To get in to a MBB is it better to go to a top American non-target school or a top European University.

Question

I am a sophomore in high school trying to plan a basic path for my career. I have been looking at colleges and all of the target schools I have seen are expensive and I preferably do not want to make my parents pay close to 80k for my college tuition yearly. I know their are scholarships but I am not sure I can get them I am not even in the top 25% of my class , my school is a private college preparatory school and way more competitive then any other school in my area. I hope to go from undergraduate to MBB to MBA to hopefully CEO. I am currently considering Bocconi, or St.Gallen if I go to Europe.

Answer 1

It will also depend a lot on where you are planning to start a career. A top European school will help you land an offer for MBB in Europe, but a semi-targets in the US will likely help you more from a direct recruiting aspect to land an offer there.

Please reach out if you’d like to chat a bit more on this. Being European-based and having spend significant time in the US, I can provide you more tailored insights to help with this specific situation too most likely.

Answer 2

Hello there,

Both are useful to join MBB, the difference would be the time you would have to wait (4 years vs 7 years +-) and the total cost. You may get MBA scholarships if your performance as an undergrad is good and if your performance at work is outstanding. In your favor, you have time.

Good luck and don’t forget that there are many other fulfilling careers besides consulting.

Best,

Mari

Answer 3

Hey, target schools are better for applying to MBB. The non-target route is not impossible, but way harder. Same applies for finance roles.

Answer 4

Generally target is better than non-target. Especially in this climate, it's hard to break in from a complete non-target school.

If you want to join MBB in Europe, I would suggest going to a European target school.

If your aim is to join MBB in the US, a target school in Europe is still not ideal, since you won't have on-campus recruitment funnelling you towards US offices.

Answer 5

Hi Cole,

First of all, congratulations on the clarity you already have at this early stage!

I would be happy to share my thoughts on your question:

If you’re aiming for top strategy consulting firms and are concerned about tuition costs in the U.S., I would advise you to apply to a European target school instead of a U.S. non-target school.

If you would like a more detailed discussion on your specific situation, please don't hesitate to contact me directly.

Best,

Hagen

Answer 6

Hey there, I'm based in Switzerland and did my MBA at HEC Paris. Bocconi and St Gallen are not considered top schools - at least not for MBAs. Top MBAs in Europe are pretty much only LBS and INSEAD (especially the latter for MBB/consulting).

Furthermore, a key question is: Where do you want to end up post-MBA? US or Europe? If you want to be in the US, go with a US program. If it's Europe, go with a European program.

If you'd like to know more about MBAs in Europe and post-MBA job prospects in Europe, I'd be happy to help - please reach out directly.

Answer 7

Hey there.

I think it comes down to geography. If you want to work for MBB in Europe go to a European school. If you are looking to move the US and work for MBB there, then go to a US school.

Best of luck, let me know if chatting through this is helpful. I moved from Germany to US for MBA and joined BCG in the US.

Cheers,

Andreas

Answer 8

Hi there,

If you want to go to a target school that is more budget-friendly, then indeed, Europe is a good option (including the two that you mentioned).

What you do have to bear in mind is that then you'll also be applying to work for these European offices (since they will be the ones targeting the European universities). So then the question is whether you want to at least start your career in Europe.

Second, you should also take into consideration that for most European offices they expect fluency in the local language. So that will narrow your options, unless you either plan to learn the respective languages or you know them already.

Best,
Cristian

Answer 9

Hi Cole!

Really smart that you're thinking ahead already! Between a top American non-target and a strong European university like Bocconi or St. Gallen, you'd actually have better chances with Bocconi or St. Gallen if you're targeting MBB, especially in Europe. Both are semi-targets to targets for McKinsey, BCG, and Bain, and they’re much more cost-effective than US options. They also offer great career support and a clearer pipeline into consulting in EMEA.

If you can’t get into a US target with strong aid (like Harvard, Wharton, Stanford), then going for Bocconi/St. Gallen is a very smart, strategic move. Just keep building your profile and aim to do well once you're there. MBB loves top performance at top schools, no matter the country.

Let me know if you want help comparing more schools or planning the path!

Best,
Alessa :)