Cambridge vs Manchester vs Cranfield

Engineering
1

I got accepted to all three schools. Now trying to weigh in the pros and cons, and hoping others can chime in as well. Cambridge: + Best global brand among all three. + 1 yr program. + New ex-INSEAD director can do great things here…

2

I got accepted to all three schools. Now trying to weigh in the pros and cons, and hoping others can chime in as well.

Cambridge:
+ Best global brand among all three.
+ 1 yr program.
+ New ex-INSEAD director can do great things here.

Manchester:
+ Internship opportunity.
+ #22 in FT 2006 ranking.
- 18 months program - more expensive.

Cranfield:
+ 1 yr program
+ quite well known in UK
+ focus on personal development.
+ claims has the most company board members among all business schools.
- not well known outside of UK I assume.

Which would you choose? :neutral:

3
I got accepted to all three schools. Now trying to weigh in the pros and cons, and hoping others can chime in as well.

Cambridge:
+ Best global brand among all three.
+ 1 yr program.
+ New ex-INSEAD director can do great things here.
Manchester:
+ Internship opportunity.
+ #22 in FT 2006 ranking.
- 18 months program - more expensive.
Cranfield:
+ 1 yr program
+ quite well known in UK
+ focus on personal development.
+ claims has the most company board members among all business schools.
- not well known outside of UK I assume.
Which would you choose? :neutral:


Hey kamb1ng,

Congratulations on your admits!!
In the UK all the three schools are good brands.
I feel when chosing up the MBA program internship should not feature on the top of the criteria list. The relief provided by these internships would last only till the repayment of the student loan. But the school brand and the learning would be with you always.

I would advise taking up the course that is inline with your career plans. Prima facie, the Cambridge one seems to be a good ROI. The 1 yr course helps put you back on track to recover the MBA finances as well.

Cheers,
Aks
4

I agree ... Cambridge would be the best and there are lot of companies in and around Cambridge, so jobs should be a touch easier ... although Manchester is a very very good school too, it is ranked higher than Cambridge in FT and they are spending quite a bit to get higher in those rankings ... Cranfield I'm not too sure about.

I think the choice comes down to Cambridge and Manchester, if I were you.

If its not asking too much could you post your profile.

Cheers mate!!!

5

For me, internship is important not because of the $$, but mainly because of the opportunity to try a different job that what I am doing today. Companies are not committed to any long-term thing by giving me an internship, and if I do a good job and I find that I like it, it can lead to permanent employment post-MBA.

I guess it's important for me because I am thinking about switching careers/industries. I'm a software developer and I do not plan to do the same thing after graduation.

As for stats, I prefer to keep numbers to myself, because that's not the most important thing.

6

I'd go for the same order the thread says... looking forward to meet you, lets see where...

7
I got accepted to all three schools. Now trying to weigh in the pros and cons, and hoping others can chime in as well.

Cambridge:
+ Best global brand among all three.
+ 1 yr program.
+ New ex-INSEAD director can do great things here.
Manchester:
+ Internship opportunity.
+ #22 in FT 2006 ranking.
- 18 months program - more expensive.
Cranfield:
+ 1 yr program
+ quite well known in UK
+ focus on personal development.
+ claims has the most company board members among all business schools.
- not well known outside of UK I assume.
Which would you choose? :neutral:


Congrats...!
I think,If you are trying to change career then Manchester is better..it has very good course content and also lot of projects and also school is in city..
Cambridge is good for those who are already in the line..

cranfield...no idea
if u choose manchester,let me know...

good luck
8

Crusader,

I found out that Cambridge's Individual Project (the final project during the summer) can be taken on as an internship, which would be helpful for career changers. Not sure how easy this is and whether the school helps or not. MBS is definitely helping students for internship big-time.

I guess I'm still giving an edge to Cambridge simply because it has a stronger brand name, maybe not specifically the b-school, but the university itself.

My biggest concern with MBS is the length of the program and the limited amount of loan given...I am not comfortable spending my whole life savings at once :).

MBS is #22 in the FT though, and that's a hard fact that can't be denied.

So you're in at MBS? Congrats man.

9

I was very keen on the international business project(IBP) and the student exchange program..
IBP helps a lot..
student exchange helps us to explore a new business school in different country in itself..
and if you want to move to india soon..one can take IIMA as the exchange school and Indian Companies and others too,love resumes which has IIMA..
I mean its easier to build NETWORK...
forgot to mention..Europe exchange...

I do not mean Cambridge does not provide above things,but it is very true that MBS course content is the best and helps a lot for those who are out of touch in education and also helps to change the career...
and its in City...and manchester night life rocks.... :):)

did u get access to MBSNET.

10

I seriously doubt that MBS will allow an Indian to do an exchange with IIM-A. I don't even think they'll let you exchange with Asian schools. You can probably do an exchange with an American or European schools, but that's about it.

11
kamb1ng Says
I seriously doubt that MBS will allow an Indian to do an exchange with IIM-A. I don't even think they'll let you exchange with Asian schools. You can probably do an exchange with an American or European schools, but that's about it.


I was just mentioning a remote possibilty.When one has a choice to do an intern with NYU Stern,Columbia,Kenan-Flagler etc., very very few of us would choose IIMA.


