jackolam wrote:
These are the things that you have to be here in order to understand how HEC functions and how we current students get frustrated.
I am sure the new curriculum would help the program. I had a Corp. Strat. class taught by leading professionals in Bain. While it was a 'cool' and 'chillax' course meaning that the instructor was interesting to listen to about his cases, you don't learn much.
Strong students make a strong hiring reputation obv. But strong students around you again has nothing to do with your own employment success. To this, I found the careers training not helpful at all. Most students here learn and adapt from interview trial and error which should have been at least reduced if you go to a school like HEC.
I am not sure if you are an EU citizen. But most students were not told that if they weren't, they cannot easily obtain a working visa in the UK. HEC again didn't really give a heads up.
French classes are ok. Again you cannot rely on those classes to become fluent. Because you won't live in Paris you won't have a lot of chances to speak the language rendering classes as the only opportunity. The classes aren't even that sufficient ( not enough class hours).
Just when you compare things across the board, keep in mind that hiring reputation and other perks are not unique to HEC. Other good schools like LBS, LSE, Ivy leagues have at least as good of a network. But would you not want a solid program to back it off? Having good network or do-it-yourself employment preparation are not valid excuse for program which inherently sucks.
Jackolam,
1) You might want to explain to people that you're not actually in the HEC Paris MBA program. You are in the MsC in Financial Economics program, or so you claim elsewhere on this forum. Regardless, the HEC Paris MBA program is not the finance program and vice versa.
2) Anyone attending an MBA program should know the work visa requirements for whichever country they hope to work in afterwards.
3) It is important to learn the local language of
whichever country you hope to work. Fortunately, HEC's MBA program has an awesome group of exchange schools. If a student wants to work in the US or the UK, she can job hunt while doing her last semester at a school in her target country (such as LBS, Sloan MIT, Berkeley, etc).
4) A substantial number of MBA candidates at top schools seem to expect to have a job handed to them on a silver platter when they graduate. If they don't, they blame the school. I've got news for you: it takes work everywhere. I spoke with the Finance specialist in LBS's employment office recently. She is pessimistic about LBS graduates' chances of finding jobs right now.
5) I cannot fathom why someone attending HEC Paris would be naive enough to publically criticize the institution. If you really are at HEC studying finance, your criticisms devalue the degree for which you have paid. You might want to rethink that strategy.
6) Given that you didn't even realize that getting a work visa in the UK might be an issue for a non-EU passport holder, it's hard to take your criticisms seriously.
As for those of you starting at HEC this fall, I'll see you there this September.
Me:
Italy/USA Citizenship
GMAT 720
Current Country: Belgium
Background: Media
Education: BA Top US Liberal Arts College, MA in Political Science
Languages: English (native), German (fluent), French (intermediate), Italian (intermediate).