helsinki school of economics

namaku · Post by **namaku** » Sat Oct 25, 2008 9:30 pm

Hi, I'm new to this forum. I'm fr Indonesia.
Let's just say that my SAT score is high enough to allow me to be admitted into HSE and many top American universities. I can't decide where to go. I've always wanted to go to school in Europe and USA has its own problems (less tolerant students in the good schools that I'm applying to and crime). But I'm afraid that peop don't know abt HSE. Is it reputable in EU? (I know it has high rank,but doesnt mean that peop know).
Is HSE good compared to top US' universities? (I don't mean harvard, but like Lehigh, Villanova, Richmond which r like 1-2 levels below harvard but still in the top 20 in the businessweek rank for undergraduate business program. And I can't think that HSE is bad bcoz of its rank, but how good is it internationally or at least EU.)

Also, I know that most Finns speak english, but many said that it's hard for foreigners to find a job in Finland. Is the work opportunity good for an HSE graduate?

What about the social life? In the US, colleges have dorms, HSE doesnt, so, is it a commuter school where peop just meet for a few hours n don't really meet each other much? Is life in Finland good(this is very subjective, please tell me ur personal view)?

I will really appreciate your reply. Thanks =)

**Sponsor:**

Pursuivant · Post by **Pursuivant** » Sun Oct 26, 2008 3:40 am

do you really have a question?
or did you just answer it as well?

Rabs · Post by **Rabs** » Sun Oct 26, 2008 10:53 am

namaku wrote: Also, I know that most Finns speak english, but many said that it's hard for foreigners to find a job in Finland. Is the work opportunity good for an HSE graduate?

let me palm read your future in finland- With HSE degree, you will land in McDonald's either as a manager or cleaner. Job guarantee is ..... NOT

namaku · Post by **namaku** » Sun Oct 26, 2008 11:42 am

Right, thanx for your time n effort to answer, both of u. But i would appreciate it if u do intend to answer the questions clearly written there. If u happen to be a psychic, I don't believe in or care about ur premonition or whatever. so, if u wanna answer, u r welcome. If u don't, why not check out some other posts n have fun? Thanks anyways.

inkku · Post by **inkku** » Sun Oct 26, 2008 12:28 pm

In economics, HSE and Hanken are the best universities in Finland to make connections and to improve your chances to get a job in Finland. However, it also depends a lot on the subject, hard-core issues such as accounting or financing provide definitely an advantage, with marketing and similar you'll end up with McDonalds indeed (unless you aim at research).

Regarding how good HSE is, my very faint impression is that it depends on the subject/department. What i know is that Hanken at least used to be excellent in financing. You should look for HSE alumni and ask them.

The reputation you have to find out by yourself. if you ask in finland, you will get very biased answers, since the market is inbred (foreign degrees are not valued very much, and there are few real unis (ie non-UAS) in Finland, less evaluation of their performance). My guess is that usually outsiders hardly know anything particular about Finnish unis (except some department of HUT): solid teaching and research, nothing special. but i might be mistaken her as well.

I presume you have read FAQs an other postings on this forum about the hardships for foreigners living and working in Finland (very small job market, monocultural society, difficult language, harsh climate)

If your goal is in international career, i would suggest you to go to the US or UK.

namaku · Post by **namaku** » Sun Oct 26, 2008 5:51 pm

Thank you Innku for ur reply. It's helpful. I'm thinking of doing finance. Really, marketing? I mean McD is a multinational company, but just sounds sad.
Do u have any idea how I can contact HSE alumni?
Is HSE, at least, reputable in the EU? (well, u r right about foreigners not knowing it, my parents r innocently like, "Helsinki, where's that?").

UK is too expensive, US offers me much scholarship but I like EU bcoz of tolerance, safety, culture, n opera, n my friend in Germany said peop r nice (well, I've only been to Italy, don't know abt finland). So, as a Finn, do u like life in Finland? What do u like or hate abt it?

Pursuivant · Post by **Pursuivant** » Sun Oct 26, 2008 6:00 pm

lets say the weather isn't the best at all times. and what comes to tolerance, culture, opera, and people being nice...

thats all what people whine about Finland 24/7

rinso · Post by **rinso** » Sun Oct 26, 2008 6:01 pm

I like EU bcoz of tolerance, safety, culture, n opera

In that field Helsinki is certainly not top class.

