Posted by - Harsh Mehta - on 18 November 2013 - 5:08pm

• Posted by - Thomas Graf - on 21 November 2013 - 5:17pm

  Hi there,

  thank you for your question. As both schools are serious schools that fulfill international accreditation standards of management education, I recommend you comparing the schools and see which one meets your goals more.

  • Check the curricula: Where do you learn more what you want to learn?
  • Check the program structures (length, practical phases included yes or now): What do yo prefer?
  • Check the student demographics: Where do you feel more comfortable? Where, for instance, are more students of your nationality (as a signal that the school likely has experience with helping you find a job)?
  • Check the career services at both schools: Which one do you prefer?
  • Check the firms that recruit Master in Management students at both schools: Which employers? Which industries? From which countries?
  • Do you want to work in France or Germany later on? If you want to work in a third country, which of the two schools is known at your favorite employer?
  • Check the tuition fees and living expenses as well as scholarship options.
  • Have you talked to current students and alumni from both schools already?
  • Compare the way that he admissions people treat you: Which one is more polite? Competent? Faster? Where do you feel more comfortable?

  Best wishes
  Thomas

  By Thomas Graf

  Reply

• Posted by - Thomas Graf - on 20 November 2013 - 6:12pm

  Hi there,

  my PERSONAL opinion is: Good education pays always off - independent of the economy. This means, the more competence I build up the higher will be my career chances (although there is no automatism between building competence and job success of course).

  Next, I always recommend to differentiate and narrow down. As for Europe, this continent consist of 30 to 45 different economies, depending on how narrow you define Europe. The economy in France is different from Spain, for instance, or Germany or the UK. As for one specific country, there are differences regarding career perspectives depending on industries, employers, regions, school career services etc. There are always jobs - the question is whether you can find and get them.

  After this general thoughts, my answer is: Yes, I (let me emphasize that: I am really talking about myself only here) would apply at these institutions because (1) they provide a great education, (2) have a great reputation in France, (3) have a regional business network, and (4) have a reputation beyond France.

  To what degree these institutions are the best for other people, however, is a different question - each one needs to answer this by him- or herself - and the lead question mentioned above need to be addressed to thee institutions as well.

  If your want to work in France after graduation, clearly these schools belong to the best schools. If you do not necessarily want to work in France (e.g., because of the French language or VISA regulations etc.), then I would only study there if I am sure that the schools' reputation is known someone else. If I wanted to work India, for example, I would try to study at schools abroad that are known at my target employers in India.

  Best wishes
  Thomas

  by Thomas Graf

  Reply

  • Posted by - Nishant - on 21 November 2013 - 4:06pm

    hi can you please suggest me which is best school for masters in management ... i have researched but need your suggestion em lyon or ebs business school ??? just give your opinion ..which one would you choose if you were in my state ??

    Reply

• Posted by - Harsh Mehta - on 20 November 2013 - 4:45pm

  Thomas,

  Definitely. I have asked their career cell. I am waiting for their response. Apart from that there was one more question that I wanted to ask. Hearing that that the European Economy is not doing good at the moment, would you suggest me to try for HEC Paris and ESSEC and other good European Schools?

  Reply

• Posted by - Thomas Graf - on 20 November 2013 - 4:25pm

  Harsh, just in case you should start at Thunderbird please let me know. Maybe you can write a blog about your study experience there. Don't worry, "writing a blog" does not mean too much of work. Just a little report every 2 or 3 months, would help others a lot.

  All the best
  Thomas

  Reply

• Posted by - Thomas Graf - on 19 November 2013 - 7:27pm

  Hi there,

  if you have analyzed the school according to my suggestion above and the MBA Ranking link, you see that Thunderbird is:

  • on position 88 in the US News Best Business School ranking
  • does not appear in the Global MBA Ranking of the Financial Times
  • does not appear in the Forbes MBA Ranking
  • is on position 97 in the Economist MBA ranking

  Hence, in general MBA rankings, Thunderbird is not very present. However, when it comes to specific sub-rankings the school has an impressive record and indeed seems to have managed a reputation for international business.

  What does this, together with the AACSB accreditation, mean? First, Thunderbird is a serious school that follows international management education guidelines and standards (AACSB accreditation). If you study there, you will receive first-class education. Second, the school is not seen as the top-MBA provider or at the same level as schools such as Columbia or Wharton. But maybe that's not what you need anyway. Third, the school has build up a niche reputation particularly regarding its international perspective, its distance programs, and regarding alumni networking. That's great, and it confirms that the school is good - even though it may not be Harvard.

  Now, the question for you is: Does the school provide you with enough benefits so that you achieve your career goals? And is it the best school for this?

