Welcome to F1GMAT’s #askAtulJose series. I am Atul Jose. Today’s question is about the INSEAD MBA program. The question is:

Q) I work in Singapore with 5 years of experience in a boutique consulting firm serving the Asia Market. I am torn between the idea of choosing a 1-year program in Singapore through INSEAD MBA or a US-based two-year program. My goal is to continue in Singapore as a Management Consultant.

Atul Jose (MBA Admissions Consultant, F1GMAT): INSEAD MBA has been a puzzling outlier to consistently rank among the top 10 schools in the world if you look at the program’s post-MBA placements with the median base salary or the sign-on bonuses as the performance indicator. For instance, the latest class had a median base salary of $103,800 compared to the $130,000 to $150,000 median earned by MBA graduates from top 20 schools.

It is only when you look closer to the class composition you truly understand the value the 1-year program offers to candidates who wants that quick push in their career.

#1 Factor to consider: International Nature of the Class

Top US schools barely accommodate 15-20% truly international students (without PR or dual citizenship) whereas INSEAD is home to a vibrant international student base with the latest graduating class attracting students from 85 nationalities and placing them in 60 countries through 260+ employers. If you are looking to developing that international perspective that is tough to be emulated in a class environment with majority American students, then I would suggest INSEAD over a US-School.

#2. Campuses

A big part of an MBA from a top school is the access to the network. INSEAD has a unique 3-campus plus a hub structure where you have campuses in Singapore, the Middle East and France with a hub in San Francisco with 1000+ students entering the MBA program every batch. That is a huge opportunity to connect and network with a diverse group of professionals from consulting background.

#3. Top Recruiters

For the 2020 graduating MBA class, among the top 10 recruiters, 7 were from large Management Consulting firms that featured McKinsey, BCG, Bain, Strategy&, Accenture, & Kearney. Another interesting aspect was that for these recruiters, the returning employees were less than 25% . A lot of consultants from boutique consulting firms had the opportunity to convert interviews to offers in larger consulting firms. So if your goal is an upgrade in employer size and the exposure to processes that comes with it, INSEAD again becomes a good choice.

#4. Singapore (Pre-MBA Management Consulting vs. Post-MBA Management Consulting Compensation)

The Pre-MBA base salary range for a Management Consultant in Singapore falls between S$66k-4$96K USD or $49,000 to $71,942, for a Consultant with 5-8 years of experience that is the typical age group for the incoming class at INSEAD. According to the INSEAD MBA employment trends, for 21 Singapore MBA graduates who were placed in Management Consulting, the median base salary was $104,500 – that is close to an 80% increase in salary with an additional $160,000 in savings when you consider the opportunity cost and the cost of a typical 1 year in a US school.

From a return-on-investment perspective, especially for someone who is not a career switcher with 5+ years of experience, and someone who wants to find opportunities in Singapore, I would recommend INSEAD over US-Schools.

Reference

INSEAD MBA Essay Guide

PayScale Management Consultant Salary Range (Singapore)

1-Year INSEAD or 2-year US MBA program (Singapore Applicant)

#1 Factor to consider: International Nature of the Class

#2. Campuses

#4. Singapore (Pre-MBA Management Consulting vs. Post-MBA Management Consulting Compensation)

Want to try the individual school Essay Guides before upgrading to the Winning MBA Essay Guide? Try below.

F1GMAT's Essay Guides

F1GMAT's MBA Essay Tips

F1GMAT's Essay Examples

F1GMAT's Services