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Hi,

I have an issue here selecting schools. First, I need to explain that I want to finance my MBA with a scholarship that a Spanish bank provides. If I do the MBA in Spain I could start it next year (2011). However, if I do it anywhere else, because of the scholarship, I couldn't start it until 2012.

So, I was going to apply to IE in Madrid (ranked number 6 worldwide by the Financial Times) to start the MBA in 2011. However, after talking to different professionals working in top investment banks and consulting firms, everybody advices me to do the MBA in the States.

Thus, I'd like to know if my profile is good enough to get into one of the top schools in USA (HBS, Stanford, Wharton etc.)

- I studied business administration in Spain. I don't know what my GPA is but I got the best record award
- I worked 2 years in a top consulting firm in Spain where I worked in different risk projects for BBVA (second biggest bank in Spain), My performance was good since I got a promotion to a senior position after the two years.
- Afterward, I came to Shanghai where I worked 9 months for an international financial advisory company. I worked as a Financial adviser assistant and got promoted to Financial adviser but I decided to quit to study Chinese
- I will study Chinese for one year. If I finally decide to do the MBA in the States I am planning to work in a financial company in Argentina or Brazil for one year before the MBA
- GMAT 720

I would appreciate if you could give me your opinion on the following:

- IE vs. American schools
- Evaluation of my profile in order to get into a top school in the USA

Thanks a lot.

July700,

IE is a great school, definitely among the elite few in Europe, and a great place to earn your MBA if your career goals are entrepreneurial or focused on Europe or Spanish-speaking countries. In terms of its brand value in the U.S., that's a tougher question. There are frankly probably several U.S. schools that are not IE's equal yet have stronger brands with U.S. recruiters. You appear to have a strong enough profile to aim very high in the U.S., though I'm not sure it's 'unusual' enough to make Stanford and HBS likely admits for you (I am not discouraging you from applying there, however). Wharton and schools of its caliber would be more doable, but I would want to know more about your profile before committing to that. Feel free to send me your resume/CV at [email protected] for a closer look.

--Paul