HEC Paris HEC MBA Program

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Students Say - Academics
Located just outside Paris, HEC attracts students for its superb setting, international focus, "reputation and for being among Europe's top 10 business schools." Offering MBAand graduate business programs in both French and English, as well as an Englishonly program, the HEC MBA begins with a comprehensive core curriculum, including essential business coursework in marketing, business economics, corporate finance, and statistics. There is a "strong focus on ethics/corporate governance and sustainability" within the program, as well as an incredibly international perspective. Of particular note are the "opportunities to learn French and work in France for non-native speakers." In fact, "the school offers French language courses as a part of curriculum," and requires that all students (even those who are already bilingual) take a language course while pursuing their MBA. In addition to promoting language skills, the school generally excels in the "development of managerial soft skills and of teamwork." Balancing efficiency with rigor, HEC's MBA is "a two-year program condensed into 16 months, so there is a high workload." Drawing faculty from the European business community, "professors are generally good with a few brilliant lecturers." A student in the bilingual section shares, "I am very lucky to have French professors that are very well-known in their respective fields in France and internationally." The school's administration is often described as "bureaucratic" and not always particularly efficient. At the same time, students appreciate the fact that the school helps them "adjust into the French system, like [assisting with] residence permits." Its European location means HEC is strategically placed between numerous economic powerhouses, and just a short ride to Paris and the many important corporations there. Your classmates are an essential part of the learning experience at HEC, which draws a truly "international student body with participants from over 45 countries." When the program begins, students are divided into "work groups," designed to maximize diversity in terms of country of origin, multicultural background, and professional experience. Fortunately, "the work groups are effective and encourage collaboration rather than elitist competition." On top of that, professors generally "promote discussion so we learn from each other" in class.

Students Say - Admissions
HEC admissions process is rigorous. First, each candidate is evaluated based on their standardized test scores and undergraduate performance, as well as quantitative factors as evidenced in their personal recommendations and work experience. After candidates have passed the first stage of review, they must attend two in-person interviews with HEC alumni, HEC professors, French Embassy representatives, or other HEC community members. Each of these interviews begins with a 10-minute presentation by the MBA candidate, followed by a question-and-answer session. Last year's entering class had an average GMAT score of 675, with a range between 600 and 750.

Students Say - Campus Life
With students from 45 countries and a range of professional backgrounds, HEC is characterized by its diversity. A current student shares, "I really like my fellow students; this is a truly international school so we have a great variety of nationalities and business experiences from all over the world." Student life is rewarding and active, as "there are many clubs and most of the students live on campus, especially during the core phase." In addition to the day-to-day pleasures of student life, "Cultural Weeks (Japan Week, Latin America Week) and parties on holidays such as Diwali are a strong part of the culture of the school, and a highlight in the calendar as most of the students attend the events." The school's pretty campus is set "up a hill in a tiny town in the Paris suburbs," from which "it takes an hour to get to Paris by public transportation." The surrounding community is fairly quiet; however, students appreciate the fact that "you do not have many distractions so you can dedicate more time to studying." Fortunately, "the outdoor sports facilities and the location of the school are lovelyâ€"huge grounds, and it's great to go for walks." With a world-class city just a stone's throw away, it's not surprising that "many people go to Paris for weekend, and enjoy the cultural and entertainment life there."

Students Say - Careers
The HEC Career Management Center offers a range of career development workshops, as well as conferences and seminars in both French and English. Keep in mind that the majority of opportunities for HEC graduates are in Paris, which is great for those who want to work in Europe, but also means that it can be a bit more "difficult for non- French-speaking participants to get good jobs." However, students note that the school's 40,000 "alumni are a good resource" for finding jobs in France and internationally. In fact, 85 percent of students had jobs within three months of graduation, with an average salary of $109,746 for graduates who stay in France, and $106,757 for graduates who take jobs in other countries. Twenty-nine percent of graduates take positions in France.

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