IESE vs Yale SOM

Question

Hi.

I got admitted to IESE Business School (with 30% scholarship) and Yale SOM (without any scholarship). 
If I go to Yale, I will have to take up more than 50% of total cost as loan, whereas at IESE, the same number would be close to 20%.
I am a Software Engineer, going to complete almost 4 years of work experience, working with major fintechs. My post MBA career goal is to move into management consulting. If that doesn't pan out, I would like to come back to technology in a strategy/management role.

I am from India and after MBA, I would like to stay close to India (preferably after 1-2 years of working abroad)

How do the post MBA opportunities and the school brand name compare and which school will better as per my situation?

yashikaaggarwal · Answer

Congratulations on your admission to both IESE Business School and Yale SOM! Both are highly respected business schools with great reputations and can provide excellent opportunities for your future career.

As you mentioned that your post-MBA goal is to move into management consulting or a technology strategy/management role, both schools can offer you relevant courses and resources. However, there are some differences between the two schools that you may want to consider before making your decision.

IESE Business School has a strong focus on global management and entrepreneurship, with a particular emphasis on European business. This could be beneficial if you are interested in working in Europe or want to gain exposure to European business practices. On the other hand, Yale SOM has a reputation for its focus on social responsibility and sustainability, and the school has a strong network in the United States. This could be beneficial if you are interested in working in the United States.

In terms of post-MBA opportunities, Yale SOM has a strong reputation in management consulting, with a large number of graduates securing consulting roles each year. The school also has a strong alumni network, which can be beneficial in securing job opportunities. IESE Business School also has a strong reputation in consulting, but the focus is more on European consulting firms. However, IESE has a strong network in Latin America, which could be beneficial if you are interested in working in that region.

Regarding school brand name, both IESE Business School and Yale SOM have a strong reputation in the business world. IESE Business School is consistently ranked highly in European business school rankings, and Yale SOM is a highly respected business school in the United States and globally.

Considering your situation, if you are looking for a more affordable option with a strong reputation in Europe and Latin America, then IESE Business School would be a good choice. On the other hand, if you are interested in working in the United States and are willing to take on more debt for a prestigious school with a strong reputation in management consulting, then Yale SOM would be a good choice. It's important to consider the long-term financial impact of taking on more debt, but also weigh the potential career benefits that a top-tier business school like Yale SOM can offer.

Good Luck with your decision.

bb · Answer

Congrats on your admits. These are 2 pretty different schools. However, after IESE, you are most likely going to head back to your home country since EU job market tends to be tricky unless you speak a local language or can score a job in London/Amsterdam... MC is competitive so you need to be real with yourself - what are your chances? Meanwhile, I would say Yale will give a great shot at MC but a great shot does not mean you will actually get in or get a job there and may recruit more in the Tech, which technically be a higher paying job than consulting (at least it was until recently...

). Anyway, based on your goals and opinions, I think IESE would fit better as it would be cheaper and would not put as much of a burden in a few years after graduation when you go to your home country

sc2226 · Answer

Congratulations on the awesome acceptances! I was in a similar situation before where I was trying to choose between schools with different scholarship amounts offered. From my perspective, if you don't feel strongly about where you will be post-MBA (i.e., targeting to stay in the US), then it seems like there's no strong reason to go to a US school if it's significantly more costly. My advice would be to reach out to Yale SOM and try to negotiate for more money (frame it as concerns about not being able to attend due to costs, and having an alternative with more scholarship offered), and it's possible that you'll be able to get more!

Best of luck - can't go wrong either way!

Best of luck - can't go wrong either way!

Art200 · Answer

Yale for sure if you want to work in the US. IESE for Europe

bb · Answer

I have been hearing that many international students greatly enjoyed IESE and Barcelona. At the same time they said many of them had to return home after a year. They found good jobs home but mentioned that staying inEurope was a challenge only some could overcome 😬

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shreyadhatwalia · Answer

I just want to know what is the difference in the long term career, considering the brand reputation of the schools, considering I will be staying in areas closer to India.

bb   sc2226

bb · Answer

I am sorry, I don't have much experience in areas closer to India 😥🤷‍♀️

yashikaaggarwal · Answer

You gotta be more specific about the location. But in any case, I don't think that getting a degree from either school will matter much if you are not going to stay after graduation in any of the countries.

You can choose like this.
Do you know Spanish? If yes, can you carry a conversation in it?
Spanish chaps are quite vibrant. My Spanish Language professor is way chirpy for everyone's good, but she herself said that Spanish people love to be around someone who can carry a conversation in their mother tongue. Spain is a great vibrant country. But if you want to network, even for moving to other European or Asian countries, might try an English-speaking country. Eventually, it's all about what you want. None of the schools will have a major impact on 
the other country's employment offers.

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IESE vs Yale SOM

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