TIM HOFFMANN

 I especially enjoyed the highly practical approach and the close ties with the business world 

Prior to HEC Paris, I did my undergraduate degree in Business Administration at the University of St.Gallen and had gathered work experience through internships in different consulting companies.

I chose to do the MSc in Strategic Management at HEC Paris for three main reasons and all of those factors contributed strongly to my wonderful ten months on campus.

Diverse and highly international student body

Before I came to HEC, I talked to several alumni and every one of them stressed how great the people at HEC were and how the network they built during their time at HEC was the most valuable asset they took from their time on campus. Looking back at my year at HEC now, I understand exactly what they were talking about. Especially during my first weeks on campus, I was impressed and at times intimidated by how incredibly bright my new fellow students from around the world were. However, everyone is still very down-to-earth, and I soon formed very close ties with many students, building strong friendships with amazing people from around the world. HEC really does an amazing job selecting those students among the many applicants that are not only excellent academically but also personality wise.

Excellent career prospects

HEC Paris has been consistently ranked as one of the best business schools in Europe and employers appreciate the graduates’ excellent education. Speaking more specifically about the Master in Strategic Management, I especially enjoyed the highly practical approach and the close ties with the business world. During our study trip in London as well as during company visits and workshops in Paris that are an essential part of the curriculum, I got valuable insights into several great companies from various industries. Such events really helped me understand the company cultures and see the subtle differences between companies that often seem very similar from the outside. In addition, the close ties between the students also are of great help with job interviews, as the majority of the students prepared for consulting interviews in the second semester and we spent many hours practicing cases with each other. When the day of the real job interview comes, this is a tremendous benefit and will differentiate you from other great candidates.

Rich campus life

I had never lived on a campus before and looked forward to spending many hours with my fellow students on the beautiful campus, especially in summer. Having spontaneous BBQs down at the lake is definitely one my greatest memories of HEC. Also, the university offers an incredible variety of different societies and sports facilities that will keep you entertained after classes. Personally, I was part of the HEC football team that brought me in contact with many young French students that I probably would not have gotten to know otherwise. Nevertheless, there is still enough time to explore beautiful Paris or charming Versailles.