u/Hellcyon_

I got accepted to IESEG (Lille campus) back in November but turned it down because I thought it was too expensive. Spent the next 4 months hunting for other options in India and internationally. Got into one, rejected from another. Felt lost, circled back to IESEG, and realized I could probably make the finances work – triple accreditation, Lille location, decent ranking, and ROI from the stats I’ve seen.

Applied again today. They waived the application fee and said I have good chances, so fingers crossed.

I know it’s not ESSEC, EDHEC, or HEC, but it fits my personal requirements: finances (barely), location, and the fact that I’m not some superstar applicant. And yes, I know Bac+5 is a thing in France. My plan is to work 2-3 years in France after graduation, then do a Master’s at a T15 US uni.

I'm also the kind of person who requires constant social interaction and plans to look forward to everyday or I go insane. So I do need a place which isn't hard to break into socially.

But the other option: University of Thomas More of Applied Sciences in Belgium. Tuition is significantly cheaper, living expenses too. It’s respected within Belgium but has no rankings or major accreditations. The curriculum has exactly the subjects I want and looks solid. But everyone keeps telling me brand name matters, and I’m going insane trying to decide.

It’s already April. Most unis have closed admissions. These two are my only viable options right now.

Got rejected from Vrije Universiteit Brussels for their Business Economics course because my background is Accounts, Business, Economics, and Statistics – not sufficient for their prerequisites. Which sucks because VUB would’ve solved both the tuition and ranking problem.

Not having Math in 11th and 12th was a huge mistake, and I keep paying for it over and over.

What’s the best pathway for someone like me? Should I take the debt/prestige gamble with IESEG or go the cheap but unranked route in Belgium?

my_qualifications: 90 in 12th

I got accepted to IESEG (Lille campus) back in November but turned it down because I thought it was too expensive. Spent the next 4 months hunting for other options in India and internationally. Got into one, rejected from another. Felt lost, circled back to IESEG, and realized I could probably make the finances work – triple accreditation, Lille location, decent ranking, and ROI from the stats I’ve seen.

Applied again today. They waived the application fee and said I have good chances, so fingers crossed.

I know it’s not ESSEC, EDHEC, or HEC, but it fits my personal requirements: finances (barely), location, and the fact that I’m not some superstar applicant. And yes, I know Bac+5 is a thing in France. My plan is to work 2-3 years in France after graduation, then do a Master’s at a T15 US uni.

I'm also the kind of person who requires constant social interaction and plans to look forward to everyday or I go insane. So I do need a place which isn't hard to break into socially.

But the other option: University of Thomas More of Applied Sciences in Belgium. Tuition is significantly cheaper, living expenses too. It’s respected within Belgium but has no rankings or major accreditations. The curriculum has exactly the subjects I want and looks solid. But everyone keeps telling me brand name matters, and I’m going insane trying to decide.

It’s already April. Most unis have closed admissions. These two are my only viable options right now.

Got rejected from Vrije Universiteit Brussels for their Business Economics course because my background is Accounts, Business, Economics, and Statistics – not sufficient for their prerequisites. Which sucks because VUB would’ve solved both the tuition and ranking problem.

Not having Math in 11th and 12th was a huge mistake, and I keep paying for it over and over.

What’s the best pathway for someone like me? Should I take the debt/prestige gamble with IESEG or go the cheap but unranked route in Belgium?