UPDATE: This article was originally posted on November 18, 2019. It has been updated with new information and tips below. 

Recently, I was working with our client Vinit on his MBA applications when he asked me to explain more about how the profile of admitted students differ at US and European business schools. 

Though he’d looked at all the rankings and had chosen a few target schools, he was still having trouble understanding how the “ideal” applicant differs in Europe and the US. 

Most importantly, he was struggling to decide if these different profile preferences should influence his choice of target programs. 

He was definitely not alone in finding this aspect of choosing where to apply to business school confusing. 

Yet one of the most important parts of the MBA application process is finding out which schools best fit your profile and goals. All schools are different, so applying to programs whose values and class profile are aligned with your own is not only paramount to ensure you get the most out of your MBA, it can also be the difference between being admitted to your target schools and getting passed over for applicants who demonstrate better “fit.” 

Though there are many different elements you should consider when analyzing which business schools are best for you, here we are breaking down the 3 most important factors you should know when it comes to the ideal profiles at European vs. American business schools. 

We hope that, with this information, you’ll be able to zero in on the best schools for you and take the first steps toward using your MBA to reach the next levels in your career. 

 

Factor 1: Length

In general, there are many more 1-year programs in Europe than in the US, though the number of 1-year American MBA programs has increased. This gives you the chance to be highly strategic and choose a mix of lengths and/or regions based on the unique factors that determine which school is your dream school. 

Furthermore, since you’ll have less time to establish your network during a 1-year program, think carefully about how important moving to a new geography is to you post-MBA. 

For example, we recently advised our client Felipe who wanted to use his MBA and Italian citizenship to shift his career to Europe. Considering the recent birth of his first child and desire to start his own company, finishing his MBA quickly and getting back to work made him a good candidate for a 1-year program. 

Though there are excellent 1-year programs at top-ranked schools like Kellogg, establishing a network in the Chicago area then trying to leverage this network to land a job in Barcelona would be much more complex than it would be if he were attending a Spanish business school. For that reason, he targeted western European business schools before deciding to attend IESE. 

Though you definitely can move around after your MBA, programs tend to have stronger connections in the region and country in which they are located. For this reason, if your goals make it so building a network in a specific region (like Silicon Valley, for example) is crucial, you may want to opt for 2-year programs if no suitable 1-year programs are present in your target area. 

In Europe, you can also find programs, like IESE and London Business School, that let you customize the length of your MBA while you study. IESE, for instance, offers both 15 and 19-month degree options, yet you don’t have to decide which is best for you until you arrive on campus. As such, if you’re not sure if an accelerated program is best for you, you may want to take a closer look at European schools, since no top-rated American programs currently offer this option. 

There are numerous other factors you should consider when deciding which program length and location is best for you. We’ve outlined the 7 most important ones here. 

 

Factor 2: Class diversity

One of the main differences between MBA programs based in Europe (as compared to those in the United States) is the diversity built into each incoming class of students. 

Though all business schools seek to include numerous types of profiles to ensure no one “type” of student dominates the class, European schools have a much greater focus on including more people from around the world than do American schools. 

For example, at INSEAD, a total of 110 nationalities are represented and no one nationality constitutes a majority in the class. 

Image courtesy of INSEAD

On the other hand, at top American business schools, like Chicago Booth, the number of international students typically hovers around 40% of the overall class, meaning American students are a clear majority for US-based schools. 

Image courtesy of Chicago Booth

As such, when deciding where to apply, consider what type of network you’re aiming to build, as your MBA network stays with you for life! If your goals are more global in nature, make sure to consider how building a network primarily based in the US could impact those goals. 

 

Factor 3: Typical “profile” for admitted students

Here at Ellin Lolis Consulting, we believe that no two applicants are the same. For that reason, the programs we recommend to each applicant are completely different, based on the priorities, goals, and extenuating circumstances that make each applicant unique. 

However, certain profiles do tend to fit better with European business schools and others tend to fit better with American programs. Here, we have outlined just how typical profiles tend to differ in Europe and in the US.

 

Global experience and mindset

As business today increasingly takes place across borders, professionals with global experience and an international mindset are more valued than ever. 

At European business schools, however, showing you have significant global experience and want to continue to pursue (or start to pursue) a global career is not just a plus but is essential.

As such, if you’re looking to apply to a European business school, you should either have significant global work, study, or living experience you can highlight, or be able to showcase that you’ve not had the chance to pursue a more global career but want to use the MBA to change that. 

London Business School students visit Rio de Janeiro as part of the school’s Trek program, photo courtesy of @londonbschool on Instagram

Of course, American business schools also value international experience. However, it is not as essential as it is for European schools.

BOTTOM LINE: While global experience (and, as a result, being good at interacting with people who are different from you) is a highly valued trait at all business schools, European schools tend to place a stronger emphasis on this point. 