  If you have looked thoroughly on the school's curriculum and program structure, as you say, then you know what you will learn. I guess you also have done this with other schools - so content-wise, you have compared several programs now and should have a good sense on what you can expect in terms of building competence through a Master. Also, you may have checked out whether your target schools offer electives or specialization opportunities as well as internships or in company projects during the program.

  What is still left for you to make a decision is the question about the career impact. You already raised some important questions and here are some more:

  • Where do the graduates start to work? (country, industry, employer)
  • What do they work? (task, position)
  • How many find a job 3 months of graduating?
  • How much experience does the school have with placing students of your nationality?
  • Which career services does the school offer?
  • Which firms come to campus, e.g for a recruiting fair?

  These are the lead questions in my opinion that you need to investigate: (a) through the schools' websites, (b) through talking with admissions managers (or career service managers) at your target schools, and (c) through talking with current students and alumni (ask the school to bring you in contact) - along the answers that you get from these sources, you can compare the programs to shape your final decision.

  There is another source: You can contact employers. For instance, if you have 2 or 3 target employers (then you also know 2 or 3 of their competitors, right?) - so, you can contact them and ask if they know, acknowledge, and even recruit from Thunderbird and your other target schools.

  Altogether, this is the roadmap that I recommed to you. Then you find answers also to your question "Is it worth it?" and is Thunderbird to be preferred over other schools.

  best wishes
  Thomas

  by Thomas Graf

  Reply

  • Posted by - Harsh Mehta - on 20 November 2013 - 3:11pm

    Hey Thomas,

    Thanks a lot. I guess thats a very good advice and really very helpful.

    Reply

• Posted by - Thomas Graf - on 19 November 2013 - 5:32pm

  Hi there,

  well, a Master in Marketing helps you to build up knowledge in marketing including subtopics such as brand marketing and marketing strategy. If that's what you want to learn the a Master in Marketing makes sense for you.

  With this new knowledge, you increase your chances that you get a job in the area of marketing. Also, a school that offers a Master in Marketing ideally should also have an employer network and career services that help you find such a job. Again: I recommend you contacting schools such as Thunderbird (Jay Bryant) on this - they should be able to tell you what kind of career services exactly they offer. But in general, I think you are on the right track.

  As for the best courses, I can only refer you to the list provides in my article.

  As for Thunderbird, I know you want my opinion. But I don't want to do your job. First you need to analyze the school - and then I am happy to comment. As a starting point: Watch out for MBA rankings to check the general exposure of Thunderbird in the field of management; and have a look at my accreditation article and check Thunderbird according to this. Then move on analyzing the information provided on the school's website.

  Expected GRE scores: In general, the more selective a school, the higher the GRE scores expected. I recommend you screening thee schools' websites - I mean the Master in Marketing sections - and screen the requirements. Also screen the FAQ section. You should find either minimum scores or at least average scores. As you can see here, Thunderbird has an average GMAT score of 610. 610 corresponds roughly to a 67 percentile. A 67 percentile means a GRE score of 300 roughly.

  In general, I recommend you to invest some effort in screening websites carefully as this will answer any of your questions.

  Best wishes
  Thomas

  By Thomas Graf

  Reply

  • Posted by - Harsh Mehta - on 19 November 2013 - 5:48pm

    Hey Thomas,

    As I already said that I have already done my part of the research. Thunderbird is Worlds Number 1 school for International Business Courses. Apart from that it it also AACSB certified. I also had a look at the entire website. But there is always a second opinion and a professional opinion required from some one who is best in the business . SO just wanted your feedback as to how do you consider THunderbird and as compared to its peers and is it worth it. So jus wanted some guidance for the same.

    Reply

• Posted by - Thomas Graf - on 19 November 2013 - 12:11pm

  Hi there,

  thank you for your question. As for the recruiters and the salary, I suggest that you send an email to Jay Bryant using our REQUEST INFO Button. As for US marketing schools, please check the links at the bottom of our marketing article.

  Best wishes
  Thomas

  By Thomas Graf

  Reply

  • Posted by - Harsh Mehta - on 19 November 2013 - 4:56pm

    Hey Thomas,

    I guess the links that you provided were pretty much helpful. There were one or two more doubts which I had:

    1. I am planning for my future in brand management or marketing strategy, so do you think Masters in Marketing would be the right course for me to pursue?
    2. Will msc in marketing lead me to the right job in the above mentioned fields?
    3. Which are the best courses tat could help me achieve a good job in the above mentioned area of interest?
    4. Also if you could throw some light on the THunderbird School of management course of " Msc in Global Marketing : your view on the same ( As I am more inclined to the same)
    5. THe expected GRE scores for joining some good colleges?

    Reply