Admitted: Which BS in Europe (HSG, WHU, RSM or others)?

+vibes

9 18

Posted Jun 04, 2020 19:37

Hello everybody,

I got accepted to HSG (St. Gallen), WHU (Otto Beisheim), RSM (Erasmus).

Background:
EU citizenship, BSc/MSc Engineering, 4 years of experience in Purchasing, manufacturing industry.
MBA Goals:
1) change geography (Switzerland, Germany or Netherlands); 2) change industry (consumer goods, technology, telecommunications) 3) go up one level (Procurement Manager/Sr. Manager).

What BS is best and why, pros/cons, ROI, post avg salary, geography?
Would you potentially aim to any other school (in Europe)?

Thank you.

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Duncan

14.013 15.475

Posted Jun 04, 2020 20:18

Wow. Congratulations on getting admitted to HSG. That is tough!
Do you speak better Dutch, German or French?

Wow. Congratulations on getting admitted to HSG. That is tough! <div><br></div><div>Do you speak better Dutch, German or French? </div>

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+vibes

9 18

Posted Jun 04, 2020 21:18

Wow. Congratulations on getting admitted to HSG. That is tough!
Do you speak better Dutch, German or French?

French B1. Could improve it also quickly.No German nor dutch. Would like to learn German.

[Edited by +vibes on Jun 04, 2020]

[quote]Wow. Congratulations on getting admitted to HSG. That is tough! <div><br></div><div>Do you speak better Dutch, German or French? </div> [/quote]<div><br></div><div>French B1. Could improve it also quickly.</div><div>No German nor dutch. Would like to learn German.</div>

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Duncan

14.013 15.475

Posted Jun 04, 2020 21:25

I'd go for HSG unless you are LGBT. It's easier to learn German there than in Düsseldorf, and your French might be more useful to a Swiss company. Plus, IMHO, HSG is very picky and if they want you then they think their target employers will want you more. I think HSG, especially with older managers, has real cachet.

But it's a small town.

[Edited by Duncan on Jun 04, 2020]

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+vibes

9 18

Posted Jun 04, 2020 22:06

I'd go for HSG unless you are LGBT. It's easier to learn German there than in Düsseldorf, and your French might be more useful to a Swiss company. Plus, IMHO, HSG is very picky and if they want you then they think their target employers will want you more. I think HSG, especially with older managers, has real cachet.

But it's a small town.

what about swiss market, post mba, for EU citizen without German?still chances or no chances?
It's an interesting point, because I'd say it's easier to learn German in Dusseldorf vs. St. Gallen (Swiss German).
Any more thoughts about WHU?Seems very well connected with companies and has a great alumni network.

[quote]I'd go for HSG unless you are LGBT. It's easier to learn German there than in Düsseldorf, and your French might be more useful to a Swiss company. Plus, IMHO, HSG is very picky and if they want you then they think their target employers will want you more. I think HSG, especially with older managers, has real cachet. <div> <br><div><br></div><div>But it's a small town. </div></div> [/quote]<div><br></div><div>what about swiss market, post mba, for EU citizen without German?</div><div>still chances or no chances?</div><div><br></div><div>It's an interesting point, because I'd say it's easier to learn German in Dusseldorf vs. St. Gallen (Swiss German).</div><div><br></div><div>Any more thoughts about WHU?</div><div>Seems very well connected with companies and has a great alumni network.</div>

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Duncan

14.013 15.475

Posted Jun 04, 2020 23:17

Swiss firms seem very open to foreign talent. HSG has a tiny MBA and they pick their candidates well. The thing about Düsseldorf is that, like Frankfurt and Berlin, it's full of foreigners who don't really integrate so you don't have to learn German if you are lazy. I'm St Galen, of course you will use Hochdeutche and people will reply to you in it, with a Swiss accent, not in Swiss German, in the same way that no-one in Munch speaker Bayerische to foreigners.

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Duncan

14.013 15.475

Posted Jun 04, 2020 23:18

WHU is well discussed on other threads.