 

Communication skills

Good executives are more often than not great communicators. After all, how can you get a team to follow your lead if they don’t understand what you want them to do?

Just as in the business world, strong communication skills are highly valued by top MBA programs. After all, MBAs are inherently driven by group discussions and group activities. 

At European business schools, admissions committees tend to prioritize applicants who can demonstrate that they communicate well with people who are very different from themselves (especially with people from different countries). 

They also tend to value applicants who demonstrate they are good at handling conflict since, in highly diverse environments where hundreds of nationalities are represented, there are bound to be a few miscommunications along the way. 

Given the importance of this skill, it’s little surprise that many top European MBAs ask applicants to complete a mandatory video essay as part of the application process. This not only gives the admissions committee the chance to “meet” you, but it also shows them exactly how well you communicate. 

At American schools, strong communication skills are also a must for applicants. Given the fact that many US programs encourage active debate within the classroom, it’s essential that applicants be able to present clear, compelling arguments. 

Harvard Business School in particular tests this during the interview to make sure you are case study compatible, so it is especially important to diligently prepare for your admissions interview. 

BOTTOM LINE: Strong communication skills are essential for any student at a top MBA program.

 

Intellectual horsepower 

If you check out the “who we look for” section of any top business school’s website, you’ll likely notice that they mention they are looking for smart candidates. That’s little surprise, since top MBA programs are incredibly rigorous from an academic standpoint, meaning admissions committees want to ensure they select applicants who will be able to keep up. 

When it comes to measuring this factor, however, European and American business schools tend to vary slightly. 

At American MBAs, one of the most important metrics by which intellectual horsepower is measured is examining an applicant’s test score. Though testing challenges have slightly stalled the astronomical rise in scores seen in previous years, it’s still difficult to secure a spot at a top 10 US business school without a stellar GMAT or GRE score. 

TOP TIP: Not sure if the GMAT or GRE is best for you? Check out this article with tips on how to choose the right test for your profile. 

At European schools, however, GMAT and GRE scores tend to vary slightly more. This may be due to how business school rankings are calculated by top European media outlets. As such, if your score is slightly on the lower end, you may have better luck at European programs, which tend to apply a more holistic approach to evaluating applicants.  

Professor Michael Shulman delivers a lecture on the applications of machine learning to finance, photo courtesy of @mitsloan on Instagram

Your grades in college also matter since they provide another indication of your academic aptitude. 

As such, if your college grades are less than stellar, you may want to consider writing an optional essay to address why your grades were low (more tips on writing these types of essays can be found here) and should plan to study hard to ensure your GMAT or GRE score demonstrates that you do, in fact, have the intellectual horsepower needed to handle a rigorous MBA program. 

If you’re an international student, judging whether or not your grades are “good” can present an added challenge. For instance, in Brazil, grades are not curved, so receiving a perfect score is nearly impossible. As such, a student with an 8.0/10.0 could very well graduate #1 in his or her class. 

If you convert to the common 4.0 scale used in the US, you may worry your grades are simply too low to make you competitive at a top program. This is a mistake, however, as admissions committees will not compare you to students at US schools, but will compare you to other students in your region. As such, one of the best ways to show you did well for your particular university is to make sure to include your class rank when applying. 

BOTTOM LINE: Both European and US business schools are evaluating how academically prepared you are for their programs, however, students admitted to US business schools tend to have a higher average GMAT or GRE score. 

 

Leadership

At the end of the day, the MBA is designed to help young professionals develop the skills and network they need to become the leaders of tomorrow. 

It’s no surprise, then, that all business schools are looking for applicants with strong leadership abilities. Just take a look at the first point on Harvard Business School’s list of what they look for when selecting which applicants will join their coveted program:

Image courtesy of Harvard Business School 

BOTTOM LINE: Leadership is at the core of any MBA. As such, make sure you demonstrate your leadership experience. If you don’t have any formal experience at work, show off your leadership potential. 

 

Choose the right program for your future

Sometimes, having an expert – or experts – weigh in makes all the difference.

In general, skilled MBA consultants can be a great resource in helping you understand the differences among business schools, as knowing what schools offer and what kinds of candidates “fit” certain programs is at the core of our work. 

That’s why here at Ellin Lolis Consulting, we are so focused on offering a personal touch that ensures each of our clients is happy with their MBA decisions and outcomes for years to come. 

Because we know an MBA is not simply a gamble, it’s an investment in your future. Our commitment is to get you the best possible results and help you take your career and life to the next level.

That’s exactly the approach we took with our client Georgia, helping her not only earn a spot at her top choice program, INSEAD, but score a €20,000 scholarship in the process. 

In her words:

So whether you’re struggling to decide which school to attend or are just starting the MBA process, get in touch with us to find out how to put our hands-on approach to work for your maximum success.