POWERFUL EUROPEAN MBA OPPORTUNITIES
One of our jobs as admissions consultants is to anticipate new angles and opportunities for our applicants. What we have been sharing with our clients is the idea of looking towards more European MBA programs. We have seen clients find better fits, enjoy great results, and go on to be incredibly happy in EU schools. After initially not even considering the possibility! Let's break down why European MBA programs are emerging as an ideal market, at least for our clients:
1. Program diversity.
One of the great things about European MBA programs are that the options that do exist are quite a bit more varied (than in the U.S.). Things such as program structure and thrust. From the "work hard, play hard" vibe of INSEAD (How to Apply to INSEAD guide) to the academic and intellectual environments at Oxford and Cambridge. From the finance-heavy focus at LBS to the industrial slant at IMD. There are distinctly different perspectives forwarded at each institution. This is to say nothing of program length, secondary language preferences, or even job placement distinctions. It seems that every time we talk to a client with U.S. aspirations, there comes a point where we jointly discover that an EU program could be the best fit of all. This then leads to a golden opportunity, because of Point #2.
2. Opportunity for Admission.
No matter how awesome a program is, it only matters if an applicant can get in. We are finding that our EU clients are getting in, over and over and over again. We think that the reason for our clients' successes goes deep. Most notably, it seems to reflect the primary focus among admissions consultants more than even applicants.
In our experience, few consultants have a real, dynamic handle on the EU programs - some don't even try. This is in large part because there are only limited hours and resources to spend. Also, because it's harder to visit schools abroad and have them visit us (in the form of fairs, conferences, dinners). Many firms or individual consultants make a business decision to just not deal with it. Some even give it lip service. But if you talk to them for an hour, you will quickly realize they don't know more than what is on a school's Wikipedia page. The overall impact of this is that very few clients are getting top-notch help with European MBA programs.
Let's face it, that means there are fewer high quality applications being submitted to those schools. By zeroing in on EU schools as a priority for us, we have been able to give our clients the same level of help on INSEAD, LBS, Oxford, Cambridge, IESE, HEC Paris, IMD, and others that we give them on HBS, Stanford, or Wharton. Partly because we have a very international mix of clients, and partly because we love what some of these schools are about. With a tiny percentage of the overall applicant pool submitting that kind of quality, it seems our clients are standing out. For example, understanding the DNA of the school, forwarding great, structured essays, and nailing the key themes are important.
If you can put a fantastic application together that is of the same quality you would submit to a top 5 U.S. program, you will enjoy a lot more visibility. In effect, you will "stand out" far more than you would in that equivalent U.S. program... just because of application quality alone.
3. Longer Applications.
Never fear the chance to tell a school what you are all about. HBS and other U.S. programs are busy trying to shorten the essay sets. Meanwhile, most EU programs have retained their "charmingly long" essay sets. This means a lot of work for the applicant, but a true opportunity to shine. A short set of essays can surely be very difficult. Some of our best work this year has been helping people navigate the microscopic HBS set. However, a long set of essays challenges you to showcase all the key themes, create synergy throughout, and hit fit and program DNA. All while telling powerful stories that are easy to read, of course. Frankly, we love EU applications. Challenge equals opportunity, for consultants and applicants alike. Seven essay questions at INSEAD? Bring it on!
All told, if you find yourself feeling daunted by the selective schools in the U.S., or if you are reapplying (maybe even a third time), or you just can't find programs that feel like great fits for you, take a long look at programs in Europe. You might just find some golden opportunities.