RSM vs CBS vs HSG vs Gap Year

Hey everyone,

I'm in a "bad" situation right now. I got accepted at LSE for MAccFin, but it doesn't look like I'll be able to take up my spot due to financial issues. I applied for other good schools in Europe though, got accepted at all of these:

RSM - Financial Management & Accounting (Financial Investments was already closed when I applied)
HSG - MBF
Copenhagen Business School - Advanced Economics & Finance

I'm also considering taking a year off and deferring my LSE offer. I already had a gap year though (which I'm finishing right now), so that would make two. What I consider my options for that second year right now:

- go to Rotterdam and do my MSc there, then go to LSE afterwards (so finishing with two MSc). Probably reapply to different LSE programs in the process
- do a second gap year with internships
- just work properly (though I didn't apply for anything yet and my internship ends in October)

Money wouldn't be much of an issue next year in each case.

So, what should I do? Just go to one of my three options and forget about LSE (and if so, which one)? My personal fav is doing the RSM MSc and then going to LSE right now. What do you guys think?

 
Best Response

First of all, RSM is a good school but the program you're talking about is in terms of prestige certainly not as good as the Finance & Investments one. HSG's MBF is really a great program, very tough but you'll meet a shitload of intelligent people there who are going to get all the top jobs in the German speaking part of Europe. Going there is never a bad choice.

LSE''s MFin & Acc is amazing obviously. Great for placement in London finance jobs.

It all depends on what you want to do after your graduation. Do you want to work in London? Go for RSM first and then LSE. Do you want to work in Germany/Austria/Switzerland, just take the HSG offer, you'll do great there. A second gap year seems useless to me and might look bad on your resume. Copenhagen is a good school but not an ideal path compared to the other options you have.

 

Work for a year in a field/job as closely related to what you want to do after LSE as possible. Go to LSE following year - when interviews come around, you may be able to have relevant work experience that will assist you with recruiting for what you want to do. You can also save up and help pay for LSE.

 

Thanks so far!

So two MSc won't look weird on my resume? And would it be really worth it? So far I heard very different opinions on this, but it's really hard to find some first-hand experience since people rarely seem to do this. Of course working would be an option as well, but I honestly would prefer two years of study. Also I did not send or prepare any applications yet, still busy about trying to get my financing for LSE to work out somehow.

I'm actually German, but St. Gallen is supposedly pretty boring in terms of student life, which I also consider very important. IB also is not that attractive to me (I'd prefer VC or generally startups, have some internship background there as well), so I'm not sure if it's really worth the costs. Furthermore I also heard some bad things about the quality of the education there, though that's probably bullshit.

Any more information about the CBS master? Copenhagen is my favorite in terms of general environment so far, besides London of course. I heard the MBA is great, but found barely anything about the reputation of or experiences with their MSc, apart from a relatively high ranking in Acc&Fin at QS (30 something). Would love some insights here, since that kinda scares me off.

 

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