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+vibes

9 18

Posted Jun 06, 2020 05:30

Swiss firms seem very open to foreign talent. HSG has a tiny MBA and they pick their candidates well. The thing about Düsseldorf is that, like Frankfurt and Berlin, it's full of foreigners who don't really integrate so you don't have to learn German if you are lazy. I'm St Galen, of course you will use Hochdeutche and people will reply to you in it, with a Swiss accent, not in Swiss German, in the same way that no-one in Munch speaker Bayerische to foreigners.

Are the following reviews realistic, according to you?
https://www.wallstreetoasis.com/forums/st-gallen-has-terrible-prospects-for-non-swiss-students

https://gmatclub.com/forum/university-of-st-gallen-hsg-mbf-2014-intake-162926.html

[quote]Swiss firms seem very open to foreign talent. HSG has a tiny MBA and they pick their candidates well. The thing about Düsseldorf is that, like Frankfurt and Berlin, it's full of foreigners who don't really integrate so you don't have to learn German if you are lazy. I'm St Galen, of course you will use Hochdeutche and people will reply to you in it, with a Swiss accent, not in Swiss German, in the same way that no-one in Munch speaker Bayerische to foreigners.  [/quote]<div><br></div><div>Are the following reviews realistic, according to you?</div><div><br></div><div><a href="https://www.wallstreetoasis.com/forums/st-gallen-has-terrible-prospects-for-non-swiss-students">https://www.wallstreetoasis.com/forums/st-gallen-has-terrible-prospects-for-non-swiss-students</a><br></div><div><br></div><div><a href="https://gmatclub.com/forum/university-of-st-gallen-hsg-mbf-2014-intake-162926.html">https://gmatclub.com/forum/university-of-st-gallen-hsg-mbf-2014-intake-162926.html</a><br></div>

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Duncan

14.013 15.475

Posted Jun 06, 2020 06:19

This seems to be one post from 2014 and another about the same post. But, yeah, if you don't speak German roles are limited in the German speaking region.

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Duncan

14.013 15.475

Posted Jun 06, 2020 06:21

If you are not planning to learn the local business language, then this is also an issue in every country. Nothing special about HSG.

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+vibes

9 18

Posted Jun 15, 2020 19:07

If you are not planning to learn the local business language, then this is also an issue in every country. Nothing special about HSG.

I have narrowed down my decision to HSG and WHU.
Anyhow, it is not an easy decision for me.

This is what I learned so far:

HSG
PROS: brand, 4th BS in EU (FT ranking), 60th-ish MBA FT ranking (since 2015), solid programme.
CONS: location, cost, career service, personal development, could be expelled after the mid term (learning assessment week), highly focused on finance, hard to get into Swiss job market.

WHU
PROS: location, cost, private BS, scaled up 30 positions MBA FT ranking (since 2018), good career service, strong focus on Entrepreneurship, personal development, higher scholarship.
CONS: younger/less well-known brand, new in ranking.

Class size is the same, 40ish.

Am I focusing too much only on brand & ranking for HSG?

I've got a good gut feeling on WHU and job market is bigger/wider in the whole DE (consumer goods, telco, tech).

Any other suggestion, point of view, thing I am missing?

Thank you.

[quote]If you are not planning to learn the local business language, then this is also an issue in every country. Nothing special about HSG. [/quote]<br><br>I have narrowed down my decision to HSG and WHU.<br>Anyhow, it is not an easy decision for me.<br><br>This is what I learned so far:<br><br>HSG<br>PROS: brand, 4th BS in EU (FT ranking), 60th-ish MBA FT ranking (since 2015), solid programme.<br>CONS: location, cost, career service, personal development, could be expelled after the mid term (learning assessment week), highly focused on finance, hard to get into Swiss job market.<br><br>WHU<br>PROS: location, cost, private BS, scaled up 30 positions MBA FT ranking (since 2018), good career service, strong focus on Entrepreneurship, personal development, higher scholarship.<br>CONS: younger/less well-known brand, new in ranking.<br><br>Class size is the same, 40ish.<br><br>Am I focusing too much only on brand & ranking for HSG?<br><br>I've got a good gut feeling on WHU and job market is bigger/wider in the whole DE (consumer goods, telco, tech).<br><br>Any other suggestion, point of view, thing I am missing?<br><br>Thank you.<br><br>

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StuartHE

1.200 720

Posted Jun 15, 2020 20:02

I think you are mistaken to equate brand with rankings. The rankings serve the global markets for business schools that advertise and candidates who read. HSG is higher because of the success of its MSc. In terms of the MBA and EMBA there's no difference between HSG and WHU. But HSG is really Swiss. WHU is around 40 years old. It's not a *very* new brand.

