Hello all! First post here, but been a reader for a while. I've found this place to be a great source of info on top European programmes. But there has been very little activity on one which I found in my research very attractive: ESADE. So I'm trying to get your views on this school, and see if anyone else is/has considered applying. Here's the main info I've gathered on ESADE: Rankings : It ranks consistently in top-10 in Europe, #7 by the FT to be precise, and #4 by Business Week. It's also been rising in the rankings consistently. bsd-lover's school clustering (sorry I can't link it in as it's my first post) puts it in Near Elite - I wouldn't argue with that, although IMO it's a bit of a strech for Cranfield and Warwick to be considered here. Advantages(?) over other programmes : So as all top-ranked schools, it will have good academics, diverse and impressive student body, good alumni network, etc. But I thought a few points made it stand out: - Flexibility: you can do the programme in 12, 15, or 18 months. This is a great plus for me as I'm not sure how long I'll want to be studying or whether I'll want to do an exchange/internship or not - not many schools seem to offer this other than LBS (15/18/21) - Atmosphere: I can't verify this, but the word seems to be that they have a great collaborative atmosphere among students (although I'm pretty sure it's like that in other top European MBAs), and also that staff and professors are very close and personal with students. They also have smaller class sizes for a more 'personal approach' - Location: Barcelona seems to me like a pretty awesome place to live in, especially if you go with a partner/family (as opposed to say Fontainebleau/Lausanne/Oxford/Cambridge where I think it might be tricky for them to settle in) What do you guys think? Has anyone considered applying? Or am I missing a point which makess ESADE less attractive to you compared with Oxbridge/IE/IESE/IMD? Looking forward to hearing your thoughts. I've applied in Round 1, along with LBS.

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ChrisMac

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02 Jun 2010, 09:12

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So I'm in a little bit of a bind, wondering if you guys have any ideas. Just got my app in for the 5/30 Round at ESADE (I didn't think I'd be able to finance it earlier this year but a bonus came in), but it looks like decisions won't be awarded until July 15.

Does anyone know how firm that date is? Problem is I just got accepted into Oxford, and while I'm excited about this, ESADE is far and away my #1 choice. Yet Oxford's deposit deadline is June 28, and I doubt I can ask them to extend it.

I've emailed my admissions coordinator asking about the likelihood for a decision earlier than July (admittedly, I don't even know if I'll get an interview

), but was wondering what you all think about the situation.

Thanks!

cptoronto

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02 Jun 2010, 17:35

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ESADE is very good at getting back to you quickly. They get back to you in about two weeks regarding an interview, then another two weeks for a decision...so it looks like you may just be able to make it by June 28th.

Hope you make it to Barcelona!

feel

Joined: 25 Mar 2010

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03 Jun 2010, 01:13

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ChrisMac

), but was wondering what you all think about the situation.

Thanks!

hi Chris, I submitted my application on MAY 22, had an interview one week later and the positive final decision yesterday, so you have time! In addition to that, if you tell them about your deadline, they will go even faster in their decision. Can I ask you which is your profile ? All the best !

UK2010Please

Joined: 15 Apr 2010

Last visit: 30 Jun 2010

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Location: USA

Schools:Edinburgh, Cranfield, ESADE

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03 Jun 2010, 06:19

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ChrisMac & Feel - Can both of you provide details on your profiles? I just submitted my app to ESADE and am anxiously awaiting their decisions as to whether they want to interview.

Thanks and congrats to those who have been accepted!

feel

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03 Jun 2010, 06:29

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UK2010Please

i'm italian, 32 and i work in a small financial asset management italian company. i'd like to have an international experience and switch to a job closer to industry e.g. starting from financial consultancy. GMAT score 720.

UK2010Please

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03 Jun 2010, 06:35

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feel

UK2010Please

Thanks! I'm coming from a small NYC asset manager looking to get into renewables and I too am looking for the international exposure.

Europe is moving along in the renewable space faster than we are in the US so I am solely applying to European schools.

Congrats on your admit. Hopefully I can share the same good news in the near future.

feel

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03 Jun 2010, 06:38

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UK2010Please

feel

UK2010Please

nooooo i cant believe it ! I forgot to write that me too i'm looking to get into renewables and it is one of the reasons I applied to ESADE! I really hope you will be accepted and enrolled!

ChrisMac

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03 Jun 2010, 11:28

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Thanks, feel and cptoronto, and congrats on the admits!

Wow, my adcom is fantastic. She got back to me today and said I passed the first round and will be interviewing, and she'll see if they can also get the decision made by June 28 as well. Love it!

