[經驗分享] About IESE Business School

[aqun680711]

大家好,最近這裡很多有關IESE的新聞,身為IESE一年級的學生之一,我也來post一下我的感想,希望給有興趣的人參考.

This article is about “Why I think IESE is a good business school”

About me:
I was born, grown up, educated and worked in Taiwan before IESE; so I can be the sample of someone never going abroad before MBA.
GMAT: 710 (Q: 51; V: I forget; AWA: I forget)
TOFEL: 250~260 (Actually I don’t remember the score, but it is not very good.)
Work Exp: 4.5 yrs; most in fin industry.

Why MBA?
I raise this question at the very beginning because I think it is very very important in a sense that it forms your expectations therefore satisfaction of your MBA experience.
To me, firstly, I want international exposure because I’ve never studied and lived in the other country.
Secondly, I want to enrich my skillset (most of them are soft skills like communicating and teamwork with foreigners) for my next career because I want to work in an international firm.
Finally, I want a school with “enough” reputation to bring me the chance to interview with those investment banks.

Why Europe?
1. GDP of the whole European Union is bigger than US.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_GDP_(nominal)It does not make sense that 90% of people going to US and only 10% going to EU to study MBA. I admit the business education is originated and considered better in US than in EU. But the difference should not be 90% to 10%.
2. The culture and environment in EU are FAR MORE DIVERSIFIED than in US.
3. Unfortunately, Harvard, Wharton and Stanford don’t let me in.

Why Spain?
1. THE WEATHER, THE PEOPLE, THE CULTURE ARE FANTASTIC!!
2. I want my MBA experience to be more CHALLENGING and DIFFERENT so I choose a non-English specking country.
3. Other things being equal, the price level is cheaper than London (the other school I’ve considered.)

Why 2 years, not 1 year?
My English is not so good as someone have lived abroad, so I need more time to get used to the English-speaking environment. If I were in a one year program, I would be busy in academic work and job-searching and probably end up with nothing.

Why IESE?
Here comes the points.
a. Career: I want to do IB, so one of my criteria is to find a school has enough reputation to help me get the interview with those banks. And IESE definitely has this competence. (http://www.chemy.idv.tw/phpbb2/viewtopic.php?t=23781&sid=a301922ade31f3c5d6d551dd7bc4e72b)

b. People: I believe the students selected by the same admission system will have the similar quality. In IESE, I think the quality of people is SUPPORTIVE and KIND. This is rather general, so I suggest you should experience this by yourself. (http://www.chemy.idv.tw/phpbb2/viewtopic.php?t=23945&sid=a301922ade31f3c5d6d551dd7bc4e72b)

c. Case study method: I really have a deep feeling that Taiwanese education system is very rigid in a sense that we could do routine things super well (Nobody in the world can make a better OEM/ODM than Taiwanese people.) but we could not think things in a logic and creative way. That is to say, we like to find a standard answer instead of thinking open questions. However, in real life, if you want to do something, what we need more is the latter. “Case study可以救台灣學生” said by my respective prof in NTU. I DO think CASE STUDY is something you have to experience from a Taiwanese student’s perspective.

d. Reputation: This is IESE’s weakest part in Asia. Reputation requires time so I don’t expect it will change the ground within 3 years. However, I could guarantee you that IESE has the first-tier quality faculties and students in the world. Ex: I have colleagues in IESE gave up offers from Harvard, Kellogg and NYU. From a typical Taiwanese view, they must be insane. Come on, at least you should trust Harvard’s choice, shouldn’t you?

e. Spanish: I can speak Chinese very well (this, I am confident) and English (this, I will say communicable). My friend, try to imagine if I can speak Spanish which is one of the third most used language in the world, then I can communicate with 90% of people in the world. How great it is!! Next year, I want to go to South America for summer vocation. I am sure Spanish is something nice to have then.


http://www.iese.edu/en/Programs/MBA/MBA.asp
Enjoy

[masq156]

Okay, since SH and Aqun have taken the lead, let me follow them and share my first 6 months of experience at IESE and BCN.

First thing first
About me:
Grew up in the States and in Taiwan (14 and 12 years respectively),

GMAT: 700
TOEFL: 290
Work experience: 3 years in consulting in TW

Applied to IESE very very late (May, I think)

Why did I apply to and choose IESE?
Always wanted to come to Spain since young. Was attracted to the diversity and size of the student body at IESE. Has good reputation but not that well known in Asia. Case study method. Strong ties w/ many top schools (not only in the States). Has successful job placement results. Very very strong faculty.

What do I now like about IESE?
Team, Team, TEAM. At the beginning of the school year, the students are divided into teams of 9 or 10. Since during the first year, we all take the same classes, every morning we spend about an hour discussing the cases for that day and other academic or personal issues. Since most of us go through similiar issues (housing, cultural shock, academics, etc.) you can easily find support (actual or emotional) from one of your teammates. You basically develop a 革命情感 which is one of the strongest bond you can develop during the MBA. Through working together, through time, people get to know you better and you will gain respect for being who you are. I must say that not all teams are as cohesive since it takes the effort of all the teammates. But if you try, the team experience might be the most memorable oneduring the first year. For me, this was something I totally did not expect to happen, but 'till now it is the best part of my MBA experience.



What do I now dislike about IESE?
If your top priority is to learn Spanish, BCN might not be the best place to be. The local language in BCN is Catalan, and basically all most all business is dealt in Catalan. It is just like going to Southern TW and people basically speak Taiwanese. During the MBA, you don't have much time to study Spanish and at the same time, you won't be hearing much Spanish on the street or on TV.


Hope this helps. Happy applying.

Susan

[GOTOWEST]

Susan,

You applied to the school so late.

Did you have scholarships ?

And Does IESE do phone interview ?


thanks for replies

[masq156]

No, I didn't get a scholarship. The biggest problem with applying late was the visa application. I didn't expect to get the visa so late, 1 day before my flight to BCN.

IESE does video conferencing. Trust me, video conferencing is much better than phone interviews.

Good luck!

[sophiechen]

WOW, great experience, thanks for your sharing