Jean-Baptiste is French and is doing his Bachelor in Business Administration (‘BBA’) at the prestigious IE University in central Madrid. After completing his Bac in Versailles, and achieving excellent results, he was admitted to IE. Read his testimonial below and find out more about his university experience at IE!
Profile
FIRST NAME : Jean-Baptiste
NATIONALITY : French
RACE NAME : Bachelor of Business Administration
UNIVERSITY NAME : IE University
TYPE OF BACCALAUREATE AND RESULT OBTAINED Bac ES 14.2 special Maths
NAME OF YOUR SCHOOL : Lycée Notre-Dame Du Grandchamp, Versailles
Why did you choose to study abroad?
What courses did you apply for abroad (in the UK and elsewhere)? Why did you choose this subject/curriculum for your Bachelor’s degree?
I wanted to study business. I come from a family of entrepreneurs (parents, grandparents) and a father who is a professor at HEC Paris. What’s more, I’ve always wanted to work in finance. That’s why my goal was to enter a prestigious program at a leading European “business” school (see FT ranking). What’s more, as I intend to work internationally, studying abroad seemed an obvious choice. That’s why I applied to Canada (HEC Montréal), the Netherlands (RSM Erasmus), Spain (IE Business School) and Belgium (UCL Louvain and ULB Solvay). By the way, I got my answer quite early in the year for IE, which is why I didn’t apply elsewhere. But in case of rejection, I was considering: Saint Gallen, ESADE, ESCP (Bachelor). I applied to all these universities for a BBA or equivalent.
What other universities did you apply to (in the UK and elsewhere) and why did you end up choosing this university?
I wanted to study abroad because I’m serious about making a life for myself outside France. That’s why I wanted a university that would give me access to the best companies in the financial sector. For this, IE is a benchmark school in Europe and Spain (Target in banking, investment funds, strategy consulting…). I visited their premises and liked the setting of a truly international school (70% international students). What’s more, I had a friend in 2nd year who explained the program’s approach and practical teaching methods. What’s more, as a French student, this experience will enable me to come away with a very good level of English (courses given in English) and Spanish (minimum level required on leaving, optional courses…). 
What was the admissions process like for you?
Did you receive coaching/help with your application (e.g. from your school)?
I had no outside help in preparing my files. I was helped by my father (a professor affiliated to HEC Paris). I also had my documents proofread by an American family friend (PhD from Columbia).
How did you go about writing your IE application?
For IE, there’s a fairly long and comprehensive file to fill in. It took me about 3 weeks to fill it in. It’s advisable to start as soon as possible. It’s demanding and requires real work. It consists of various documents (transcripts, letters of recommendation, essays, etc.).
What readings/resources did you find useful to mention in your Statement, and could you recommend to a student interested in applying for the same course?
The school is looking for diversified profiles, not just academic ones. Extracurricular interests and experience (associations, internships, languages, sports…) are essential. In my case, I had military experience with the Légion Étrangère (2 years in the reserves), took part in charitable activities during my high school years, did well in school (top 5 in my class at a renowned lycée) and did internships during my summers.
Did you have to attend an interview? If so, how did you prepare?
At IE, the final stage of admission is a personal interview lasting around 40 minutes. This can be held on campus in Madrid or via Skype. It’s a general motivational interview. To prepare for it, I had thought about the potential questions and considered my answers. (Why a business school? Why IE? Where do I see myself in 10 years? 3 qualities, 3 faults…). It’s also important to be prepared to change languages. Admissions has counselors who speak every language, so any notion of language knowledge will be evaluated.
Why did you choose this particular university?
Have you been influenced by the rankings? Do you think students should look at rankings to choose?
I was mainly influenced by the FT (benchmark ranking). Rankings are good indicators of a school’s level, but they’re not enough. It’s also interesting to look at academic partners to determine the level of a school. In our case, IE has exchanges with ESSEC, Sciences Po Paris and EDHEC in undergrad.
Did the content of the curriculum at your particular university influence your choice of university?
IE is truly a “business school”. Their various programs always have a link with business. That’s why the BBA is really the benchmark undergrad program. As I’d like to work in Finance, this makes a certain amount of sense. What’s more, the highly international classes (70% foreign students in the Bachelor’s program), as well as the practical side of the training, are its strong points.
What do you think of the campus and the city in which it’s located?
