stolos1 wrote:
Hi,
I'm seeking advice on applying to business school in Europe. Some basic stats: I'm a US citizen, and graduated with a B.S. in Management & Technology from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. My GPA was solid (3.54 total, 4.0 my last 3 semesters). I also have solid work experience (3 years of consulting for Accenture/Big 5, followed by 3 years of Biz Dev for a leading Software company in Silicon Valley). Finally, I did very well on the the GMAT (770).
I was strongly considering Stanford GSB and HBS, until someone suggested that I consider looking into MBA programs at top schools outside of the US. My question is this: without any true international experience, and without fluently speaking another language, how difficult will it be to gain acceptance into a school like IMD (in Switzerland)?
Another thought/angle: since 2006 admission deadlines have passed for many of the European programs, I'm thinking about teaching business English in Eastern Europe to gain International experience. I figure that not only will it be a good chance to get a lesson in international culture and language, but that it will also open doors to potential business contacts for both near-term and long-term opportunity. Question is, will this strengthen or weaken my apps to b-school (both domestic and international)?
Any thoughts and/or advice you can provide is greatly appreciated.
I don't believe that IMD has a language requirement for acceptance. Certainly int'l experience will help you gain acceptance, but almost as important as past experience is showing that you have a good reason for wanting to attend IMD. You should also consider programs like LBS which still has 3 deadlines for 2006. BTW, we are hosting a
chat for LBSon December 5. BTW, IMD's deadlines for 2006 have not passed. The next one is February 1.
Regarding the year of teaching, it would certainly be a broadening experience, but I am not sure that teaching English will really give you the contacts you expect. If you want to do it for the personal enrichment or because it somehow supports your career goals, that makes sense. I wouldn't do this just to enhance your acceptance chances.
Good luck!