Profile: 33, M, from the US, 710 GMAT, in marketing now but looking to take it global. Fingers crossed that the Global Marketing scholarship will still be up for grabs by the end of the month.

maivietdung2002

Joined: 15 May 2010

Last visit: 13 Jan 2014

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Concentration: International Business

Schools:ESADE, THUNDERBIRD, EMLYON, IVEY, SMURFIT

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06 Jun 2010, 01:27

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feel

from the US, 710 GMAT, in marketing now but looking to take it global. Fingers crossed that the Global Marketing scholarship will still be up for grabs by the end of the month

Hi Chrish, strong GMAT score :D, I too would like to explore global business. :D

All the best and hope to see you in Barcelona.

meghash3

Joined: 24 Mar 2010

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Concentration: Finance, projects

Schools:INSEAD - dinged; IE-admit; ISB - admit; IIMB-admit; SPJain- admit; IIM C- Admit, IIM A - Dinged after interview. Finally joining IIM B

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10 Jun 2010, 10:46

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guys, i plan to apply for ESADE, Do i have a chance now? or its already too late. my gmat is on 16th july...pl advise on some good schools to apply after that date

ChrisMac

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Updated on: 11 Jun 2010, 04:49

Originally posted by ChrisMac on 10 Jun 2010, 11:49.
Last edited by ChrisMac on 11 Jun 2010, 04:49, edited 1 time in total.

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meghash3

guys, i plan to apply for ESADE, Do i have a chance now? or its already too late. my gmat is on 16th july...pl advise on some good schools to apply after that date

Hey, Meghash. You could email them to confirm, but they said 5/30 was the final deadline for all non-EU applications. Most other schools are wrapped up now too, though there's a few like IE and Cranfield that have rolling decisions, and even if they can't place you in their fall class they'll just defer you to their Spring '11 class. Probably your best shot?

maivietdung2002

Joined: 15 May 2010

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10 Jun 2010, 16:03

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Yeah, and also some have January intake, you still have plenty of time for it.

meghash3

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11 Jun 2010, 02:56

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guys,
Is there still socpe for applying for the Dec 10/jan 11 intake for ESADE. I am taking GMAT on 16th july.

bajargyan

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11 Jun 2010, 04:31

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ESADE only has fall Intake.. Dec/Jan intake are in RSM Erasmus and IE i think.

If you are interested in going to ESADE then you will have to apply in September-october 2010 for Aug 2011 program!...

good luck!

ChrisMac

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11 Jun 2010, 04:50

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INSEAD also has January admissions. I think IE is April.

UK2010Please

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15 Jun 2010, 10:34

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Any results on those applying at the end of May?

ChrisMac

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15 Jun 2010, 10:39

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Had the interview on Friday, no word yet.

Posted from my mobile device

ChrisMac

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17 Jun 2010, 05:02

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Got the accept email this morning, couldn't be more excited.

17-day turnaround from application to admission? Love those guys.

RAJAHSINGH

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10 Jul 2011, 01:06

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I was reading the ESADE test question posted elsewhere, which had a long introductory blurb extolling the school's 'virtues'. This is what I think.

Before tackling the question, I would dispel some of the untruths contained in the preamble. These are:

(1) Promoting a juster society. ESADE makes the right noises and some of the students go off into the bush to build huts in South America and that kind of stuff but the school has no real interest in doing the things that would make a real difference: curbing multinationals, ending the winner-takes-all ethos, stopping the corporate take-over of goveernment and so on. ESADE is always blowing its CSR trumpet but it is all so much hot air. The school was founded during the Franco dictatorship and much of its retrograde social ethos and make-up lingers on.
(2) ESADE's' interest' in the environment and green tech is a bad joke. Spain is one of the most least environmentally aware countries in Europe and ESADE exemplifies this attitude in spades.
(3) When it says 'international' it means a large number of students are from South America and so are also Spanish-speaking. The institution's mind set is irremediably 'Spanish' and this is a handicap. If you want to learn Spanish, do something else. Besides, Barcelona is in Catalonia and that means you will have Catalan to contend with too. If you want to learn business, choose a real English-speaking institution because ESADE is not it.
(4) The School is underfunded and it shows in a thousand ways: 'me-too research', swathes of part-time lecturers, teaching resources far behind the cutting edge and so on.

ESADE might suit you if you have to choose a third-tier business school but you could also do a lot better.

maivietdung2002

Joined: 15 May 2010

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Schools:ESADE, THUNDERBIRD, EMLYON, IVEY, SMURFIT

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11 Jul 2011, 14:00

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Hi Rajah,

You might want to change your negative opinions about ESADE, I am going to be a 2nd year MBA student at ESADE soon and so far my experience has been awesome. I am currently doing my internship at Naturix, one of the 10 social businesses chosen by Momentum Project (an initiative of ESADE & BBVA). I am dealing with environmental, social issues... There are also tons of seminars, activities going on with the same topics... In terms of internationality, there are 46 nationalities last year, and 45 the one before that, i don't how many there are this year. You can take a look at our "ESADE lipdub" and count up to 46, I am pretty sure that the majority doesn't come neither from Spain nor South America

(just google it).
BTW, I was also contacted by Mckinsey today, so wish me luck

Good luck,

D.