In this video, I am talking about the 12 main differences I observed during my MBA in a US and a European program.
You will be provided with my personal view on what I have experienced during that time, so you can make the best possible decision for your own MBA experience.
If you are currently exploring options on MBA programs, you might find this content very useful, insightful, informative and hopefully entertaining.
The biggest differences from my perspective are:
00:00 - Intro
00:57 - 1. Product recognition
My general perception was that a US MBA carries more weight and impresses a lot more people than a European MBA.
However, there are indeed a couple of great schools on the old continent!
03:16 - 2. Job opportunities:
There are more companies coming on campus to recruit MBAs in the US than in Europe. Also, there are more MBA specific recruitment programs in the US than in Europe.
One big difference between the US and Europe is networking. US employers expect you to network with the firm and its employees.
Very important: Hiring takes place locally! Choose the destination, where you want to end up after graduation.
The US is much more open to career changers. If you plan to make a triple jump (change location, industry and function), the US is your best bet.
05:21 - 3. Alumni and milk rounds
The strongest alumni organizations and recruitment support can be found in the US. Their recruitment assistance is broader and deeper than at European schools.
05:58 - 4. Electives
This is a huge contrast between US and European business schools! Because American schools tend to sit on top of well-established large universities, you will be able take classes at any other school at the university you are attending. At European business schools you will have access to electives only at your school.
Most US schools give you the chance to take electives in the first year as way of preparation for your internships.
07:15 - 5. Class size
US business schools tend to have larger classes.
The larger the class, the more people you are going to meet and the more it helps your personal network to grow.
08:02 - 6. Faculty and Quality of education
The top business schools of the world, all have first-class faculty, but US business schools are clearly leading the field based on their research contributions.
08:35 - 7. Network
The school's overall network will depend on the location of the school. With a European MBA, you will have a solid network in Europe, and given the high rate of international students, you will be making friends with students from all over the world. However, if you want to end up living and working in the US, you should choose your MBA program accordingly.
09:38 - 8. Tuition and total cost
The average tuition fee for an MBA at one of the top-tier programs: USD 60,000 - USD 75,000 per year with living expenses between USD 15,000 - USD 25,000 per year.
For Europe: EUR 65,000 - EUR 90,000 for the entire program, with living expenses between EUR 800 to EUR 1,500 per month.
Very important: Watch out for scholarships! You will find more scholarships in the US than in Europe.
10:59 - 9. Lifestyle and culture
US Business Schools are normally affiliated with a larger institution, whereas European schools are stand-alone business schools, which are founded specifically to advance business education. Here is the downside: You are often in a bubble, where the only people you know or meet, are people from your MBA school. At US schools, you have access to other schools and get to meet people at so called "mixers", where they organize events for business school students and students from other schools.
12:51 - 10. Class schedule
For US schools, classes are usually held Monday-Thursday starting in the mornings and ending early afternoons.
In Europe, you normally have 5 days of school, packed with classes until the late afternoon followed by optional language courses.
13:18 - 11. Student body
European schools have over 80% of international students, while you will find around 40% of international students at US schools. Euro schools are ahead on multi-cultural issues, e.g. language requirements. In case learning new languages and experiencing new cultures excite you more, then you should go for a European program.
14:50 12. Languages
MBA schools Except for MBA courses in the UK, following an MBA degree in any other European country is not only a chance to learn more about a new culture, but it is also an opportunity to learn or brush up the skills in another foreign language.
15:20 - Outro
Useful links:
US News MBA Ranking: www.usnews.com/best-graduate-...
UT Dallas research rankings: jindal.utdallas.edu/the-utd-t...
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