As a launchpad for an international career, more financially viable, and incredibly diverse, an MBA in Europe was a no-brainer for these US students
The US may dominate the Financial Times Global MBA Ranking, but last year the Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC) reported that 70% of two-year MBA programs in the US saw falling application volumes; Asian and European business schools are on the up.Across the Atlantic, MBA programs in Europe are often shorter—the is 16 months, as opposed to the traditional two-year US MBA—offer increased classroom diversity, and an immersion into a pool of different business perspectives that help when it comes to launching international careers post-graduation.
The last point is exactly why Zack Savarie, a US student in the HEC Paris MBA class of 2019, decided to enrol in business school in Europe. He is one of a number of American MBA students who have upped sticks and moved to Europe for business school in the last few years—HEC Paris alone saw a 21% rise in US demand back in 2017.
“I wanted to be able to be mobile throughout my career,” he explains, “to go between the US and Europe. Whereas a European MBA would work well in getting me what I wanted in the US, if I went to a US school it would be a little bit harder to then go to a different continent.”
Before the MBA, Zack spent eight years in active duty for the US Army. His final three years were spent in Italy, and he says he wanted to leverage the manifold European operations he led during his time there.
He’s an example of the diversity on offer for students who study their MBA in Europe.
Coming in from the military, Zack’s classmates can learn from a skill set that revolves around understanding people, getting groups to work together, and making decisions under pressure. “That carries over really well into the business world,” he asserts.
Zack advises prospective US MBA students looking at Europe to consider if their impassioned by a desire to set themselves up for an international career between continents.
Not many Americans go outside of the US for business school, he says, and if you want to be an American who works outside of the country you must show you are willing to move and immerse yourself in an environment that offers a totally different perspective on how business works.
More bang for your buck
Born and raised in Montana, Danielle Herring then moved to New York City for university, where she studied politics and French at NYU, graduating in 2014. She moved to Paris in 2015 to work for a US law firm as a paralegal, and her attachment to Europe has remained intact ever since.
Her wish was to move from law to business, and she identified an MBA as the key to unlocking this door. Especially, if she ever wanted to move back to the US.
Geographically, she wanted to stay in France, and after looking around she finally found the MBA at .
“It was super diverse,” she says, “much more diverse than I’d had at NYU in undergraduate. All my study groups have people from different countries and professions. I’ve learned so much from being around different types of people.”
The reason she swapped the US for Europe in the first place, Danielle explains, is that she loves the challenge of being in a completely different environment, of being immersed in a culture other than her own.
But, moving to Europe also comes with a plus in the form of a shorter, more financially viable option.
“I wanted the international experience, but also the European [MBA] was significantly cheaper than the US,” Danielle explains. “and that made a big difference in my decision.”
Around the world in MBAs
Jonathan Wiedeman (pictured below, right) fell in love with the European culture during university—he minored in French and studied in Grenoble for six months. He then moved back to the US to graduate, and worked there in the subsequent years, eventually landing a role within IBM’s market insights division.
The time for Jonathan to study an MBA eventually came around—he wanted to career triple jump, changing function, company, and region—and to confirm he wanted to do this abroad he asked IBM to place him on assignment for a few months. He ended up assigned to a post just outside of Paris.
It seemed that the beckoned, and soon enough Jonathan joined the class of 2020. He’s now revelling in the international atmosphere cultivated in the classroom.
“The diversity of the students, and the level of internationalism on some of the MBAs in Europe is on another level,” he explains. The HEC Paris MBA is made up of 93% international students, and 60 nationalities.
“Those perspectives and experiences, and the connection they bring to the table, is something that is really foundational to launching a career in another location.”
It’s why he swapped the US for Europe for his MBA. Since joining HEC Paris, Jonathan says he has gained a more robust perspective on how to approach business problems and decisions; can better understand the different perspectives people bring to a discussion; and can more comfortably assess how to communicate and present himself in a business setting with people from different cultures.
“Getting that experience of how people come to work and expect to be managed and led is a great experience for becoming a great manager and leader wherever I work in the future,” he concludes.
