ESADE vs ESSEC (non-EEA student)
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29 Nov 2016, 18:48
Hello all!
I have just received the admission results from the MiM programs I've applied to. Yes, I understand that this is part of the MBA sub-forum, but please read on.
I applied to 3 schools for their MiM programs: ESADE and ESSEC, and the results are as follows (the ranking is from FT MiM 2016):
ESSEC (#3) - accepted to the ESSEC program; 20.000 € scholarship (it was offered to me directly; I didn't even apply to any.)
ESADE (#9) - accepted to both the MSc and CEMS programs; no scholarship.
After comparing all the major factors, I couldn't make a decision. Firstly, I didn't want to make a decision solely on the "ranking" (though I have read FT's methodology and I agree with most of it.) Secondly, I am in a fortunate situation that money is not really an issue here (though the 20k scholarship would help A LOT.)
Moreover, maybe it's just the lack of confidence part of me speaking, I am not one of the "best" students, I would only consider myself slightly "above average". (I only got 640 in GMAT.) I feel that it's kinda weird for ESSEC to offer me such a big scholarship; it makes me feel that they are desperate to get students... (Please let me know if it's stupid of me thinking this.)
At last, I decided to look at their respective MBA rankings and alumni network and this is where my questions come in.
I was surprised to find the ESSEC is not even ranked by most organisations/media! I was also shocked to find that ESADE is ranked much higher than I expected.
My question is, given that as an MSc/MiM student, I will have access to (to a certain degree) the MBA and/or school's alumni network. Should I pick either ESADE/HEC over ESSEC because of it? Do any MBA applicants to these 2 schools have a similar dilemma? Could someone shed some light on their perspective alumni network (or the opportunities I have access to the MBA side as an MSc student?)
EDIT - I emailed the MBA officer at ESSEC and he told me that the reason why ESSEC MBA is not ranked, it's because that the program is still fairly new; they are only graduating their 5th class in 2016.