I was trying to mention that we have pretty good chance of studying at some of best schools of the world,which I think might be expensive but almost last chance for many of us.
Iam sure u would agree that i aint exaggerating...
12
Hi all..

Any one with any idea about Cranfield? I got an admit today... so I would appreciate if any one could come up with some info that can be useful...
13
Does the choice gets complex if I add Oxford to the list as well ? Which one to choose among Ox, Cam, Man & Cran ?
14
RPJ Says
Does the choice gets complex if I add Oxford to the list as well ? Which one to choose among Ox, Cam, Man & Cran ?


Hey RPJ,
The schools here are very unique... each of them.
It is all about matching your needs of the 'Why MBA' with what the school offers.

Here... hope this link might be of help..
http://www.cio-connect.com/magazine/articles/MBAS.pdf

Personally, I feel you shud go thru the course content of each of them and decide on the school. Remember, there has to be a synergy between what you want and what is in offer.

Cheers,
Aks
15

Assuming that the course content is almost similar, which one is better for post-placement opportunities among Ox, Cam & Cranfield in the IT field.

1) Do I stand equal chance for placements at all the three places ?
2) Though the average salaries at the above 3 colleges might differ due to various factors like average peer experience, concentration etc should I assume that I will make similar salary irrespective of which ones I chose among the three ? Or should I assume that Oxford will land me with better $$$ and most likely with the career that I would like to pursue ?

16
RPJ Says
Assuming that the course content is almost similar, which one is better for post-placement opportunities among Ox, Cam & Cranfield in the IT field.


This is not necessarily the case. But well, lets take it as an assumption.


1) Do I stand equal chance for placements at all the three places ?


No. Brand does make a difference!! You dont have the same companies coming to Cranfield as you have to the London Business School!!!


2) Though the average salaries at the above 3 colleges might differ due to various factors like average peer experience, concentration etc should I assume that I will make similar salary irrespective of which ones I chose among the three ? Or should I assume that Oxford will land me with better $$$ and most likely with the career that I would like to pursue ?


I can understand your anxiety about the salary (ROI for the few lakhs you are going to spend), but trust me that should not be the criteria to choose your school.
Salaries in schools placed in the same band might differ by a 1000 or 2 here and there.. but is that a concern really??
The schools you enquire about here are -
Said,
MBS,
Judge,
Cranfield

in the same order as their rankings.

Said --> Good brand since quite some time. Hence attracts a lot of recruiters. Higher avg salary due to higher age/experience of the participants.
MBS --> Fantastic course recognised by the industry throughout europe. Has begun to attract bigger brands too. Considered a young and effervescent school in the market.
Judge --> Again an age old brand, but I have a feeling that it is not able to break the shackles of being an "old" school. (Personal opinion)
Cranfield --> In the 2nd rung of the strata if u wish to classify the schools in the UK. But then the course content might be great. As regards the recruiters, I really not sure if this should be your first choice.


Does this answer your question or does this confuse even further?

Cheers,
Aks


If you dont mind, whats your work profile?
Work ex, GMAT, edu, xtra curr..
17

I wouldn't even look at course content, why? We're talking about top MBA programs here, do you think a difference in a finance elective will be a big deal? Doubt it. Rest assured that all these programs have top quality instructors and courses.

The 2 most important factors for me: brand and the school's relation to recruiters.

How do you know which one is better? Look at the speakers who come to speak at the schools. Do CEOs of big companies come to speak? Who are the recruiters that come to campus? How many are hired by McKinsey each year? (just kidding on this one :P).

At the end of the day, the recruiters won't care that much about which classes you took and how you did (ok some top IBs and MCs care about GMAT, but that's about it). This is not undergraduate school. This is a graduate business school where the students have 4+ years of work experience.

Good luck.

18

hi,
Congrats on realizing ur dream.
Can you plz put some light on your profile? It will help guys like me
to decide wheter we can also get into cambridge.

thanks in advance

regds
HMG


I got accepted to all three schools. Now trying to weigh in the pros and cons, and hoping others can chime in as well.

Cambridge:
+ Best global brand among all three.
+ 1 yr program.
+ New ex-INSEAD director can do great things here.
Manchester:
+ Internship opportunity.
+ #22 in FT 2006 ranking.
- 18 months program - more expensive.
Cranfield:
+ 1 yr program
+ quite well known in UK
+ focus on personal development.
+ claims has the most company board members among all business schools.
- not well known outside of UK I assume.
Which would you choose? :neutral:
19

Why don't you check the school's website? It's got all the avg stats for the students there (GMAT, age, WE, etc). If you fit, then you should apply. JBS application is free, anyway.

hi,
Congrats on realizing ur dream.
Can you plz put some light on your profile? It will help guys like me
to decide wheter we can also get into cambridge.

thanks in advance

regds
HMG
20

hi,
Websites usuallyhave very selected profiles....
i wanted to know urs (fellow indian), if there is no issues.
Otherwise leave it.

Best wishes for your future.

Regds
HMG.



kamb1ng Says
Why don't you check the school's website? It's got all the avg stats for the students there (GMAT, age, WE, etc). If you fit, then you should apply. JBS application is free, anyway.