IE Business School Programmes

Hi Robin,
I'd need more information about you in order to weigh in on your question. Let's start with your "fit": where do you align with IE's incoming class in terms of demographics, GPA/GMAT, post-MBA goals, etc? If you're a strong fit, why do you think you might not get financial assistance? How much have you been able to review the scholarships, grants and loans available to students like you? I'd like to be able to assess if this is a realistic concern or if you are over-worrying the process.

Generally I like to see people totally committed to the program they're interviewing for, since any hesitation will probably leak out. Also, if finances are a concern, there is no reason you can't be fully transparent about that as an applicant. That said, I've rarely seen applicants pass up a school's offer because they can't raise the money; sometimes a larger aid package tempts an applicant to one program over another, but an international MBA is such a life-changer -- somehow, people all seem to figure out how to finance it.

Good luck!
Margaret Strother

Hi Robin,
You will most likely have an opportunity to discuss these funding concerns in your IE application. A good way to present "need" could be to discuss the way loans would impact your post-MBA career choices. For example, some applicants might prefer to choose a post-MBA role that is in a less lucrative but more public-minded organization or track, but might have to accept a more profitable offer because they owe so much in student loans. If that's part of your career vision, you can point out that having a lower pay-back amount post-MBA will enable you to take more risks. In my experience, European schools tend to want a very clear explanation of precisely what you have and what you need, financially, so be prepared to crank out the numbers. It's a bit ahead of the game right now, but something to start thinking about.

Good luck!
Margaret Strother