Hello, I'm from Ecuador (no other nationality), my background is in digital marketing for startups and I previously founded a fintech in Latam. Aiming to get a PM role for a big tech firm or management consulting at MBB in Europe/Asia post-MBA. I was admitted to INSEAD and I'm still waiting to hear back from Judge, but I believe I did well on my interview.
I'm trying to decide whether I should take INSEAD's offer already or wait for Judge and take their offer if admitted.
Here are the pros and cons I see for each school:
INSEADPros- Highly ranked.
- If I decide to go into consulting, they definitely outshine Cambridge.
- Very diverse and international student body + broad alumni network across the world.
- Networking and traveling across Europe during the MBA would be easier since I'd get a Schengen visa.
- More alumni in Latam. I'd eventually like to come back to Latin America.
- I like France and speak a little bit of French.
Cons- Brand name not as solid as Cambridge outside MBA circles.
- Small town with little things to do. Most social life centers around house parties and dinners with fellow classmates.
- Not sure about the visa sponsorship situation in Europe / Asia post-MBA. How hard is it for an international student to get a job at MBB or big tech and get sponsored? From a couple of chats with alumni from Latam, sponsorship is a non-issue for MBB but I'm not sure about big tech.
JudgePros- Strong in tech and entrepreneurship.
- Brand recognition.
- 2-year visa option after graduation (I would have the chance to explore job opportunities outside companies that sponsor). If I decide to go into tech, this would be a crucial factor.
- CVP and GCP projects seem to provide a lot of interaction with real companies.
- Access to the broader Cambridge University community and alumni network.
Cons- Job placements outside the UK are not as solid as INSEAD. I'm also concerned about economic conditions and willingness to hire internationals from companies in the UK due to Brexit.
- Ranks much lower than INSEAD.
- MBB placements are much better at INSEAD.
What program should I go for?