IESE or Cambridge Judge

Question

Hi all,

It is making decisions time. I got accepted by IESE and Cambridge Judge Business School (CJBS). I am more inclined towards IESE but I want to know your valuable input.

My post-mba is to work in Tech/Telecom strategy consulting + work part-time on a non-profit in the Middle-East. Plan B: work in Tech/Telecom management consulting in Toronto or Seattle.

I listed below the schools and programs features. (Please feel free to comment)

IESE:
- Duration is 19 months 
- Exchange program with top US schools
- 2-3 months summer internship
- Learn a 4th language
- Case method teaching
- Alumni network: few thousands in US/Canada. Few hundreds in the Middle-East 
- It is in Barcelona!!
- Ranked top 10 in different school rankings

CJBS:
- 2 real clients consulting projects
- Summer activity: either an internship that I have to hunt for outside UK (i.e. low chances) OR another consulting project
- Opportunity cost is ~30k USD than IESE's
- 1 year program
- Cambridge brand name
- Known reputation in Strategy courses
- Alumni network: few hundreds in US/Canada. Few hundreds in the Middle-East 
- Cambridge Silicon fen !!
- Ranked top 20 in different school rankings

Please let me know what you guys think.

I really appreciate your input

Happy holidays

gcb09173 · Answer

I think you've underestimated the Cambridge brand regarding alumni.

Remember as one of the top universities in the world the university and college alumni network is unbelievably extensive.

Otherwise whichever you choose, i'm sure you will be successful!

sab7a · Answer

Cambridge is a top university in Sciences, Arts and Engineering but not in Business. I

I was told that Judge's career services is not very efficient in finding internships and jobs. I looked in the economist ranking and I found the following numbers:

Judge: ( https://www.economist.com/whichmba/university-cambridge-judge-business-school/2012?tab=7 )
Number of industry sectors that recruited graduates (out of 11) 11
Percentage who received a job offer within three months of graduation 97
Percentage of graduates finding jobs through careers services  55 
Student rating of careers service (out of 5) 3.5
Post-MBA salary ($) 109,116
Increase on pre-MBA salary (%) 50
Principal recruiters of graduates McKinsey & Company, Credit Suisse, Amazon

IESE: ( https://www.economist.com/whichmba/university-navarra-iese-business-school/2012?tab=7 )
Number of industry sectors that recruited graduates (out of 11) 11
Percentage who received a job offer within three months of graduation 95
Percentage of graduates finding jobs through careers services 90
Student rating of careers service (out of 5) 3.5
Post-MBA salary ($) 126,765
Increase on pre-MBA salary (%) 153
Principal recruiters of graduates McKinsey & Company, Gas Natural, Johnson & Johnson

gcb09173 · Answer

Cambridge is the brand - at risk of repeating myself it is one of the four top universities globally - it doesn't matter whether its the business school or not. You put it on your cv and doors start opening.

Im not aware of the strength of an IESE MBA in the Middle-East or Canada but I doubt the careers service at either school can hand you a job in those locations.

However looking at your metrics - It would actually concern me that 90% of graduates get their job through the careers office. LBS which has an excellent careers office in the middle of a major recruiting city has a high 75% - Stanford manages a 50% in the tech heartland. Can IESE graduates only get jobs that the careers service sources with major employers? Do you think the careers office there will source you a job in your post mba target locations/industries? If so then you should choose it.

IESE or Cambridge Judge

IESE or Judge?

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