[UNDERGRAD] - Sciences Po Paris / McGill / UCL
Hey guys,
I'm looking into maybe going to Sciences Po Paris for my undergrad. I'm interested in pursuing a career in MBB consulting or IB after graduation. Does anyone have any insight as to how ScPo places in those fields, considering that it's competing with the Top 3 (HEC, ESSEC, ESCP) but has very good local brand recognition and prestige?
I would most definitely go into the Master Finance et Strategie if I stay at ScPo for my masters. I really like the whole Social Sciences approach the school has and would certainly enjoy my stay there, but am worried that I will be at a disadvantage regarding kids that did straight-up business school for a career in the aforementioned fields.
I'm also admitted into Desautels at McGill and economics bsc at UCL (although UCL's complicated bc of London's insane living costs). I'm still waiting on LSE. I have no preference for work location post-graduation, and would happily work in any country these schools are located in.
What would you guys recommend?
Thanks!!
UCL is a tier above the other two, so I'd go there if I were you. Sciences Po is decent but gets crushed by the top French Business Schools + top engineering schools when it comes to IB and Consulting, whereas UCL is a solid target for London. Don't know too much about McGill, but the caliber of students and quality of opportunities there seem to be fairly low, so I wouldn't consider it if I were you.
I agree with you on ScPo being crushed by the top french BSchools in IB and Consulting but doubt the fact McGill students are "low caliber". I know McGill has to compete with with Queens and Ivey but to my understanding McGill has the highest cut-off when it comes to high school grades and have heard that it places quite well in Canada and specially montreal in Consulting. If you don't mind me asking and I really don't mean to offend you at all but are you truly familiar with McGill and the Canadian scene or is it just the impression you have? Thanks
You're right in that I don't know McGill as much as the other two and that I may have been a bit extreme in my comment. Maybe I should rephrase what I meant. I don't think McGill is a mediocre school but I don't think it's a top school either. A quick LinkedIn search will teach you that access to top IBs/consultancies from McGill Desautels is difficult (much more so than at Ivey), and that MBB placement is next to none (maybe 2-3 total every year). UCL does much better, especially in IB.
Also, I used to be in the same situation a you and looked at these schools too. I'm French like you, chose not to go through the prépa system, and went to the US instead. UCL and LSE are your best choices (assuming you get LSE), then Sciences Po, then McGill. Since you're also the guy who posted about working in the US later on in another thread, I'd also recommend you look at US target schools if that's what you want. But if the US is truly out of the question, then go to UCL or LSE, crush it there, get a top job in London, then go to a top 10-15 MBA in the US and you'll end up where you want.
How did you go to the US after french lycée? Did you get accepted on Bac scores (I'm thinking maybe you got into NYU), or did you just pass the SAT/ACT? You're totally right on LSE>UCL>>>McGill, no questions asked. I mean McGill doesn't even make top 50 in qs2020 for econ OR business... but the cost difference is pretty big. However, on a second thought, the student debt maybe is worth it considering how much better these schools are... I'm also kind of worried regarding job opportunities for non UK citizens considering EU status isn't worth much anymore bc of brexit.
I took the SAT and got accepted based on that + my lycee grades, although yeah, apparently some schools like NYU are now accepting the bac. Also, McGill is still a good school and don't trust the rankings which often have little to do with career outcomes and on-campus recruiting. It's just not as good for the top jobs as your other options. As for visa concerns, from what I've seen, visas are still much easier to get in the UK than in the US. Granted, it might be even easier in Canada, but I don't think visas in the UK are a major hurdle. And if that's a concern to you, UCL and LSE have a pretty good reputation in France, especially LSE which even the French will see on par with HEC.
Lastly, bear in mind that you don't have to do your Masters at the school where you did your undergrad. The great think about the US/UK system is that you can get jobs with just a bachelor (unlike France), so try going through IB/Consulting recruiting at UCL/LSE during your undergrad , and if there are significant visa problems, go do your Masters at HEC or ESSEC and come back to France for IB/Consulting, and then go do a MBA in the US if you still want one.
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