbridge MBA

malcus2020

2 3

Posted Feb 21, 2020 17:30

Hello everybody, I am hoping for some expert opinion to help me make my decision.

I am a European national who wants to transition into consulting (MBB preferably.)

Unfortunately I was rejected by both Insead and LBS.

Instead, Oxford and Cambridge are on the table. I have looked at LinkedIn and it seems like Cambridge has more alumni working in consulting in the UK than Oxford. Although both have a lot less than LBS. Cambridge is also doing better in the FT rankings.

So I am preferring Cambridge at this point. Are there any alternative views for Oxford? I am no longer considering any other schools.

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Duncan

14.007 15.473

Posted Feb 21, 2020 19:03

If you were American, then Oxford has more brand equity there. I would certainly take Cambridge.

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Inactive User

2.941 1.801

Posted Feb 24, 2020 15:40

You also might want to expand your target firms beyond just the MBB firms.

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malcus2020

2 3

Posted Feb 27, 2020 17:18

You also might want to expand your target firms beyond just the MBB firms.

Why? I'm already connecting with Oxbridge alumni at these firms. Do you think it's not possible to get a job in MBB with an Oxbridge MBA?

[quote]You also might want to expand your target firms beyond just the MBB firms.[/quote]
Why? I'm already connecting with Oxbridge alumni at these firms. Do you think it's not possible to get a job in MBB with an Oxbridge MBA?

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Duncan

14.007 15.473

Posted Feb 27, 2020 18:23

Because most Oxbridge people who want to work at MBB don't.

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aslamo

720 219

Posted Jun 29, 2020 09:14

What type of consulting do you want to get into? MBB aren't the only consulting firms around and each large consultancy in the UK has different service offering and sector strengths with different company cultures. Have you looked at the wider universe of consultancies? I'm assuming you're a typical consulting entrant in their mid-late 20s. I would recommend looking at a few other firms too. Here's one list of the most well thought of firms in the UK and there are others that you can find which are broken down by sector or service offering. https://www.consultancy.uk/news/23574/the-uks-60-leading-management-consulting-firms

What type of consulting do you want to get into? MBB aren't the only consulting firms around and each large consultancy in the UK has different service offering and sector strengths with different company cultures. Have you looked at the wider universe of consultancies? I'm assuming you're a typical consulting entrant in their mid-late 20s. I would recommend looking at a few other firms too. Here's one list of the most well thought of firms in the UK and there are others that you can find which are broken down by sector or service offering. <a href="https://www.consultancy.uk/news/23574/the-uks-60-leading-management-consulting-firms">https://www.consultancy.uk/news/23574/the-uks-60-leading-management-consulting-firms</a>

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Larry

556 212

Posted Jun 30, 2020 18:54

Interesting list. I find it a bit odd that so many MBAs focus on the MBBs. There are so many other consultancies out there, many of which snap up quite a few MBAs.

Firms like KPMG, accenture, pwc... these can provide fantastic career growth for MBAs and a lot of mobility in other ways.

Interesting list. I find it a bit odd that so many MBAs focus on the MBBs. There are so many other consultancies out there, many of which snap up quite a few MBAs. Firms like KPMG, accenture, pwc... these can provide fantastic career growth for MBAs and a lot of mobility in other ways.

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aslamo

720 219

Posted Jun 30, 2020 23:31

Interesting list. I find it a bit odd that so many MBAs focus on the MBBs. There are so many other consultancies out there, many of which snap up quite a few MBAs.

Firms like KPMG, accenture, pwc... these can provide fantastic career growth for MBAs and a lot of mobility in other ways.

That's what I was getting at. Also, consultancies can vary in their shape of org structure which can impact the types of experience and development opportunities when you are lower down the rung. A lot of large firms like Accenture are pyramids - a large army of junior to middle consultants at the bottom and a small number of partners. Other firms can be diamonds with relatively fewer junior staff and partners but relatively higher numbers of mid-senior grades. These tend to be more boutique/expert firms. This impacts the type of client assignments and work you might get involved in. I had much better exposure to senior client staff and more interesting work when I worked for firms that were more like diamonds.
That is just one nuance - there are others, which is why it pays to dig a bit below the surface and not just be blinded by the glamour of the MBB tag.
Don't get me wrong, having one of the MBB names on your CV will open up a lot of doors in your career but professional growth and development should be a big factor too.

[quote]Interesting list. I find it a bit odd that so many MBAs focus on the MBBs. There are so many other consultancies out there, many of which snap up quite a few MBAs. Firms like KPMG, accenture, pwc... these can provide fantastic career growth for MBAs and a lot of mobility in other ways.  [/quote] That's what I was getting at. Also, consultancies can vary in their shape of org structure which can impact the types of experience and development opportunities when you are lower down the rung. A lot of large firms like Accenture are pyramids - a large army of junior to middle consultants at the bottom and a small number of partners. Other firms can be diamonds with relatively fewer junior staff and partners but relatively higher numbers of mid-senior grades. These tend to be more boutique/expert firms. This impacts the type of client assignments and work you might get involved in. I had much better exposure to senior client staff and more interesting work when I worked for firms that were more like diamonds. That is just one nuance - there are others, which is why it pays to dig a bit below the surface and not just be blinded by the glamour of the MBB tag. Don't get me wrong, having one of the MBB names on your CV will open up a lot of doors in your career but professional growth and development should be a big factor too.

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