Which Business School is Better to get into Consulting ?

Hi there,

I agree with the others here!

1) A top 20 MBA would be most valuable

2) Between the two they are about equal (though I would lean IE)

3) You need to remember that regional differences matter. You need to think through where you want to work in consulting

4) Remember to consider all the other factors (cost, curriculum, student body, city you're living in, etc.)

Hi there, 

Congrats on the offers!

Both options are amazing and I wouldn't expect one to offer you a significant advantage over the other in terms of getting into consulting. 

In fact, besides the brand and their network, the degree won't be crucial in terms of helping you pass the interviews. Some schools do organise intensive case practice, but the feedback that I've seen given is far from stellar. 

The main advantage is that you're going to be surrounded by people who are chasing a similar dream and then you can learn alongside them. But aside from this, you're on your own in terms of starting early to practice for the interviews, but also to develop a proper application strategy.

Best,

Cristian

Hi there,

I think this is an interesting question that may be relevant for many people. I would be happy to share my thoughts on it:

• When it comes to choosing your master program, it's important to remember that both schools are considered target universities and can provide a solid foundation for a career in strategy consulting. Ultimately, the program you choose should be one that you are excited about and that you feel fits you best.
• Moreover, reputation is just one factor to consider, and while university rankings, like the one from FT, can provide some insight, their validity should also be questioned. Still, IE seems to perform better on these, on average.
• Lastly, what's more important is to have a strong application, with compelling documents and, ideally, a referral, to increase your chances of being invited to interviews.

If you would like a more detailed discussion on how to best prepare your application, please don't hesitate to contact me directly.

Best,

Hagen

Hello,

It would be helpful to:

1) Checkout both schools' career placement reports from the last 5 years

2) Use the LinkedIn filter to see how many people from your nationality/background have joined the firms that you want to join in the locations you want to join from both the schools.

3) Reach out to alumni from both schools to get a much more realistic perspective about placements.

Hope this helps!

Rushabh

Hi,

I would like you to look at this carefuly and thoroughly.

Its not just about the university and/or degree. Thats just one part and as long as you show good academic background, CV, strong application..you will get in. 

But dont make a choice just because you want to get somewhere in future. Focus on mutual FIT. You and the university (+ degree) need to FIT and once this happens you enjoy more, give your 100% and carve out the right path. I have seen too many candidates end up in the wrong place in the present to get somewhere.

Having said this, both your options are fine. You cant go wrong with either :). Have a look at this article for a bit more in-depth guidance- https://www.preplounge.com/en/articles/how-do-i-know-which-career-is-right-for-me

All the best.

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Hi there,

I would argue that - all other things equal (grades, extracurriculars,…) - both schools will provide you with the same career opportunities upon graduation (consulting and non-consulting).

All the best,

Florian

Both are reputable schools… so I would base my choice more on where I want to work (Spain vs. The Netherlands, although you may target other countries coming from those schools)  than on the school itself.

I would consider, though, that Spain tends to be more of a “hub” for companies that have business in Latin America, wheres The Netherlands is a hub for global companies in general. 

Depending on your backfgound, Rotterdam may be slightly better.

Hi there,

Let's take this one by one:

• “Does anyone have any suggestions on which degree could help me start a career in consulting at MBB in Europe?”  - Technically, any degree will do if your overall profile is impressive. Your academic merits are only part of the equation. However, nothing beats an MBA from a top b-school school in that regard. But at your stage that's not an option yet and you'd have to get some years of experience under your belt first.
• "Does either of these business schools have a better reputation?" - Both schools are fine. I would argue that, overall, IE probably has an edge over Rotterdam. Would suggest to do a quick linkedin search and cross-reference consulting professionals and school alumni from the various programs. This could even be a great way to reach out and start networking by simply asking whether they would recommend the school for your goals, and perhaps have 10 minutes sometime to discuss. I did my MBA at ESADE and went to on work at McKinsey and had a number of those calls from proactive students.

Hope this helps. Best of luck!

Moritz

Congrats on your offers — both are excellent schools! If your goal is MBB in Europe, IE Business School might give you a slight edge due to its stronger brand presence in consulting circles, particularly in Southern Europe and Spain. Their MIM program is also very flexible and offers great networking opportunities. That said, RSM is also highly regarded, especially in Northern Europe and the Netherlands, with solid links to consulting firms too. You might want to consider where you’d prefer to work geographically, since local connections and recruiting pipelines can really make a difference.