I didn’t study on the Segovia campus, so I don’t have any information about it. But the Madrid campus is located in the city center, north of the Salamanca district, which is Madrid’s upscale neighborhood. The campus is truly urban, with only academic buildings and infrastructure. A new campus is planned for September 2020. It will be a tower in the city’s northern business district. What’s more, Madrid is a great city. It’s one of Europe’s largest and liveliest cities. Outings are varied (museums, restaurants, bars, clubs…) and less expensive than in Paris. The city is very safe from a security point of view, and its public transport works very well. The city is a real plus point when it comes to experiences.
What are the 3 things you like best about your university and the 3 things you’d like to improve?
With the new tower things will change, but the negative points are : Lack of sports facilities (sports halls planned for the new campus), Lack of workspace (more spaces planned for the new campus) and Lack of large lecture halls (also planned for the new campus). On the plus side: class size (50 people per class maximum), allowing close contact with professors, program structure (internships and exchanges planned, “à la carte” classes in 3rd and 4th years), school reputation and opportunities created (internships with top companies, guest lecturers, etc.).
Do you have any international friends (French or otherwise) at your university?
Are there many international students at your university? How easy do you find it to integrate and make friends at your university as a foreigner?
In the Bachelor’s program, around 70% of students are international. This number varies by program and campus. (Segovia is more international than Madrid). For this reason, Spanish students in Madrid keep to themselves and don’t mix with internationals. If you’re bilingual in Spanish, it’s much easier to make contact with them. On the other hand, internationals on their own are very open and approachable. Outings and interactions are easy and frequent. 
What’s your student residence like? Are you housed on campus?
What was your student residence like in 1st year (comfort, cleanliness, proximity to campus…)?
The Segovia campus has a residence for first-year students. I didn’t study in Segovia, so I don’t have any information about it. As for Madrid, the school does not have a residence. The best option is RESA, a private residence 5 minutes from the campus, which is therefore mostly made up of IE students. Prices are high for Madrid (1400-1500 euros per month). The residence is clean, comfortable and has a rooftop, which is a real plus in summer.
How far from the university are the halls of residence? Where do 2nd and 3rd year students live?
The residence is 5-10 minutes from campus, which is very convenient. Students generally rent apartments (single or shared) around campus. Other residences can be found on the student services page.
What’s the food like in your residence and in others? Is it possible to cook for yourself?
At RESA, the simplest rooms have no real kitchen, just a microwave and a fridge. There are superior rooms (100 to 200 euros more per month) with cooking hobs. What’s more, the food is very decent.
What was the process like to get a place in a residence? Which student residences would you recommend to French or international students at your university?
RESA seems to be the best option in terms of residency for internationals. All you have to do is register on their website to obtain a place. IE has no particular priority. It is advisable to apply early, as the residence is fully booked in April for the following September.
Could you describe your experience at your university?
How many hours of lessons do you have each week?
For a “classic” student, the number of hours is between 15-20 per week. To this can be added languages and options if desired. Sessions last 1 hour and 20 minutes, and are held in classes of around 50 students, allowing real contact with the teachers.
How much work?
In addition to class hours, school requires a great deal of work. Exams, as well as the constant group projects and presentations, require a great deal of time. What’s more, unlike in France, where the name of the school remains the most important factor, in Spain grades (GPA) are important. So, depending on your ambitions, you’ll have to work at different speeds. Banks, investment funds and consulting firms will only recruit the very best (15% or 8/10 GPA).
Do you have exams once or several times a year?
At the beginning of each subject, we have access to a «syllabus» detailing the organization and program of the course. Examinations are organized as mid-term exams halfway through each semester, and as « final» exams at the end of the semester. What’s more, our courses focus on theory and practical application of knowledge. For this reason, each subject requires practical work (usually in groups).
Are you involved in any student associations at IE University?
Yes, I play on the school rugby team. Before coming to IE, I’d already been playing for 9 years. We play in a regional league like a club. What’s more, every year we take part in university tournaments. Last year, we played in the EDHEC tournament, this year we played in an international tournament in Barcelona, and we’re off to Valencia to play in a national tournament. Most of the players have been playing for a long time and have a good level (2 players have been selected for the Spanish youth team, 1 is a French champion with Lyon, 1 is a former Racing 92 player…). The school organizes everything and pays for the costs involved.
Is there anything about the university system in the country where you’re studying that you’d like to improve?
The school is not really part of the Spanish system. In fact, the teachers are international, as are the students. The courses are delivered with an international focus (Anglo-Saxon accounting, etc.). I think we could compare the model with that of INSEAD in France.
Do you have any other comments or advice for students interested in applying to your university or other foreign universities?
For information on IE, please contact Joseph Freiha, director of IE’s Paris office.
