A very objective comparison of HBS and INSEAD

cotish

Yeah, I want to echo what is being said. I have spent a lot of time in both US and Europe and feel comfortable speaking about this. Let's assess this in terms of geographic reputation, industry reputation, and culture/vibe/student quality.

GEOGRAPHIC REPUTATION

In the US, there is a sort of "Harvard or Stanford" mentality.

In Europe, it's "INSEAD or Harvard".

I know it may be difficult for someone coming from the US to imagine that's the case, but that is how most people in Europe think. They're absolutely considered the two big frontrunners.

They are both very well regarded in Asia. HBS probably gets the brand equity edge because the parent institution "Harvard" is much more known.

INDUSTRY REPUTATION

They are both massive consulting feeders. INSEAD's nickname is McKInsead, and probably 1/6 people on campus at HBS either previously worked at McKinsey or will be headed there. Both have a large intake of sponsored MBB students and both put career-switching into MBB on a silver platter.

HBS is better for IB and Hedge Funds/Investment Management, globally, including Europe.

INSEAD is very strong in European PE, and HBS is strong in PE everywhere.

They are both obviously top schools for general management.

STUDENT VIBE/CULTURE ETC

A number of similarities and differences. The biggest similarities are that they are both "party schools", emphasize LEADERSHIP, and are not all that fussed about the GMAT (neither feel the need to "climb the rankings" because they're already at the top, and are quite willing to just check the box with the GMAT without really sweating over a 670 vs a 710 or a 750). They are both highly social atmospheres where a bunch of ultra competitive people try to get along as best as they can, and they live in a bubble from their surroundings. HBS students do some international travel, but INSEAD is structured to give you at least half a dozen chances to take proper long trips around the world.

One of the key differences I've seen is a cultural one of formality vs informality. HBS, as with most East Coast institutions, has a distinctly more crisp and formal feel to it, and in general, as with most East Coast Americans, they take themselves more seriously than Western Europeans do. I doubt you'd ever find anything even resembling the "Portrait Project" at INSEAD, and the administration probably dresses less formally and is more approachable/casual. No one in Europe feels the need to prove antiquity and continuity of tradition, whereas East Coast Americans are constantly blathering on about their personal and institutional heritage. If you aren't internationally versed, it will be hard for you to understand this, but there are clear differences across the pond and one of them is how seriously people take themselves. INSEAD alumni drop the suits pretty quickly. HBS is almost an in utero education for the C-Suite, Boardroom and elite invitation-only Club world.

One of the others has to do with the way in which these institutions are selective. HBS is extraordinarily selective, and its primary emphases are probably LEADERSHIP and GPA. The Harvard name draws a lot of applicants and the Admissions Office does its best to propagate the mythos that "anyone can get in." INSEAD, on the other hand, approaches selectivity very differently. In lieu of leadership and GPA, INSEAD focuses most strongly on INTERNATIONAL and CAREER PROGRESS. For the "international" they are very up front about it: "if you don't speak two languages fluently (including English) and aren't willing to learn a third, DON'T BOTHER." They aren't seeking revenue from 1,000 or 2,000 extra candidates who have no shot, and they are really clear about this point. The second is that they really want to see promotions on your resume - preferably plural. Business schools are a fairly risk averse business, and HBS seeks to reduce its risk through your brands and your academic performance, while INSEAD seeks to reduce its risk through your proven professional track record.

The other is what career track they want you to take as General Management schools. I think HBS loves the idea of you becoming a leading authority at a large, hopefully global institution. They want you to rock the institutionalized track. Conversely, it is rumored that they aren't all that excited about entrepreneurship. INSEAD has a huge soft spot for the entrepreneurial gene.

MONEY

This shouldn't be much of a concern. Making billions upon millions is up to you: both will set you up nicely for an upper middle class job straight out of business school. Cost of attendance isn't much of an issue either - HBS will provide funding for anyone they deem fit for the program (an amazing feature), and INSEAD automatically takes the lead in "opportunity cost" because it's a one year program that lets you get earning more quickly.

I hope this helps.

DISCLAIMER and CONCLUSIONS: admitted at INSEAD, didn't apply to HBS, and I think I'll be attending another school. I don't think you can go wrong with either, as they represent the very top of the business school hierarchy. I've met plenty of alumni from both who said "I only applied to 1/2/3 schools" and "I chose X over the other". I personally think HBS is probably the more "complete" of the two and gives you more bragging rights at cocktail parties. INSEAD nevertheless plugs you into an international elite quite quickly, which isn't a bad bet in the 21st century. Think about what matters to you.

hemodata

thank you for sharing=)