Help: Emlyon MiM PGE vs McGill University Bcom for IB

Hello, I have an important decisions to make and would need insight from people with experience in IB:

After 2 years of Classe Préparatoire in France (two years of prep class for the business school entrance exam in France), I was admitted to Emlyon’s Master in Management (MiM) Programme Grande École (PGE). My goal is to work in IB in the Uk but Emlyon is a low target in France and a semi target at best in the UK and has been declining. 

That is why I am seriously considering joining McGill University’s Bachelor in Commerce (Bcom) which I was admitted to. This is a 3 year program and I would be starting in U1- this equates to loosing 2 years of academic progression as I would be restarting my undergrad academic journey all over again-. By doing this, I could later on apply and be admitted to a MSc in Finance from a top university (ideally in the UK) and increase my chances of breaking into IB

Is giving up Emlyon and the PREPA label which holds significant weight in France worth it ? Is Emlyon really not Ideal for IB ? Can I still apply to top Mscs in Finance in the Uk after graduating from Emlyon ? 

I woild be very grateful for any adivce I can receive. I also have very little time to make my mind up.

Thank you in advance !
 

11 Comments
 

Based on the most helpful WSO content, here’s what you need to consider:

  1. Emlyon MiM PGE for IB:

    • Emlyon is considered a semi-target at best for IB in the UK and has been declining in reputation. While it holds weight in France due to the Prépa label, it is not as competitive as other top-tier French schools like HEC, ESSEC, or ESCP for breaking into IB in London.
    • However, graduating from Emlyon does not entirely close the door to top MSc Finance programs in the UK. Many candidates from French business schools, even semi-targets, successfully apply to programs like LSE, LBS, or Imperial for MSc Finance, provided they have strong academic performance, internships, and GMAT scores.
  2. McGill University BCom for IB:

    • McGill’s BCom is well-regarded in Canada and offers a strong foundation for finance roles in North America. However, transitioning from McGill to IB in the UK might be challenging unless you pursue a top MSc Finance program afterward.
    • Starting over with a BCom means losing two years of academic progression, which could delay your entry into the workforce. Additionally, you would need to excel academically and secure relevant internships during your BCom to remain competitive for MSc Finance programs.
  3. Key Considerations:

    • Time and Opportunity Cost: Restarting your academic journey with McGill’s BCom means sacrificing two years, which could be spent gaining work experience or pursuing a specialized MSc Finance after Emlyon.
    • Target MSc Finance Programs: Both paths (Emlyon MiM or McGill BCom) can lead to top MSc Finance programs in the UK, but Emlyon’s Prépa background might carry more weight in Europe, especially for schools like LSE, LBS, or Imperial.
    • Internship Opportunities: Emlyon’s MiM offers flexibility for internships, which are critical for IB recruitment. If you leverage this to secure strong internships, it could offset the semi-target status of the school.
  4. Recommendation:

    • If your primary goal is IB in the UK, staying at Emlyon and focusing on securing high-quality internships, strong academic performance, and a competitive GMAT score might be the more efficient path. This would allow you to apply for a top MSc Finance program in the UK without losing two years.
    • However, if you are open to working in North America or are willing to restart your academic journey for a potentially stronger undergraduate brand, McGill could be a viable option.

Ultimately, the decision depends on your willingness to delay your career progression and your confidence in leveraging Emlyon’s resources to build a strong profile for MSc Finance applications.

Sources: Profile Evaluation - MSc Finance, Hec MiM or Bocconi MSc Finance?, European Master in Finance programmes (pre-experience), LBS MiM vs INSEAD MiM for Management Consulting in France, Imperial MSc Finance and Accounting vs. ESCP MiM vs. IE MIF

I'm an AI bot trained on the most helpful WSO content across 17+ years.
 

Mate, you should really stay at EM. Starting over at McGill would be a waste of time, in my opinion. I'm also in France, I also did a prépa, and I have lots of friends/acquaintances that were admitted to EM who did very well in IB. It's a good school that will open lots of doors for you, so don't worry about it. What matters most in the end is internships, and being at EM will allow you to do more and better ones than if you started all over again in Canada. 

 
Most Helpful

No, don't lose 2 years you've studied chasing prestige. You can always do a target specialised master after or an MBA eventually. Emlyon isn't the worst. 

Otherwise get admission into L3 of economics, maths or something relevant to then try for a target like escp or essec in AST or prepare for international masters in the UK right after. 

 

Hi, thank you for your reply !

Do you really think that it’s possible to be admitted to a top Msc in the UK like LSE after EMlyon ?

Don’t you think that loosing these two years could turn out to be a very profitable reset as I could benefit from McGill’s reputation during the Msc admission processes and increase my chances of landing BB in the long run ?

 

There's people from third world countries with not much experience getting in, so yes quite easily. That's why I'm saying it's not that life changing if you go there. A post experience master like LBS, Oxford or Cambridge or a specialized one after your MiM will make more sense if you just want the brand name. Otherwise like I said, get an L3 and get into a top 3 through ast next year. 

There's absolutely zero point doing bac+2 again. 

 

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