London Business School LBS 2013 - Calling all MBA Applicants

Yes, I am having the same debate. It's less about doubts and more about opportunities. I don't think a capable, ambitious individual has anything to complain about going to LBS. It is clear the majority of LBS students walk away with great jobs on the higher end of the compensation pool. The difference is many of those jobs are in London. It sounds like it's not impossible to find jobs in the U.S. (if that is your concern) but it's not easy either -- though career services says they make an effort to reach out to the U.S. many students, and even the admissions committee, admit the job search is more England (London) centric. Now, that being said, huge amounts of students go back to mainland Europe, Asia and Latin America as well from LBS.

I mean, if you are dead set on working in NY and you get into CBS or Stern, or something like that -- then LBS might not be the way to go. But if you are open to where you might end up, then LBS is certainly a great opportunity. In my case, I don't know where I'd like to work yet: San Francisco, Boston, London? I think a lot depends on the caliber of the schools I get into -- I am going to choose LBS over a US school outside of the top ten even if I do love Los Angeles or North Carolina, pretty much because I think the education and opportunities will be better.

Apparently, lots of Americans that do end up at LBS stay there for a few years after their MBA and then make an effort to come back to the US, or they just stay there. Some, about 15% I think, come back right after the MBA, but I imagine many of those people are coming back to previous employers or using personal connections to find jobs. Also, a quick note, it's harder for US passport holders to do semesters abroad in the US from LBS -- many of those spots are reserved for foreigners since the receiving schools want more diversity than anything else.

In my case LBS seems a perfect fit -- unless a more perfect fit comes along. Initially, I was ONLY going to apply to LBS, or really, ONLY going to take LBS seriously with everything else being a back-up but have since changed my mind. I suppose I too need US choices, and if HBS or the likes comes and says "we'd like you here" well, then, it will be very hard to ignore that.

Another thing to consider is the direction of the region, and the schools you are considering. Many Americans discount Europe as a place to work, but I would posit that London will stay a very strong job market for decades. Not to mention, the school is expanding which will allow it to increase it's brand significantly.

Look at how open you are to working internationally vs. domestically, and also how confident you are in your own network. I personally think that even if I went to LBS and decided I wanted to make it back to the US, I could find a good job opportunity just by sheer will -- but that is a big assumption, and a risky one. Yet, I am comfortable with it.