Top Local Saudi universities vs T30 unis abroad

I am from Saudi Arabia, and from what I am seeing on LinkedIn and consulting websites, MBB placement in Saudi Arabia is not limited to a specific university, unlike in the UK, where, for example, 58% of hires are from Oxbridge and LSE.

I can get into either King Saud or Fahd University with 7% and 5% placement, respectively.

My thought process is that no matter how good unis are abroad, each firm will have most of it's placement from local unis (as is the case in the US, India, Germany, and the UK).

I am thinking about studying here for the following reasons:

1. I will be smarter and more prepared for consulting, PE, IB, etc. Than any/most other finance student at my university or another local university. (I am not bragging; I talked to professors, alumni, and current students.) the strongest departments are usually engineering due to the strength of the industry in Saudi Arabia, and most the nerds go there (some KFUPM Eng students went to UC Berkeley for an exchange semester and were the highest scorers.) 

2. There are a good number of alumni in the Riyadh office; a.k.a., they know the university has good alumni, and it would be easier to get a referral.

3. There are multiple programs for university students by MBB: Jeel-Tamooh for BCG, other internships among tier 2 and big 4; and last but not least, COOPs with MBB, etc. So if I do great in these, I will likely get an offer and take it. I wish to work in Saudi Arabia, not abroad in the first place so killing myself to get into Wharton undergrad isn't worth it because, at the end of the day, I could get a similar comp (especially  after factoring in taxes and COL, etc.)  

4. I can get an MBA abroad just to put the INSEAD, Harvard, LBS brand name on my resume (many people did so, especially INSEAD) 

So yeah, I am seeing this as a no-brainer, but this sh*t looks to good to be true, and as they say, if something is too good to be true, it prop is. Is this a bad idea and I should do my undergrad abroad, or am I actually in a good position and I should make the best of it, and hopefully everything goes smoothly?

Many thanks; I would like to hear everyone's perspective. 

image-20240404111015-1

Where to study

T30 Abroad
67% (6 votes)
T2 Local unis
33% (3 votes)
Total votes: 9
1 Comments
 

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