ESCP VS ESSEC

Question

THANKS !!!

madlol77777 · Answer

Hey, it would be great to know a bit more about your background and career aspirations.

It highly depends on where you are now and where you will be in one year. Spending the whole year on the GMAT will not necessarily help to get into ESSEC PGE (even if you got a decent score). On the other hand, if you already have an interesting profile and have some good projects for your gap year (+ improving GMAT), you should definitely go for it.

I was in your shoes a year ago and enrolled in a short master's program outside France, which boosted my GPA, gave me some time to prepare for GMAT (retaking soon), and also secured some relevant internships. So now, I am preparing my application for my dream schools.

And also important to mention, that ESCP MiM is a really good program too, so again, based on your aspirations/industry, you're targeting it could be the right place to go.

Anyway, best of luck with your journey!

FEBEVEN · Answer

THANKS!

madlol77777 · Answer

Thanks for sharing!

Frankly, I don't think " trois Parisiennes" is the best option for markets, still, place some folks, tho. Most alumni from their finance track are going to M&A/ECM/DCM/RX/LevFin, or even straight to the buy side. Also, ESCP is perceived as an "easy School" in terms of curriculum, and the program (MiM) is not really suitable for markets (so, your hesitation is right there).

For markets in France, the classics are :

Engineering schools: X, Centrale, Mines, etc. X got a double diploma with HEC (not sure whether it is accessible for students outside of X).
Applied math degrees, like a master's in probability & finance from the Sorbonne (previously known as "El Karoui").
Dauphine - Master 222 is prob the best option for AM

But in your case, the MiF of HEC could also be a solution, especially if you've got a quantitative undergrad.

Or you may also consider the UK schools:

-Ox MFE is one of the best fin master in the world; however, they have the highest requirements for both GMAT & undergrad GPA in the whole of Europe.
-Imperial (does not require GMAT/GRE) + super technical

In EU:
-Bocconi (a bit random, but still got decent placement)

Hope it helps!

Dexter43 · Answer

Thanks to everyone who contributed, there are some valuable insights here that will certainly help others facing similar decisions. Some insights from my side as well

As highlighted in the discussion, this decision ultimately depends on individual context, particularly:

Career aspirations:  ESSEC does have a strong reputation in France for roles in market finance, thanks to its alumni network and ties with major banks. ESCP, on the other hand, offers solid international exposure, notably through its London campus, which could be advantageous for those targeting roles in the UK.

Use of the gap year:  Taking a full year just to retake the GMAT may carry risk if it's not paired with other meaningful experiences. However, combining it with internships, a short academic program, or professional certifications can significantly strengthen both your profile and candidacy for more competitive schools.

School reputation vs. strategy:  While school branding does matter, especially in certain finance circles—what you do during the program (internships, networking, electives, location choices) often plays a bigger role in securing the most competitive roles. ESCP can offer strong outcomes for finance-focused students who take a proactive approach.

There’s no one-size-fits-all answer. It comes down to your current profile, how confident you are in improving it over the next year, and what kind of return (in terms of career outcomes) you realistically expect from switching schools.

aryax10 · Answer

Escp has consistently outperformed essec in every international ranking for years now. For finance there is no question. You need to go to ESCP or HEC (in France) to get the best chances, especially if you want to target London at the same time.

For consulting both are solid options but MBB and other top consulting are hyper fixated on FT rankings/prestige etc. so pick accordingly.

For consulting both are solid options but MBB and other top consulting are hyper fixated on FT rankings/prestige etc. so pick accordingly.

molestiassequi · Answer

If you were wanting to do anything finance or IB related then I agree with the comment above, escp and hec are a notch above in placements compared to essec, especially in London. For MBB consulting both are really good! Good luck.

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