[Original post shortened] LSE vs HEC Paris

Question

So I'll summarize my initial post to get more answers!

I'm a 21 years old, Belgian, about to graduate from Maastricht University in Economics. I took several extra-courses in Finance and have good basics. I don't have real professional experience but I have substantial international experience (lived over a year in Peru and a semester in Brazil). I'm fluent in French, English, Spanish and Portuguese.
My plans in the short-term are to follow a CEMS program at the ESADE and to land my first real job (preferably M&A/PE/Corporate Finance/My own enterprise) in London. On the medium-term, I'd like to work in the Americas (Latin america would be best).

I have two offers: The Master in International Finance at the HEC and the Master in Finance (possibly Finance & Private Equity) at the LSE. Now I have read a lot and my conclusions are the following:
Price-wise: HEC > LSE
(International) brand value: LSE > HEC
Location: LSE > HEC

My biggest concern is about the quality of the content of the respective programs. HEC Paris is  very  convincing. It provided us with a 95 pages report that provides a detailed description of every course. The course portfolio is outstanding (lots of elective, good possibility to customize the program in general) and the school offers double degree opportunities.
On the other hand, LSE provide merely ONE page of description for a TERM-BASED course.. The material used (Berk&Demarzo) is basically was we used in our introductory course of finance (first year bachelor). Sure, the university enjoys an outstanding reputation, but on paper its program seems a bit lousy...

What's your advices?

mooncakes · Answer

While only mildly relevant, I've stumbled upon the Linkedin of HEC graduates that landed Blackstone Group private equity in London straight out of their program. I'm sure that's not the norm (hell, that's probably not the norm  anywhere ) but HEC does offer those opportunities. Both programs will likely get you places, but both will orient you towards an entry level job in Europe, not in the US or Latin America. It might be possible to transfer afterwards. I've also heard HEC places well in the Middle East, for what that's worth. I have heard negatives about LSE's courses and career services before. Do you have work experience under your belt already in the form of an internship? Otherwise it's supposedly hard to get a full time job at LSE, though I'm not sure HEC MIF is any better at this given they're both one year programs.

Zacross · Answer

I'll shorten my first post a bit to get more answer, I realize it's quite a long thing to read

I don't have real internship experience to be honest. On "paper" I have two internships but the knowledge acquired is not really applicable to any of the sector I'm considering to work into. I know that in neither LSE nor HEC will allow me to land a job in the USA or in LA straight out of the program. In the short-term I rather plan to follow a CEMS program at ESADE (it should be easier to get to LA from Spain than from France or UK) and to work for a couple of years. Working in the Americas in rather a medium-term goal! Just to re-focus the problem. My main concern is about the quality of the program of the respective universities. HEC Paris was way more convincing in introducing its program than LSE, making me believe that the quality of the content at HEC might very-well be (much) superior to the one proposed at LSE (which might rely a bit too much on its established reputation). Moreover HEC Paris proposes double-degree in the States (GREM) so that can be a thing

mooncakes · Answer

I think I've made it pretty clear that my preferences lie with HEC Paris elsewhere on this forum, so if you're looking for confirmation on that end, you'll get it from me.

On the other hand, the majority of the people here think LSE is the best thing since sliced bread, which speaks to the value of the brand. The placement figures and the stories of disappointed students returning to their home countries, on the other hand, are less impressive.

Zacross · Answer

Can you elaborate on that? I've never really figured out where to find all those placement figures everyone talks about

mooncakes · Answer

Here you go: https://www.lse.ac.uk/intranet/CareersAn ... /Home.aspx

Zacross · Answer

Sorry I meant this mostly (I had found those placement figures that you send, it's just that sometimes people speak about finding the top 20 school where IB hire and stuff like that)

mooncakes · Answer

I think the concern of returning home tends to be for non-EU students, especially those without an internship previously, but digging around briefly, here's an interview from MSFHQ. https://msfhq.com/review-of-the-lse-msc-in-finance/ In the comment section: Another student review on MSFHQ: https://msfhq.com/review-of-the-lse-msc-2/ That's pretty damning in my eyes, but YMMV. Again, it strikes me too much as a degree mill. I guess the important question is how does HEC compare, and to that, I've no idea. I think the placement stats are better, but I haven't heard too many stories concern HEC Paris beyond French friends fawning over it.

Zacross · Answer

Other opinions?

Would you agree with what mooncakes said?

[Original post shortened] LSE vs HEC Paris

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