INSEAD vs HEC
I've been researching both schools and understand that, from a pure MBA brand perspective, INSEAD is generally considered a tier above HEC globally. That's not really what I'm trying to understand.
What I'm struggling with is the actual student experience.
For those who attended either school, how much does campus life matter?
One thing attracting me to HEC is the residential campus environment. You're living with classmates and it seems easier to build a close-knit community.
With INSEAD Singapore, from what I understand, most students live off-campus, and the experience feels more city-based than campus-based. Even Fontainebleau seems quite different from a traditional university town and more isolated compared to major cities.
So I'm curious:
How much does the HEC campus experience add to the MBA?
Does INSEAD's stronger brand/network outweigh the campus-life advantage?
Not trying to start a rankings debate. Just interested in hearing from people who have actually lived through either experience and whether the differences are as significant as they appear from the outside.