MSc in Management

arturojgil

2 4

Posted Mar 02, 2014 04:32

Hello everyone.

I come to you seeking advice, since I'm trying to make an important decision that will affect my life enormously and I want to inquire into the subject as much as I can.
Here's the thing:
I am about to graduate in Interpreting of french, german, catalan, spanish and english. Yes. It has nothing to do with Management. Two years into my bachelor, I realized that I did not want to dedicate myself to what I was studying, therefore I started exploring other options, where to go next.
A few months ago, as a suggestion by my mother (Yep, she knows me best), I started looking into management. I fulfill many of the soft skills, actually most. I have always excelled as a leader, great communication skills, empathic, teamworker, etc. However, my management knowledge is around 0.1

What I want to know is: Is it worth it to do an MiM in EADA? (That's the best school I can apply to, money-wise). I haven't read any updated opinions, and that is indeed important, since this B-School seems to be escalating positions really fast (i.e. last year it was the 20th best MiM in Europe, according to FT).

So I'm a guy with many soft skills. My IQ is 152 and I'm an avid learner. But that's useless when it comes to being spotted by a good company hiring managers. They will see that I can speak many languages (Spanish, Catalan, English, German, French, Portuguese(intermediate) and Chinese(intermediate)), have lived in 5-6 countries and that have no management background whatsoever, just my MiM. I dont want to work now as an interpreter, that's why I think I would prefer an MiM rather than waiting for an MBA, if not I'd wait.

Any advice? Any opinion? Is it worth it spending 20.800? in EADA's MiM ranked 20th in Europe? Languages + MiM? I'd appreciate any comment.

Thanks a lot in advance.

BTW: I'm 25 years old (almost 26). No work experience besides some McDonalds stint and a couple of years as an english/german tutor.

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Duncan

14.013 15.475

Posted Mar 02, 2014 14:10

I think EADA is a good choice. It will do what it's designed to do, and it's designed for people just like you.

There are similarly good programmes in cities with a better employment situation than Barcelona, and many of those cost less. Would you be better off in Mannheim, Maastricht, Stockholm, Cologne or at Vlerick? Those programmes are designed for people without first degrees in business or economics.

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arturojgil

2 4

Posted Mar 02, 2014 14:33

Thanks for your answer Duncan.
Well the thing is my budget is exactly 20k and I dont pay rent in Barcelona, because I live with my parents. That means I can go somewhere else as long as the program is cheaper. But anyway, the 20th best MiM in Europe cannot be a bad choice can it?

What do you think about the rest I mentioned? Like:
- will I be a worthy candidate even if I dont have a management background?
- any advice on which branches of management would better suit my profile?
- you mention the bad employability of Barcelona, and I have read some other of your posts recommending people to study where they want to work. However I find that confusing. I understand that a MiM done in China would be brtter for someone wanting to work in a market like the chinese. But within Europe? Speaking their languages, will I have problems finding a job in Germany? France? Uk?
Btw: My plans are actually to finish the MiM and look for work in China for a couple of yeara in order to improve my chinese skills.

Thanks again

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Duncan

14.013 15.475

Posted Mar 02, 2014 16:42

These programmes are designed for people without a management background. If in doubt, focus on finance because you'll get strong analytical skills there are are useful even in marketing, consulting, sales, IT etc. I think you'll find it easier to find work in Germany, even if you are not German, with a top MSc than you will you in Spain, even if you are Spanish.

Why not do your MiM in China or Taiwan?

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arturojgil

2 4

Posted Mar 02, 2014 17:22

Well,
The main reason is the money. And plus, EADA has their own test if you don't have the GMAT, and I don't. I wouldn't have any problem doing it, but I am really short on time. I'm in my last months of my career, working on my thesis, and in order to get a 650 +- in the GMAT I would need at least a month of full preparation. And most of the school's deadlines wouldn't allow me to graduate and then prepare a month to take the GMAT. And one thing is for sure, I CAN'T lose another 6 months in order to start my MiM in 2015. (I'm already 2-3 years older than the average, plus lack management background).
And one more thing: I don't know if this is just a feeling of mine, but for Chinese corporations, doesn't it have like a special "pedigree" to have graduated from a top European/American school? Maybe I'm totally wrong and they cherish more their own graduates. I just thought I would not have that much problems landing something in China after graduating from EADA (even if its not so known, FT ranking is known, they just need to check), specially if you are learning Chinese and are into their culture. What do you think?

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Duncan

14.013 15.475

Posted Mar 02, 2014 18:44

I'm not sure how long it would take for you to get a GMAT score, but why not discuss it with those schools, or one or two of them? It's good to have an option.

I think a top MIM in Taiwan or China is a better basis for finding work in China than at EADA: it's not as if EADA is HEC or the LSE...

I'd look at Taiwan and perhaps Singapore.

EADA certainly isn't a bad option, but it's good to have choices.

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arturojgil

2 4

Posted Mar 02, 2014 18:52

Yes, it is probably a better idea, but the thing is I am not really sure if I want to do anything more than to finish learning the language and come back to Europe or perhaps USA.
By the way, how important are rankings like the FT's one? Because you mention that EADA is not the LSE, but the LSE's MiM is tied at 20th best in Europe with EADA's, and in the overall business schools ranking, LSE is 32th, while EADA is 25th. With HEC I do see an important difference.

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Duncan

14.013 15.475

Posted Mar 02, 2014 19:42

The LSE is the world's leading school of social science. It doesn't need to do well in the rankings to attract good students and employers. Not the best example.

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