Duke Fuqua MBA vs Oxford Said MBA (for MBB consulting)

Question

Hi,

Which one should I choose between Duke and Oxford MBA?

These are my considerations:
1) Goal: After graduation, I aim to go to Mckinsey, Bain, BCG (MBB) consulting in my home country (Indonesia). A bit interested in tech but not sure since all my work experiences are in Big 4 consulting.

2) Academics: Since my undergrad degree is in social science, I want to truly learn business hence I can be a great knowledgeable consultant post-MBA. Is 1 year MBA in Oxford enough?

3) Placement: From the discussion with alumni, the number of full-time job placements to MBB from Fuqua (70 people) is higher than from Oxford (10-15 people). But Oxford's brand is far better known in my country

4) Alumni Network: On LinkedIn, there are more Oxford Said MBA (8+ people) than Fuqua MBA (3 people) at MBB in my home country. I guess the alumni network of Said MBA in Indonesia is stronger simply because there are more Said MBA alumni in Indonesia

5) Cost and location are no problem for me

6) I consider work-life balance (normal sleep hours) important when doing an MBA, but of course, it's less important than placement and the school's reputation

Would appreciate some thoughts. Thank you so much!

yashikaaggarwal · Answer

Congratulations on your admits, both schools have excellent reputations in the business world. Based on the factors you have mentioned, here are my thoughts:

1. Goal: Both Duke and Oxford have a strong reputation for placing students in consulting, including MBB. So, either school would be a good choice in terms of achieving your goal. However, it's worth researching which consulting firms are actively recruiting at each school, as well as the strength of their alumni network in your home country of Indonesia.

2. Academics: Oxford's one-year MBA program is rigorous and comprehensive, covering all the essential areas of business. While it may be shorter than Duke's two-year program, the program's intensity and focus may be better suited to your goal of quickly gaining a strong business foundation.

3. Placement: As you mentioned, Duke has a higher number of full-time job placements to MBB from their MBA program, but that doesn't necessarily mean Oxford is not a good choice. Oxford has an excellent reputation globally and is well-known worldwide, which could be a valuable asset when seeking employment. Additionally, the smaller size of Oxford's MBA program may provide you with more personalized attention and opportunities to connect with your peers and alumni.

4. Work-life balance: Both Duke and Oxford are top-tier MBA programs, and as such, require a significant time commitment. However, Oxford's one-year program is more condensed, which could potentially provide a better work-life balance than a two-year program like Duke's. I know how intensive one-year courses are. I have been really juggling between keeping my life separated from my school life.

In conclusion, both Duke and Oxford MBA programs have their unique advantages, and the decision ultimately comes down to which program aligns best with your career goals and personal preferences. I would recommend researching both programs further, connecting with current students and alumni, and ultimately choosing the program that feels like the best fit for you. Good luck with your decision!

bb · Answer

Fuqua had MBB offices on campus. I doubt Oxford had them. That’s a huge advantage.

PS. MBB is hard since they will only hire 10-20% if all applicants so keep that in mind but having MBB folks right there on campus gives you opportunities to chat with them, impress them in the class and some tips too.

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bb · Answer

Congrats on your admits by the way.

PS. The concern about name recognition in your country - are you planning to work in your home country after you graduate or are you planning to work in the UK or US after you graduate?

If you’re planning to work in the US or UK, the name recognition doesn’t matter 3-5 years later when you go back. The MBB name recognition will be pretty strong.

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yasminegunawan · Answer

bb  thank you so much for the insights! After graduation, I have to go back to my home country and work there for around 3 years. After that I might want to work abroad

GyanOne · Answer

In general, the Fuqua MBA may be a better option given its better MBB recruitment aspects right now. The 1-year MBA wouldn't have been a problem. It is just the chance to get into MBB that is better at Fuqua right now. As bb mentioned, once you return to Indonesia, you will find that your work experience is a much more accurate predictor of your future employment chances than the brand of the MBA program you graduated from. If you happen to be at an MBB around the time you move, you can actively explore moving offices as well within your employer.

bb · Answer

I see… so MBB in home country after graduating. Would you be then recruiting there? I think your recruiting MBB managers would know Fuqua. I want you can already do right now is check the local MBB LinkedIn and see where people got their MBA’s from - US or UK and perhaps if you see Oxford or Said.

I know a few people have gotten an MBB job in the US and then a year later they moved to another country. They were told they were going to keep their salary but that did not happen and they got their salary adjusted when they moved.

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yasminegunawan · Answer

bb  I'm planning to recruit in US or UK through campus recruiting and then choose Indonesia as my preferred office

Well noted on that, thank you for your suggestion. After researching on LinkedIn, there are more Oxford Said MBA (8+ people) than Fuqua MBA (3 people) at MBB in my home country. I guess the alumni network of Said MBA in Indonesia is stronger simply because there are more Said MBA alumni in Indonesia

dee1pug1 · Answer

Well done on the admits. Long story short - I suggest you reach out to the alum's of Fuqua and Oxford in Indonesia and try to understand how they charted their path from the MBA into MBBs. There is always a possibility that MBBs hire for domestic / regional markets and not internationally. If so, then your choices can be impacted as you may have to apply to MBBs within Indonesia.

Since you said you need to go back to Indonesia for 3 years and then consider an opportunity abroad, consider which country at that time would you want to shift to - USA or UK/Europe. Though both schools are reputed, the recognition will always be higher for Fuqua in USA and Oxford in the UK.

If your destination post 3 years is the UK/Europe, then worth also noting that unless your Indonesian passport allows visa-free or visa-on-arrival in UK/Europe, a consulting firm may not even entertain you (because organizing Schengen visa, etc. is a hassle). As compared, almost entire consulting-related travel in USA is domestic and hence such visa issues are avoided. I speak from personal experience - till I was on Indian passport in the UK, not a single consulting firm entertained me. The day I took UK citizenship, the entire scenario changed and I landed in consulting almost instantaneously.

Best wishes.

mc93 · Answer

For Duke, we have a number of people going to international MBB (none in Indonesia as far as I know). US-based MBB is also an option since they all sponsor visas. We have strong MBB placement throughout the US except for the most competitive cities (New York, SF, etc).

ShkoMi · Answer

After being admitted to both as an international student, I'd say the following: Duke for staying in the US and Oxford for going back home. Fuqua's brand isn't all that well recognized abroad while Oxford will impress not only your employer but also your grandma.

Additionally, Oxford is only 1 year so it's much easier to pay off if you plan on going back home immediately. The only problem with Oxford is that you need to do recruiting basically on your own since they are late to the usual MBB recruiting schedule. On the other hand, Duke won't help you land a position in Indonesia anyways.