Some Random Statistics

Some Random Statistics

1) I used to get in hand around 400USD per month, in my first job.
2) I am required to spend around 350USD per day for a period of 1 year for my MBA.
3) Student loan interest rate in France ~ 2.5%, USA ~ 7%, India ~ 12.5%.
4) 80% of MBA students are undecided about their future aspirations.
5) I have flown 160,000 miles so far.
6) I stayed in hotel for 90% of time last year.
7) On average I don't stay in a radius of 500Km for more than 3 weeks.
8) On highways I always speed atleast by 5 mph and at max by 25mph, provided there are no traffic jams.
9) In a week I eat atleast 4 different country cuisines, if I am in US
10) Outside India 95% of the times I eat non-veg food, in India 95% of the times I eat veg food.

INSEAD vs Harvard

INSEAD is a one year course and Harvard is two year course. Average salaries after placements from both the school are pretty much the same. I have not taken joining bonus and other bonus into consideration which might be significant.




So here are the pros and cons of INSEAD and Harvard MBA

Pros of INSEAD MBA

1) At Harvard a person shells out 227200 USD more than what he would at INSEAD.
2) An INSEAD MBA grad gains additional one year experience in comparison to Harvard MBA grad. Typically from both the schools company hires for the same position.
3) Much diverse and bigger network at INSEAD than at Harvard.
4) Global placements at INSEAD compared to Harvard. Person has much more flexibility in terms of the place he wants to work at.

Cons of INSEAD MBA
1) Much more hectic schedule at INSEAD as compared to Harvard.
2) Career switch difficult at INSEAD, when the economy is not doing well.

Statistics above shows average costs and can vary depending to job and function. Specially the opportunity cost will vary widely between people working in different countries.

Story from Japan

Japan is always an enriching experience for me, the culture and people here are so varied that it looks like a world in itself. Yesterday I got to hear an interesting story from my translator (in Japan you cant work without a translator, clients don't speak English).

So the story is about the translator. He is an guy who has traveled more than 50 countries and one of his enriching experience was in India. He was traveling from Patna (Bihar) to somewhere in North when his bus stopped and it was announced that they cannot go further because of the BANDIT fear. In the middle of night he was stranded with no hotels or motels to stay in the village nor there were any restaurants. Being a foreigner he was all the more scared, but then villagers start gathering and village sarpanch offered him to stay along with him and was treated with great food.

Incidentally that night coincided with some festival and the Japanese guy had an unique experience of experiencing traditional festival in its purest form. After 20 years he still remembers the minute details and the least expected help, in the form of life or probably night saver.

And this has been one of the unique experience the guy had, I guess primarily because of a unique Indian tradition.

McKinsey shopping

Just a comparison of where McKinsey goes for shopping amongst the top business schools (year 2007)

INSEAD : 75 (out of 881) = 8.51%

Wharton : 53 (out of 710) = 7.46%

MIT Sloan : 27 (out of 375) = 7.2%

Columbia : 31 (out of 726) = 4.27%

London Business School : 9 (out of 321) = 2.81%

Harvard / Stanford : No data available.


INSEAD statistics looks impressive. Definitely this statistic does not give a complete picture but it tells where does McKinsey shop and that might also to an extent reflect which school is good for consulting jobs.