Student Reviews
Cultural experience
I have met the most competent and diverse batch in this school. These people not only thrive on their own but also makes sure that you are doing it with them. The professors will take your had and walk you through all milestones and make sure you are not left behind. I have found their extracurriculars extremely engaging. There was always a room to have social life after academic life. The only hindrance is the location of the school, it is slightly outside city and living in city is expensive.
Internationality and diversity of opportunities
About my programme I would say it is very international and flexible: we have the opportunity to choose exactly the courses we want. But at the same time, the frame of the campus is crucial in students' life and enable us to create friendships.
Great selection of people
While HEC's MBA is highly selective, I really enjoy the type of people HEC's selects to make sure everybody gets the best out of their MBA experience and networking opportunities. Not only it's an incredibly diverse pool of people (~60 nationalities) but most importantly they make sure to let in friendly empathic and curious people.
Best in France for Grande ecole
A prestigious business school. Languages are important. It is better to have a scientific baccalaureate with excellent grades in high school and good assessments.
The courses are well designed as per the latest trends and practicality of learning in stressed upon. Overall, a very good experience.
Diversity and quality of fellow students
Very international and interesting place to be and opens a lot of opportunities, however the administration is very french and facilities are subpar (gym, classrooms) meaning the academic affairs is pretty much useless and lastly we are graded on a curve which can create a toxic environment because of the competition. With that being said the pros outweighs the cons by far.
The quality of the teachers, the campus, the clubs
The school is very international indeed, we have courses with international students and share things with them within the extra academic life (in the social clubs especially). We have great career prospects if we prepare ourselves well - however, the global curriculum is still very finance-oriented, which is a pity for other interesting domains of the company world, which does not rely on finance only. The social clubs are good practice for the management and for now, are quite independent.
HEC Paris awaits you
HEC Paris is really a nice place to do a master's in business. Many classes are useful and interesting (corporate finance, financial accounting, contract law…), some are less - but the curriculum is to be reviewed in the year to come. Regarding the student life, it is incredible, with about 130 clubs, lots of great parties with even greater people. The Jouy campus offers a lot of opportunities to do sports, and you can breathe fresh air every day. HEC also helps a great deal to find an internship or a job.
A dream institute
Enrolling in the HEC MBA was by far the best decision I made for myself. The people and faculty are great, with lots of opportunities to meet people and expand your horizons. Very nice campus where I have had some good running sessions.
The alumni network is superb and very helpful. It also has a good support system for entrepreneurs. Would definitely recommend it!
Good choice for a career boost
The classes were extremely practical and relevant to the current challenges that businesses are facing. You have access to a wide range of professionals and good career prospects once you leave the university.
Cultural experience
I have met the most competent and diverse batch in this school. These people not only thrive on their own but also makes sure that you are doing it with them. The professors will take your had and walk you through all milestones and make sure you are not left behind. I have found their extracurriculars extremely engaging. There was always a room to have social life after academic life. The only hindrance is the location of the school, it is slightly outside city and living in city is expensive.
Internationality and diversity of opportunities
About my programme I would say it is very international and flexible: we have the opportunity to choose exactly the courses we want. But at the same time, the frame of the campus is crucial in students' life and enable us to create friendships.
Great selection of people
While HEC's MBA is highly selective, I really enjoy the type of people HEC's selects to make sure everybody gets the best out of their MBA experience and networking opportunities. Not only it's an incredibly diverse pool of people (~60 nationalities) but most importantly they make sure to let in friendly empathic and curious people.
Best in France for Grande ecole
A prestigious business school. Languages are important. It is better to have a scientific baccalaureate with excellent grades in high school and good assessments.
The courses are well designed as per the latest trends and practicality of learning in stressed upon. Overall, a very good experience.
Diversity and quality of fellow students
Very international and interesting place to be and opens a lot of opportunities, however the administration is very french and facilities are subpar (gym, classrooms) meaning the academic affairs is pretty much useless and lastly we are graded on a curve which can create a toxic environment because of the competition. With that being said the pros outweighs the cons by far.
