Hello qyqing, Got to know that you work in IBM. Actually, 5 years ago, I also worked in IBM SH for about 1 year. Here's the answer of one friend when someone asked him how to choose between MBA program of Oxford and INSEAD. I think maybe you are in the similar boat as that guy. It's just his personal opinion and I post it only for ur information. > My reasons for choosing INSEAD > >1) Quality. While one might argue that the top 10 or 12 school in the FT rankings offers the same educational quality, I think these top 10-12 are definitely a class above the rest. (BTW for Value For Money INSEAD is #1! ) > >2) International Diversity. I think INSEAD trumps all other MBA programs in this aspect. Where else can you find a bus-obsessed Indian working in Australia and a chat-efficient, luxury-industry enamored Russian French working in Germany studying side by side? Seriously, INSEAD prides itself on not having any nationality consisting of more than 10% of the student population. I doubt you'll find that to be true anywhere else (maybe IMD with only 90 students) > >3) Brand name. Here is where I completely disagree with you Telis. INSEAD has excellent brand name in the field we are concerned with : the business world. Whereas a literature major would know Oxford more than he would know INSEAD, what relevance does that hold to us? Brand name is only good in 3 aspects of your career : recruiters, work colleagues and clients (for entrepreneurs). If you want to run for politician (in England or Commonwealth countries), maybe Oxford is the better choice. But a career in business? I bet you INSEAD has better brand name around the world. >INSEAD has good brand name recognition in Europe, Asia and (now) US. Taking a non-representative sample, most educated Indonesians have an idea that INSEAD is a 'damn good school' but most will have no idea that an Oxford business school existed. (I didnt until I read this thread! ) As for the concept of a good brand name of a University 'seeping through' to the Business School, I dont think that concept ever works or ever will (ie Yale). > >4) The only real difference would be your choice of place to work. For more international mobility, I would choose INSEAD. You can pretty much work in Europe or Asia, and US to a lesser extent. If you are focused on working in Britain, then MAYBE Oxford is the better choice. > >5) Another point in relation to rankings : I feel that one of the better indications of a school's 'true' rank, is what its Alumni thinks of it. After all they are the one who have invested and experienced it, and are best positioned to judge the value of their experiences. INSEAD is 5th (close to rank of 4), whereas Oxford is 44th (as opposed to its rank of 26). |