ARINGO brings you another interview with a student from a top ranked MBA program, and today we are speaking with a London Business School MBA student, Noam Kan (London Business School, class of 2023):
What is special about your school? In your eyes, what differentiates your school from others?
London Business School has four main points of differentiation: prestige, location, flexibility, and diversity.
Arguably, INSEAD and LBS are the only two non-American schools whose prestige is on par with their American counterparts; for applicants who want a recognizable and esteemed school but prefer Europe to the US, London Business School is an excellent choice.
The school’s London location is another of its distinctive and important features. London is not only an incredible city to live in (consistently ranked #1 for students across multiple websites), but it’s also a great place to find work after the MBA – its finance sector is second only to New York’s.
LBS’s flexibility has three elements: the tailored student experience, the length of the MBA, and time allocation. LBS students are free to choose the majority of their courses out of an abundance of options and direct their learning experience to match their interests. Students are also able to choose their graduation date, with options ranging from 15 to 21 months. Lastly, these freedoms enable students to choose how to allocate their time; students who want to focus on academics can attend additional courses, students who want to gain experiential learning experiences can pursue mid-term internships, and some even choose to focus on their social experiences.
Finally, London Business School selects an extremely diverse cohort of students, all of whom celebrate different cultures and experiences together in a colorful and exciting mix.
Any recent changes in your school? or in the admission process?
The admission process has remained relatively stable, but in recent years one-sided interviews have been introduced: candidates have to answer several questions on camera.
Can you share some details about the atmosphere in the school? between students, between students and faculty? How do you spend your free time?
The school’s atmosphere is incredibly tolerant and friendly. Faculty treats students with respect and a sense of equality, and students are very friendly and supportive (with multiple examples of students who compete for similar internships helping one another). The student cohort is extremely diverse and interesting, and you can easily fill your week with social events, which range from professional-oriented events to wine-tasting sessions and national celebrations.
I spend my free time practicing with the Rugby Club, visiting London’s various cultural attractions (most of which are absolutely free), and traveling with friends.
Can you share some details about the area/city?
The famous writer Samuel Johnson once said that “when a man is tired of London, he is tired of life; for there is in London all that life can afford.” In my opinion, no additional explanation is needed.
Can you share some details regarding job opportunities and summer internships for students in your school? How strong is the career office? Did the school name/brand give you an advantage when looking for a job? Are there any specific recruiters who mostly recruit from this school?
London Business School is one of two prestigious schools in Europe, and as such serves as a basis for recruiters from all over the world. With that being said, most students prefer to work in London, where the competition is a bit harsher. London’s business scene is dominated by financial services, and therefore LBS is perfect for candidates who aspire to work in Investment Banking, Venture Capital, Private Equity, and Fintech. London also hosts a huge variety of start-ups and boutique consulting firms, so the wealth of opportunities is really astounding.
The school’s Career Centre is very supportive and does a stellar job at attracting recruiters and connecting them with students. The career coaches are experienced and available, and consistently help students through their career journey.
How did you deal with the Visa issue?
The Visa application is tolerably straightforward, and the school’s Visa team helps as much as possible. I recommend dealing with the application as early as possible to avoid any complications.
What did you like about the school/program? Any classes/clubs you would recommend for future students?
The school has a very strong body of professors, such as Alex Edmans, Nader Tavassoli, and David Myatt, all of whom make the learning experience easy and enjoyable.
The elective and tailored core courses are visible and clear and enable students to choose their own individual learning experiences with confidence.
Finally, I recommend joining the big professional clubs (TMC, consulting, and finance) as well as some of the smaller social clubs (e.g. Rugby, Acting, and Foodie).
What kind of candidates is the school looking for? Who will especially enjoy this school? who will be a good fit for the school?
London Business School wants to preserve the diversity of its student body while maintaining high standards of merit and excellence. Merit and excellence are always appreciated and go without saying, but if you come from a unique business setting or personal background (and will enjoy being surrounded by people whose main point of similarity is that they’re equally unique), make sure to stress those singularities as you apply to LBS.
Any tips for someone who is considering applying to your school?
As with any school application, I recommend reaching out to as many students/alumni as possible. The more informed you are, the better positioned you’ll be and the more compelling your application will become.
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