<p>The title says it all. Compared to American MBAs, are international MBAs at the good schools (like INSEAD, IIM in India, etc.) more or less competitive than the good programs here (not just HSW, Tuck, etc. but also the 11-20 schools like UCLA, Duke, etc.)? Does being an international help one's case at all? How would an international degree look to American employers?</p>
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<p>thank you for the reply the_prestige. But any comment on how difficult those are to get into? Also, I’m kind of in a unique spot in that I want to do something that is travel heavy and interacting abroad, but I also want to work for a US company in the US if that makes any sense. For example, I’d want to work for McKinsey in some major US city but do a lot of working abroad in other countries (such as India), so would an international MBA hurt me in anyway if I wanted to do that provided I go to a good program?</p>
<p>the_prestige:</p>
<p>No mention is made of Oxford or Cambridge. I realize neither school is ranked that well, and that both are very young, but should we really consider a school like IESE a better investment than, say, Oxford? Much of this argument also applies to Yale (which, as I recall, you echoed elsewhere on this site). Isn’t it a fair bet that Oxford and Cambridge will only improve in the years to come owing to their amazing histories (just like Yale SOM)? How can we discount globally recognized universities like these and the prestige they impart? Because they do not fare well in the rankings? Isn’t that a bit superficial?</p>
<p>I’d absolutely agree with the Oxford argument (along the same lines of the Yale SOM argument). Only difference is that Yale’s time has come whereas Oxford is still a ways away. Having said that, after INSEAD, LBS and IMD, if I had to choose a European b-school - Oxford Said would prolly be my next choice simply for those very reasons I argued for SOM. I have no doubt it will be a fast riser.</p>
<p>So you think Oxford > Cambridge? Why? They seem to be comparable. In terms of worldwide academic rankings, Cambridge may even have the edge.</p>
<p>I understand most feel that IMD, INSEAD, and LBS are roughly equivalent to the 4-7 US programs. What programs are the American equivalents of Oxford and Cambridge? Cornell? Virginia? Georgetown? What are we talking here?</p>
<p>I don’t necessary believe that Oxford > Cambridge. In fact, having visited (on numerous occasions), lived and worked in the UK, it is my understanding that Cambridge prolly does have a slight edge over Oxford.</p>
<p>Having said that, Oxford’s international rep is stronger and broader than Cambridge’s. In fact, aside from Harvard, it’s hard to think of another academic institution that enjoys that kind of instant academic recognition. </p>
<p>In the end, however, they are both extremely young MBA programs (I believe only about 10-15 years old? give or take?) – they’ve got a long way to go before they are competing with the absolute top tier b-schools (at every level: faculty, students, curricula, recruiting, funding and of course alumni network). Coming back to the Yale SOM example, although it is also relatively new vs. its US counterparts, it has come a long way in overcoming those growing pains – it’s not exactly there yet, but its come such a long way in a relatively short period. In terms of American equivalents to Oxford Said? I guess those are decent examples you pointed out – from my own perspective, I’d prolly go to Cornell / G-town over Oxford, but I’d go to Oxford over UVA – depends really… I mean you are talking to a person who has always viewed studying, living and working abroad as an incredible opportunity rather than a risk, so my view will be very different from your average prospective MBA student (particularly from the US obviously).</p>
<p>Georgetown-McDonough over Virginia-Darden?</p>
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<p>in reality, if those were my only two choices, i prolly wouldn’t go to either. if Oxford were in the mix, i’d seriously consider it over G’town / UVA.</p>