Pursuivant · Post by **Pursuivant** » Sun Oct 26, 2008 6:03 pm

then again the students excel in academics as theres nothing much else to do but study... or party... but HSE isn't in any way a bad school.

namaku · Post by **namaku** » Mon Oct 27, 2008 10:38 am

thnx. Why whine abt them, Pursuivant?
mm, so, rinso, r u saying that Helsinki's cultural events n opera arn't so good compared to most other european countries? Sounds good enough to me, coz I liv in Singapore, and here, we have like 2 pathetic full operas a yr? n several recitals? Also, I'm applying to US' unis which r in suburban areas where there r no opera houses or they sing it in ENGLISH (so that the americans understand, maybe they havn't heard of surtitles in theatres).

How bad is the weather exactly, like it makes u go depressed? Coz i've got an aussie friend livin in Finland n says he's ok with it.

So, HSE is a good school. Wht abt the job prospect for its graduate?

Pursuivant · Post by **Pursuivant** » Mon Oct 27, 2008 11:05 am

namaku wrote:thnx. Why whine abt them, Pursuivant?

my sentiments exactly

BTW don't drool www.ooppera.fi

raamv · Post by **raamv** » Mon Oct 27, 2008 11:14 am

I didnt read any of the questions which were clearly written... just some babbling..
mebbe its written clearly in your head..

HSE has loads of International professors coming there to lecture just like other Business schools..
and if you are thinking about landing a job in Finland ( or EU) after a bachelor's then you better go to the Good ole U. S of A..
The cultural adoption from Singapore is closer to that of the US than here..so seriously think about this..
and here you need to show at least €6000 per year beforehand to live frugally..Might not be that stringent elsewhere..

inkku · Post by **inkku** » Mon Oct 27, 2008 5:45 pm

imo, Helsinki is excellent in terms of culture. Compared to the size, it has quite vibrant cultural life. But it is not an easy place to live, as said earlier, and i seriously suggest you read earlier postings on this forum instead of repeating the same questions.

Use your initiative: the contact to HSE alumni can be found directly on their own website. I believe they could have also some kind of facebook networking or similar, perhaps yahoo groups whatever. use google.

job prospects do not depend on the university. they might be affected by your choice, but ultimately it depends on your professional knowledge, language skills, personality, and connections.

If you have not been to finland before, consider other countries. finland has some good points, but at the end it is very
provincial. The Uk might be expensive, but you have the opportunity for some scholarship if you have good grades. usually bachelor programmes are quite relaxed, so there is time for part time job to complement funding. in finland you will not have scholarship opportunity and you will not have good opportunities for work (the job market is mall and biased).

In short, there are pros and cons, it is up to you decide what you value.

namaku · Post by **namaku** » Mon Oct 27, 2008 6:54 pm

whoa, thanks evryone.
that's a nice web, exactly why I love europe, opera is literally all over the place.

raamv, ok maybe my post was a bit too much of a stream of conciousness, but if u r discerning enough, then maybe...
anyways, do u go to hse? why would u say that a person with US' degree is more valued in the EU n Finland while innku earlier said that foreign degrees arnt much valued in finland.

mmm, 6000 euro isnt that much, if u apply to US schools, they want to see a lot, ranging from USD26000 to USD52000 PER YR! WHAT LEECHES (but they r generous enough to me, hehe)!
UK is also evil towards non-EU, total cost can b abt 20000 pound/yr, n scholarship for int'l bachelor r like 1000pound(worthless). Finland is lovely in terms of cost, no tuition fee for bachelor.

innku, is the job market much better if i am able to speak the language well (bcoz I'm good at languages n am usually able to learn it fast, n bachelor is like 3 ys)

inkku · Post by **inkku** » Mon Oct 27, 2008 7:37 pm

namaku, where did you get the info that a scholarship in the Uk is in the range of GBP1000? It depends on the university and the scholarship schemes which are plenty. Just an example, UCL undergraduate scholarships:
http://www.ucl.ac.uk/prospective-studen ... rgraduate/
lots of scholarships provide tuition fees free.

we are all entitled to our own opinions, but some time ago there was a survey about the difficulties of those FINNISH people who had studied abroad to get a job in Finland meaning that if you are foreign educated person with a foreign degree without any connections, your chances are only if you master a very special, high demand technical field.

regarding the job prospect with or without finnish skills, the third and last time i tell you, please read the other threads on this forum, everything is there!

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