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fleurdelisse
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LBS vs. INSEAD 16 Dec 2010, 03:17
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I got into LBS for Sept 2011 and planning to apply to INSEAD for the Jan 2012 intake (to benefit from the internship).

I am really confused as to which school is better. I am from the Middle East, worked in mgnt consulting for about four years across the region. I have a good academic background.

After the MBA, I plan to join the family business in retail. At this point, I am really not sure which school is better. INSEAD has a MUCH better reputation in the Middle East. Practically no one here has heard of LBS. But should this be a decisive factor? I already have a strong network in the Middle East through my work here with top management in various companies, and through my personal network. So what I need is to expand my network beyond the middle east.

I had visited the INSEAD campus a couple of years back and it's quite nice. The exchange opportunity with Singapore is great. But even if I go to LBS, I plan on taking part of the exchange program in East Asia as this is a region I would like to know more about.

If you know more about both schools, can you please share your experiences / thoughts.

Thanks.
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bsd_lover
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LBS vs. INSEAD 16 Dec 2010, 04:22
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I'm surprised that INSEAD is better known in the middle east. LBS actually has a campus in Dubai and provides a Dubai specific Executive MBA. We have also placed several folks this year in consulting firms in Middle East locations and also in organisations like Mubadala. Dont base your choice on pure anecdotal evidence of reputation, but on what you need post-MBA. If you want a fast-tracked MBA degree without an internship, that is also possible at LBS (with the 15 month option). Note that London as a location also sees a vast inflow of middle eastern money and influence. The sheikh of Dubai visits LBS on a regular basis. Plus you can exchange to HKUST, CUHK in HK , CEIBS, Fudan in China, Hitotsubashi in Japan (I'm sure there are more that I can't remember). Both schools will give you plenty of scope to expand your network beyond middle east due to the international nature of the student body.

Good luck

fleurdelisse
I got into LBS for Sept 2011 and planning to apply to INSEAD for the Jan 2012 intake (to benefit from the internship).

I am really confused as to which school is better. I am from the Middle East, worked in mgnt consulting for about four years across the region. I have a good academic background.

After the MBA, I plan to join the family business in retail. At this point, I am really not sure which school is better. INSEAD has a MUCH better reputation in the Middle East. Practically no one here has heard of LBS. But should this be a decisive factor? I already have a strong network in the Middle East through my work here with top management in various companies, and through my personal network. So what I need is to expand my network beyond the middle east.

I had visited the INSEAD campus a couple of years back and it's quite nice. The exchange opportunity with Singapore is great. But even if I go to LBS, I plan on taking part of the exchange program in East Asia as this is a region I would like to know more about.

If you know more about both schools, can you please share your experiences / thoughts.

Thanks.
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fleurdelisse
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LBS vs. INSEAD 16 Dec 2010, 06:16
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Thanks for your valuable insights. I tend to agree with you, reputation is definitly not an important criteria in selection.
LBS does offer many of the things for which I am looking and London will definitly provide more opportunities for networking and hands-on projects than Fontainebleau. This is one of the main reasons why I am interested in LBS.
Time is not a constraint for me. I actually prefer a longer program to benefit from the internship and projects. This is why I did not apply to INSEAD's Sept intake.
I am sure INSEAD has a lot of advantages and has a great program as well but I think I will just go with LBS and be happy to have gotten in to such a great school.
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MBAyer
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LBS vs. INSEAD 17 Dec 2010, 07:13
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fleurdelisse
I got into LBS for Sept 2011 and planning to apply to INSEAD for the Jan 2012 intake (to benefit from the internship).

I am really confused as to which school is better. I am from the Middle East, worked in mgnt consulting for about four years across the region. I have a good academic background.

After the MBA, I plan to join the family business in retail. At this point, I am really not sure which school is better. INSEAD has a MUCH better reputation in the Middle East. Practically no one here has heard of LBS. But should this be a decisive factor? I already have a strong network in the Middle East through my work here with top management in various companies, and through my personal network. So what I need is to expand my network beyond the middle east.

I had visited the INSEAD campus a couple of years back and it's quite nice. The exchange opportunity with Singapore is great. But even if I go to LBS, I plan on taking part of the exchange program in East Asia as this is a region I would like to know more about.

If you know more about both schools, can you please share your experiences / thoughts.

Thanks.
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Congrats for LBS, i have also been admitted for Aug'11 and will accept with no doubt. I'm also from the Middle East, and working in Management Consulting in the UAE.
Definitely INSEAD has a great reputation in the region, but LBS as well!!! However, i agree that INSEAD's network is bigger and maybe more active, but that doesn't mean that opportunities are less for LBS grads! For instance, if you look at the latest employment reports of both schools, you notice how LBS grads are better paid (though there were 4% of MBA2010 Class who worked in the Middle East)... Plus if we're talking UAE, historically the relations with London are very strong, and the top business people of the country are British, which influences the perception of LBS grads...

I suggest, if you plan to work into management consulting, and the program length is a critical issue for u, then apply INSEAD... Else, go for LBS, it has many more advantages! But anyways, you have to accept your seat at LBS by the end of Jan'11, so u won't have time to wait for INSEAD's decision.

All the luck
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LBS vs. INSEAD 18 Dec 2010, 05:47
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Whatever you do, you can´t decide wrong, both are amazing schools!!! And both are clearly the best business schools in Europe.
Congratulations for your admission!
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tmino
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LBS vs. INSEAD 18 Dec 2010, 07:42
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Believe both schools are on par in terms of reputation globally (bias: recent LBS grad :-)). Some quick facts and advantages for each program:

LBS:
- Location, location, location (better ability to network with companies and do project work, plus just living in one of the best cities of the world)
- 21 month program, so you can do 1 or 2 summer internships over 3 month period (great for career switchers)
- Very flexible curriculum in 2nd year (ability to do more internships or projects)
- Can also graduate early in 15 or 18 months (but still have to pay full tuition)
- Smaller class size (400)
- Exchange program to 30 other business schools worldwide (including top schools in the US like Wharton, MIT, Kellogg, Booth, Columbia etc.)

INSEAD:
- 1 year program, means less costs (less lost income, less total tuition, lower living expenses compared to London)
- Jan intake allows for short 6 week summer internship
- Large class size (800+ per year)
- Ability to study at Singapore campus
- Due to larger class size, and fact that LBS only became a top business school over the past decade, INSEAD probably has the stronger and larger global network at the moment