Choosing between SSE, NOVA and ICADE for my exchange semester

Question

Hi everyone,

my current situation: I’m halfway through my bachelor’s degree at a top 5 university in Germany, maintaining very good grades. I’ve already completed one consulting internship and will soon finish my second one at a T3 consultancy. My goal is to join MBB in Germany directly after finishing my bachelor’s degree.

Now, I need to decide where to go for my exchange semester, and I’m torn between three options offered through my university’s exchange program: SSE (Stockholm School of Economics), NOVA (Nova School of Business and Economics), and ICADE (Universidad Pontificia Comillas).

While my grades from the exchange semester won’t impact the final grade of my bachelor‘s degree in Germany, I assume they’ll still be relevant for MBB applications (?).

ICADE offers a significantly lighter workload then SSE & NOVA according to several exchange reports, which is something I would definitely prefer for my semester abroad. On the other hand, based on my research, SSE & NOVA have much stronger reputations (?).

I also want to note that, in terms of cities, I equally prefer Madrid, Lisbon and Stockholm… maybe Stockholm a little bit less then the other ones because of the temperatures :D, but that’s neglectable.

My main question is:
Would you recommend taking on the higher workload at SSE or NOVA for their reputations, or do you think it’s not worth the extra effort with regard to my chances at MBB?

I’d really appreciate any advice or insights; thanks in advance!

Answer 1

Hi Philipp,

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

First of all, and contrary to what other coaches have said, I think this is essentially a pseudo problem. As long as you graduate from a target university for German strategy consulting firms, it does not really matter where and how you spend your exchange semester.
Moreover, I wonder why you want to do an exchange semester at all, which is of course associated with more stress due to moving, getting used to the new environment, etc., if you consider the workload to be an important, if not the most important factor in your decision. How does it all fit together for you?

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

Best,

Hagen

Answer 2

Hi there,

Q: Would you recommend taking on the higher workload at SSE or NOVA for their reputations, or do you think it’s not worth the extra effort with regard to my chances at MBB?

I think there could be an impact due to the brand name of the school of the exchange if the following is true:

You are considering moving to the country where you will do the exchange in the future and/or
You see that candidates who joined that particular exchange have a better track record in consulting (it seems unlikely due to just an exchange, but I would check LinkedIn just in case).

Having said that, personally I would still take the best brand over a “more relaxed” exchange, but it is a personal decision.

Good luck!

Francesco

Answer 3

Hey!

To maximize your chances at MBB, I would prioritize SSE or NOVA for their stronger reputations, as brand recognition and perceived academic rigor can add credibility to your profile. SSE, in particular, is highly regarded in consulting circles, especially in Europe, but NOVA is also a solid choice. While ICADE’s lighter workload is tempting, it might not hold the same weight with MBB recruiters. If your exchange grades don’t affect your final GPA, focus on networking, extracurriculars, and maintaining balance, regardless of where you go. Given your goal and MBB’s preference for strong academic backgrounds, the higher workload could be worth the effort.

Best, Alessa

Answer 4

Hey there,

Based on what you're considering, I'd recommend SSE & NOVA due to brand strength. The decision would be based on optimising the strength of my profile - and choosing by brand does that over choosing a more relaxed environment. The 'cost-benefit' analysis works out more in favour of a stronger brand!

All the best

Answer 5

Hi there,

At the end, this is a very personal decision, and I would focus on where I want to spend x months of my life rather than what makes my CV more appealing to a company.

While workload might be high, lifestyle and experience at NOVA is great so I would opt for that. I am sure you would not regret a term abroad. :-))

Cheers,

Florian