The critical thing here is that you can't work in German. In that context, HSG makes no sense at all. WHU is the better option.

I think you are mistaken to equate brand with rankings. The rankings serve the global markets for business schools that advertise and candidates who read. HSG is higher because of the success of its MSc. In terms of the MBA and EMBA there's no difference between HSG and WHU. But HSG is really Swiss. WHU is around 40 years old. It's not a *very* new brand. <br><br>The critical thing here is that you can't work in German. In that context, HSG makes no sense at all. WHU is the better option. 

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+vibes

9 18

Posted Jun 15, 2020 20:25

I think you are mistaken to equate brand with rankings. The rankings serve the global markets for business schools that advertise and candidates who read. HSG is higher because of the success of its MSc. In terms of the MBA and EMBA there's no difference between HSG and WHU. But HSG is really Swiss. WHU is around 40 years old. It's not a *very* new brand.

The critical thing here is that you can't work in German. In that context, HSG makes no sense at all. WHU is the better option.

thank you for the good points - I agree with you. Without German, WHU sounds more logical too; even if I've talked to some alumni working in DE, CH without knowing German for few big corps.

[quote]I think you are mistaken to equate brand with rankings. The rankings serve the global markets for business schools that advertise and candidates who read. HSG is higher because of the success of its MSc. In terms of the MBA and EMBA there's no difference between HSG and WHU. But HSG is really Swiss. WHU is around 40 years old. It's not a *very* new brand. <br><br>The critical thing here is that you can't work in German. In that context, HSG makes no sense at all. WHU is the better option.  [/quote]<br><br>thank you for the good points - I agree with you. Without German, WHU sounds more logical too; even if I've talked to some alumni working in DE, CH without knowing German for few big corps. <br><br><br><br>

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StuartHE

1.200 720

Posted Jun 15, 2020 21:19

Given that you don't speak German, you must have been a very interesting candidate to get accepted by HSG.

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+vibes

9 18

Posted Jun 15, 2020 22:08

Given that you don't speak German, you must have been a very interesting candidate to get accepted by HSG.

Thank you.
I have met quite some alumni, in both, that did not speak German. So, I was not the only one. For sure you have less chances on the job market afterwards but there are quite some international companies (and also Ginevra, in Switzerland, requiring French).

One interesting point I forgot for HSG is the semester abroad. You could do 5 electives in one of the following ones:

Imperial College Business School, London, United KingdomTrinity College Dublin, IrelandCopenhagen Business School, DenmarkEM Lyon Business School, FranceNanyang Technological University, SingaporeMacquarie University Graduate School of Management, Australia
If feasible (given the amount of studying and COVID), London or Singapore, would be quite interesting.

Whereas WHU has 3 international modules (weeks) but not really exchange semester or electives abroad.

[quote]Given that you don't speak German, you must have been a very interesting candidate to get accepted by HSG.  [/quote]<br><br>Thank you. <br>I have met quite some alumni, in both, that did not speak German. So, I was not the only one. For sure you have less chances on the job market afterwards but there are quite some international companies (and also Ginevra, in Switzerland, requiring French).<br><br>One interesting point I forgot for HSG is the semester abroad. You could do 5 electives in one of the following ones: <br><br><div>Imperial College Business School, London, United Kingdom</div><div>Trinity College Dublin, Ireland</div><div>Copenhagen Business School, Denmark</div><div>EM Lyon Business School, France</div><div>Nanyang Technological University, Singapore</div><div>Macquarie University Graduate School of Management, Australia</div><br>If feasible (given the amount of studying and COVID), London or Singapore, would be quite interesting.<br><br>Whereas WHU has 3 international modules (weeks) but not really exchange semester or electives abroad.

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Duncan

14.013 15.475

Posted Jun 16, 2020 00:12

If you are looking for work in the country, you don't want to spend a lot of time abroad

If you are looking for work in the country, you don't want to spend a lot of time abroad <br> 

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