Posted by - abmms - on 18 November 2011 - 11:05pm

• Posted by - HV - on 28 November 2011 - 9:26pm

  Hi abmms,
  I quite like your doubts posed to Thomas.
  Kind of reflects my state of mind as well.

  A random doubt,if you are clear that u wish to get into marketing/brand management post your degree,
  doesn't a masters in marketing degree make more sense than a generalist masters in management course ?

  Reply

• Posted by - Thomas Graf - on 19 November 2011 - 6:40pm

  Hi Abmms,

  thank you for your kind feedback and your question. I am glad that our advice was useful for you and I wish you good luck for the interviews. Maybe you can even publish a little experience report here - it may be useful for our readers.

  As for your questions you mention several external developments that may influence your decision-process with regards to a Master program. My personal opinion is: I would not let my decision depend on the current Euro-crisis and the debt-problems of Greece, Italy, or Spain. A Master program at a top business school should have a value on its own and independent of economic crises. Instead, the key questions should be:

  • Where do you want to work later on, after your Master in Management?
  • And which Master in Management program at which Business School maximally increases the likelihood that you will reach your goal?

  You mentioned the working restrictions for foreigners in the UK. This does not affect your Business School decision because it holds no matter at which school you study. So let's ignore it.

  You mentioned the London Business School (LBS). This clearly is a top school in Europe, one of the top 3 I would say and always a great address if you want to work in Europe later on. Again, if the political situation in the UK does not allow you to work there of course also the LBS may nt be able to change this.... But...

  1. This work permission situation may change some day - and then a Master from LBS provides you with a top record in your CV
  2. Europe is bigger than the UK - so you may be interested in starting your career outside of the UK
  3. Finally, if you are interested in working outside of Europe check the LBS's network (e.g. partner schools) and talk to the career service about their experience with placing graduates outside of Europe

  As for Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business Masters in Management, this is also a great address in the US although I am not so familiar with it. Again, you may be able to contact the career service people and ask them about their experience (and even statistics)
  about placing their graduates in your target area.

  You mentioned the potential Europe-USA difference with respect to the profileration of a Master in Management (MIM). Actually, the MIM is a European experience and many people in the US wouldn't even know what it is. Only recently a US-American friend of mine asked me "Why do you need a Master in Management if there are MBA programs?" - Well, I explained her the differences ...

  Therefore, if you want to work in the US:

  • I would either choose a Master program in North America at a Business School with a top reputation (so that the school's reputation compensates for the potential lack of reputation of the program)
  • or I would go for a non-US school (e.g. in Europe) with a strong network to the US

  If you want to work in Europe,

  • I would either choose a European School with experience in placing Indians in Europe
  • or a non-Europe school with connections to Europe

  Again, the career office at the schools are your best target. By asking them and observing theri answers you may also get an impression on how professional or customer-friendly they are. For instance, if you send an email and need to wait three weeks until you get an answer this may not be a signal for you that the school's placement activities after graduation are high...

  I hope I could be helpful.

  Best wishes
  Thomas

  Reply

  • Posted by - abmms - on 19 November 2011 - 8:54pm

    hi thomas,

    thank you for your inputs. i will definitely try helping in any way i can .

    you make some valid points.
    The choice for me really is between the US and the UK markets.

    It is interesting what you say about the Masters programs in US. I looked up the rankings. The only school in the top 15 which offered a masters , was Duke fuqua .

    Logically, one would want to study in the place where one wants to work, at least short term.

    Could you throw some more light on the US choices you highlighted, when you mentioned North America .

    Best
    abmms

    Reply

    • Posted by - Thomas Graf - on 19 November 2011 - 10:27pm

      Hi Abmms,

      yes, the MIM is a new phenomenon in the US. But I am sure that the demand for these programs eventually will change the educational system in the US overtime.

      Among the North American Business Schools that offer Master in Management fulltime programs, I have heard primarily from the following programs (which does not mean that the other schools are bad):

      Thunderbird
      Duke
      Hult
      Richard Ivey
      MIT Sloan (only for executives with experience)
      Queens
      Rochester
      Stanford (Sloan, only for executives)
      Massachusetts
      HEC Montreal
      Virginia

      But again, this is subjective. Checking Rankings for US Business Schools may be a better idea.

      Best wishes
      Thomas

      Reply