IESE Business School in Barcelona (Spain) offers a 15-19 month program that has been ranked high consistently by Financial Times, Forbes, BusinessWeek and the Economist.
After the first year, students get the opportunity of a corporate internship, summer entrepreneur experience, or a social internship. The IESE Career Services team plays a key role in helping students.
Students also have the option of taking up international elective offerings in USA, Brazil, China, or Kenya. For those keen on a longer stay abroad, the International Exchange Program allows students to complete a whole term at another top MBA program in USA, France, India, China, Australia, or Latin America.
In this guest post, IESE MBA student Savita Hinger shares her experience.
IESE Business School: MBA in Spain
by Savita Hinger
I started preparing in December. I scheduled the exam in February. I studied for 2 hours on weekdays and 4 hours on weekends. Unlike most GMAT takers, I didn’t give any mock tests until the last 15 days of the exam. In the last 2 weeks, I gave one test everyday.
Most of the time was spent on analyzing the mistakes I had done and then working on them. According to my readings on the Internet I had an idea that I have to score around 700 on GMAT to convert my work experience and GMAT for a Good MBA College. On the GMAT test day, I made it to my expectations.
IESE Business School in Spain was one college that I desperately wanted to get into. IESE business school was second best in Europe (now the first!!). It was an 18 months program, which is ideal for candidates like me, to get a first hand on experience on a particular industry via an internship before starting your career full time. Moreover, it is the only B school, which provides a bilingual degree (English-Spanish)
I worked on my MBA essays and carefully chose my supervisors to write recommendations. I had clarity in my mind of what I wanted from MBA and that really helped while writing the essays. The essays were general but required deep thoughts and analysis of why you want to do an MBA at this stage in your life. The alignment of your short term and long-term goals is important. After a real hard work and the skills learned from GMAT, I have also started reviewing application essays.
After the application, I got an interview call from IESE. The interview preparation started. I read some articles and went thoroughly through IESE website. IESE is a college that emphasizes a lot of human values and social consciousness.
The interview lasted for an hour. Questions were asked from all my spheres of life and general awareness about world economy, globalization and work experience. The interviewer really made me feel comfortable, which made the environment of the interview relaxed. It’s important to be relaxed during an interview. They just want to know more about you as a person and your thoughts behind doing MBA and its fit with your long-term goals of career.
The waiting period started. Meanwhile, I started preparing for the applications for the R1 rounds of the next year. After a month, the results of IESE came. I was admitted and with a generous scholarship!!!
So, here I am in Barcelona enjoying the MBA experience and embedding skills in my career horizon.
The MBA studies are deep into focus of overall skill set. It’s very different from other education systems. Case studies, teamwork, fun lectures, sleepless nights and exams without stress are some key characteristics of an MBA. IESE is one of the toughest MBA program in the world, and at the same time, most fun too.
Meeting and working with people from various countries gives a broad perspective to your thoughts. Also, the IESE MBA gives you the chance to learn Spanish and enhance your overall profile.
What is really amazing is the room of opportunities that MBA opens for your personal development. I got to know about such industries and career options that I had not even considered before. It’s not a small world anymore!!
It’s a one in a lifetime experience.
Muchas suerte!! Adios!!
Cheers.
Any questions for Savita regarding the IESE MBA rankings, MBA cost (tuition, living), scholarships, average GMAT score etc. Here’s the link –> MBA in Spain @ IESE Business School forum.
Interesting post.. Enjoy your experience..
Hi Sameer
That was a very insightful article. I am an XLRI’11 pass-out and have worked at Goldman Sachs Equity Research (captive unit i.e. more of back-end role) and currently working in Axis Bank in Corporate Banking. I have 5+ yrs of post MBA workex in total.
I wish to do a 2nd MBA with the aspiration of moving into Investment Banking Buy Side in a Front End role (AMC, PE, VC, etc). Does a 2nd MBA make more sense or a more specialized course like Masters in Finance ? If not MBA, what are the good options for post experience MIF in US and Europe? I believe the concept of MIF is more prevalent in Europe than the US, right?
Also, I’ll be turning 30 this year and will be close to 31 by the time I start applying. Is it a bit late ?
Thanks!
Hi Sameer. . I have a 5 yr exp. I am an Assistant Professor. I want to go into management field. With a good GMAT Score… Will the Top B schools consider me. And will the companies during the placement drive look at my previous exp or area. I have plans to do in Europe.. Regular or 1 yr or executive. which one shall I opt for. what will be the scope.?
@Pathikrit: If you are very clear that you want to stick to the finance field, an MFin may help. But keep in mind that you’ll be back in class with a younger cohort of students. And the type of job opportunities that you’ll get via campus placements will be for junior roles.
@Zain: Companies will look at your pre-MBA experience as well. Before tackling the 1 year MBA or 2 year query, think about what the MBA will do for you. Don’t expect the bschool to give you that answer. Think and plan the career graph now, and then decide if an MBA is right for you.