The quality of the teachers, the campus, the clubs
The school is very international indeed, we have courses with international students and share things with them within the extra academic life (in the social clubs especially). We have great career prospects if we prepare ourselves well - however, the global curriculum is still very finance-oriented, which is a pity for other interesting domains of the company world, which does not rely on finance only. The social clubs are good practice for the management and for now, are quite independent.
HEC Paris awaits you
HEC Paris is really a nice place to do a master's in business. Many classes are useful and interesting (corporate finance, financial accounting, contract law…), some are less - but the curriculum is to be reviewed in the year to come. Regarding the student life, it is incredible, with about 130 clubs, lots of great parties with even greater people. The Jouy campus offers a lot of opportunities to do sports, and you can breathe fresh air every day. HEC also helps a great deal to find an internship or a job.
A dream institute
Enrolling in the HEC MBA was by far the best decision I made for myself. The people and faculty are great, with lots of opportunities to meet people and expand your horizons. Very nice campus where I have had some good running sessions.
The alumni network is superb and very helpful. It also has a good support system for entrepreneurs. Would definitely recommend it!
Good choice for a career boost
The classes were extremely practical and relevant to the current challenges that businesses are facing. You have access to a wide range of professionals and good career prospects once you leave the university.
Diverse
HEC, as an academic institution, serves as a launching pad for students to excel in their pursuits and careers. The diversity among students and professors is truly remarkable. The chance to attend seminars across five major continents is unparalleled. The exposure and relationships it fosters are invaluable.
Super diverse
It's a super diverse and fascinating environment with tons of chances, but the management is very French, and the facilities like the gym and classrooms are not great. This makes the academic side quite ineffective. Plus, we're graded on a curve, leading to a competitive and sometimes toxic atmosphere. Despite all that, the benefits definitely overshadow the drawbacks.
Surreal academic experience
What stood out to me about HEC was the direction and insight it offered on coding approaches. Prior to joining the program, I attempted self-learning, but I felt disoriented and lacked a starting point.HEC enabled me to grasp the basics of programming and provided support when I encountered obstacles. Without that guidance, I doubt I would have achieved the progress I have made to date.
Good security
HEC boasts a dedicated team of security personnel who undergo rigorous training to ensure the perpetual maintenance of tranquility and orderliness within the institution. Their unwavering efforts are directed towards fostering a sense of security among the student body, thereby enabling them to channel their energies predominantly towards their academic pursuits.
Innovative teaching method
I am thoroughly enjoying my time at HEC, from the innovative teaching methods to the welcoming campus environment, which is particularly supportive of international students. The extracurricular opportunities, such as sports and associations, are incredibly valuable. Additionally, the career services offered are exceptional. Overall, I find my experience at HEC to be truly enriching.
mim
HEC Paris has been a transformative experience for me. The caliber of the faculty, the diversity of the student body, and the global network it offers are unmatched. The curriculum is highly flexible, allowing students to tailor their learning experience to their career goals, and the focus on real-world application through case studies and consulting projects provides invaluable hands-on experience. The campus itself is beautiful, and the opportunities to engage with leading companies through internships, competitions, and networking events have been incredible. HEC truly prepares you to be a leader in today's complex business world. I couldn’t have asked for a better program to propel my career forward.
Unwavering enthusiasm
Here's the first paragraph:
I embarked on a journey to Paris, where HEC University welcomed me with open arms. As I stepped onto its prestigious campus, I was captivated by the infectious energy and innovative spirit that filled the air. The passionate faculty, industry experts, and fellow visionaries from around the globe shared their knowledge with unwavering enthusiasm."
Exceptional Experience
HEC offers an exceptional experience that I highly recommend. The small-town setting allows for a unique blend of academic rigor and community engagement. The peaceful campus and close-knit student body create a warm environment. Proactive engagement with professors yields valuable guidance. Friendships may blossom slowly, but persistence pays off. The city's beauty, scenic views, and diverse eateries near campus enrich the experience. University dining may not impress, but it's decent.
