HEC vs INSEAD

Question

Hi,

I have to decide between HEC and INSEAD.

My profile:

Age: 29
Nationality: Brazilian
Degree: Environmental engineering
Past Experience: 4 years in Consulting
Post-MBA career goal :Stay in Consulting or switch to the telco industry (preferably in Marketing)
Post-MBA Location :- Probably Brazil, but maybe Europe
Cost and time of the MBA: They are not drivers of my decision

Could you guys please help me?
Thanks in advance

domotron · Answer

I would pick Insead. It it the better school with a better brand. It's also very strong in consulting.

LTN99 · Answer

INSEAD.

Top consulting firms recruit at the school for their Europe, Asia, and Middle East world area offices.
I am not very sure whether they recruit from INSEAD for the Americas, particularly Brazil that too.

CarolineFortuna · Answer

Hi,
Both HEC and INSEAD are good schools. INSEAD is better positioned to help you land a position in consulting (e.g. McKinsey recruits more grads from INSEAD than from any other school worldwide) and has a stronger network in Brazil than HEC. If you want to make a career change into industry, the 15 month format at HEC with the internship opportunity and company project could help you achieve that (INSEAD has an internship opportunity for the January but not for the September intake). 
Overall - whilst HEC is a great school with a long history and many illustrious alumni, at a global level, INSEAD has the stronger reputation.
Good luck,
Caroline @ Fortuna Admissions / former Director of Admissions at INSEAD

gr8tWo · Answer

INSEAD is a great program but so is HEC. INSEAD has an edge in consulting but this does not apply to the individual. At HEC, you can land an interview anywhere. If you are good, you will do well with the interviews and you will get the job. At INSEAD there might be a lot of on campus recruitment but that is only due to the size of the class which make sense it terms of yield for the companies. At HEC the recruitment is more personal which means you are not evaluated primarily on your scores and CV but more on your personality and drive. Don't forget that not everyone at INSEAD gets interviewed on campus. The duration of the MBA might not be a driver for your decision but a longer program vs a shorter one will allow you to learn more and have a better MBA experience. There are so many things to do during an MBA and it would be several years before you got bored so 9-10 months seem quite short to me. HEC is the king in France and if you are fluent in French you can do whatever you want here. Elsewhere in Europe it is well known and well respected and making significant efforts the last few years to increase its brand recognition outside Europe and this is happening fast. At the end of the day, HEC is the best business school in Europe. A McK partner does not give a **** if you are from HBS, LBS, HEC or INSEAD. As long as you have a good MBA it does not matter. Then it matters how you think and if you are a good fit with the culture. Also regarding your educational background. If you had a degree in business it would make more sense to go for such a short program like the one INSEAD offers. You have so much to learn so ever course you take is going to be very beneficial to you. Finally, HEC has a whole campus to offer (making life a lot more interesting and easy) and it is a lot closer to Paris than Fonty. This allows HEC to organise events like www.mbat.org where MBA from all over Europe gather from all over Europe. This year the only MBAs that could not stay and had to come if for a few hours every day and miss all the parties where the INSEAD participants. Well in 10 months you can't afford to network that much. Best of luck with whatever of the two you go with!

TheCount · Answer

Disclosure: Current HEC Student.

For consulting : 80% is profile. Good MBA is second. If you're cut out for the McKinsey's of the world, you will make it no matter where you go. My Strategy professor is a MD at McKinsey Paris.

It boils down to what you want in terms of experience. From my talks with my buddies at INSEAD, it seems HEC is much more collegial and intimate. Access to Paris is a big difference as well.

GMATHEMATICS · Answer

Both are amazing schools.

Just make sure you see on a map where INSEAD is. And make sure you actually MEET several people from each school before making a decision.

Iko · Answer

For those who will have to make a similar choice in the future, I would definitely say INSEAD.
HEC is mainly famous in France and in Europe for its Grande Ecole programme, which leads to a Master's degree.
Its MBA is nice as well, but I would not compare to a MBA at INSEAD.

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