tgrlil wrote:
I have a general question about mid tier US vs European MBAs. I am currently working in the US and although I believe I will live in Europe long term, I am almost certain to return to the US after an MBA. With that in mind, is it worth going to a school like Cambridge Judge or Oxford Said to then immediately return to the US? Do you have any thoughts on how this might be viewed and what US MBA might be equivalent in a US job search?
Thanks!
Much - although not all! - of the value of an MBA is the network and reputation of that program in the country in which you plan to live. In your case that is tricky because you plan to live in the US for a while but make your long-term home in Europe. For that reason, I feel it is critical for you to attend a program with a large alumni base in the US but also a strong reputation in Europe. In that case, I believe Oxford is the winner, with 15% of its class moving the US (compared with Cambridge's 9%). Also Oxford has over 2000 living MBA alumni but Cambridge has only 1300.
Depending on your age, goals, and experience, you may want to pursue something like the EMBA-Global Americas and Europe in which you learn at both LBS and Columbia. That is one option that spans both continents and will prepare you for both. Or you could attend a US program (which is 2 years) and do an exchange semester in Europe (which typically are 1-year MBA programs), if your school is a member of a partnership like
PIM.