Canary Wharfian

I wanted to give you some help in deciding which MBA to choose (assuming that you have already decided to go for an MBA). As the degree is quite expensive, it is important to choose wisely and pick an MBA that helps you to fulfil your aspirations. Based on my experience, I have listed a number of criteria to base your decision on. Rankings are fairly important in the world of the MBA and I would not recommend pursuing an MBA that has not been ranked, even if these are more expensive. Potential employers will look at your choice and might question your choice. The most important global ranking is the annual FT ranking https://rankings.ft.com/rankings/2866/mba-2022 - while it is the soundest in terms of methodology, it has been criticized for placing too much emphasis on salary increases (40% of the overall score) and especially for using PPP https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Purchasing_power_parity to calculate salaries. This means that transferring from a lower-income country to a ... Continue reading →

If there is one single piece of advice that I can give is to start your MBA journey early, ideally 18-24 months before you are planning to start you MBA. This avoids stress, gives you time to prepare and change course, e.g. adding some extracurricular activities to your CV. Some universities also offer discounts for early application or enrolment – this can easily amount to a couple of thousands or more. I have written another post on how to choose the best MBA for you https://canarywharfian.co.uk/threads/how-to-choose-the-right-mba-programme-for-you.722 and probably should write another one on how to get the most out of an MBA. In general, you should not apply to more than a handful of business schools. Else, it will be too much work (essays, reference letters, campus visits take time) and you might lose your focus. Some schools also charge an application fee, often somewhere around $100-200, so cost can start to add up even before enrolling (you might get it back if you decide ... Continue reading →

If you were trying to rent a room or a flat in London recently, you have found yourself in a perfect storm https://www.theguardian.com/money/2...d-unscrupulous-landlords-are-breaking-tenants of lots of pent-up demand (read: people returning to London after Covid), higher mortgage rates for landlords and well-intended legislation https://www.gov.uk/government/news/government-to-deliver-new-deal-for-renters driving the worst bits of property off the market. So why not buy a property? You might have read the news about a seven square meter flat on the market https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news...est-microflat-sells-for-80-above-asking-price but it might be something slightly bigger than that. Having a place of your own will solve the issues renters are facing for you. There might be a correction in the housing market coming https://www.ft.com/content/be11c70b-cc3d-418f-999f-74ac218051ee, so you could be in for a bargain. There have been long debates if there is a housing bubble in London ... Continue reading →

Probably a topic that is discussed during every student party at business schools (and beyond). Both industries tend to fish from the same pond, so it is a valuable discussion to be had. With consulting, I mean not necessarily MBB only (McKinsey, BCG, Bain), but the upper tiers of management consulting. We might need to have another post on the tiers consulting firms are believed to be in. Both industries look for sharp, analytical minds and usually have the same target universities. IB might not be that easy to get into if you are not quant-heavy or do not have a finance focus whereas consulting is open to pretty much any field of studies and diversity is actively encouraged. You will see this in the people you are working with: IB is quite focussed and with a high level of expertise in an area. Consulting unites people with lots of different backgrounds. When it comes to career prospects, both industries operate on an up or out model and are fairly hierarchical. Whereas you progress ... Continue reading →