There are plenty of similarities to be found when comparing international business schools to b-schools stateside. Prospective students, whether in the U.S. or on the other side of the world, can expect a strenuous education analyzing business fundamentals, a collaborative atmosphere fostering teamwork and innovation, and an experience aimed to make graduates significantly more attractive to the world's most important companies.

Of course, there are plenty of differences, too. And it is these differences that give top international business schools their distinct character.

Diverse Classrooms, Diversity of Concepts
The concept of international business itself lies at the heart of this comparison. Perhaps the biggest difference between schools on either side of the pond is the way students themselves are absorbed into business cultures-which starts in the classroom and branches outward.

In promoting themselves to applicants, schools such as London Business School (LBS) and France and Singapore's INSEAD go to great lengths to emphasize the international qualities of their programs and the richness of culture students enjoy at these schools. Stephan Chambers, Head of MBA Programs at England's University of Oxford, describes Oxford's Saïd Business School as "a modern business school at the heart of an ancient university [providing students] the chance to participate in an astonishingly diverse class."

North Americans comprise less than a third of Saïd's student body. A full 70% of the composition of LBS is neither American nor British, demographics considerably different from those of American schools. David Simpson, Senior Manager of MBA Marketing and Admissions at LBS, comments, "Our collaborative learning teams are made up of a very diverse mix of students both culturally and professionally. There is never more than one student from the U.S. in each study group."

One applicant who recently chose to attend Oxford's Saïd Business School over Yale's School of Management gained a similar perspective in her analysis of both schools. The woman, who now runs a boutique international finance firm, explains, "The strong sense I received from admissions professionals at Oxford was that an Austrian student, for example, will be encouraged to lend his or her perspective on the workings of Austrian business during discussions. In general, American business schools do more to teach that Austrian how to conform to American business culture and practice."

The exception to that perspective is U.S.-based Thunderbird, The Garvin School of International Management where the European model prevails. Case-study based classes are taught by Ph.D.'s with solid reputations and expertise as international business consultants. That expertise and collaborative international teaching style is integral to each course and evident in every classroom. Sharing diverse viewpoints and encouraging cultural exchange is core to Thunderbird's programs.

Bringing us to another big point of differentiation…

International Post-MBA Opportunities
Chambers states it plainly: "Most of our graduates find jobs in Europe. Most graduates of leading U.S. business schools are recruited in the U.S."

A quick check of websites offering comprehensive information on U.S. and international business schools bears this out. American businesses dominate recruitment lists showing where graduates of American schools begin their post-MBA careers.

International business schools, on the other hand, show a mixture of regional businesses and American consulting companies doing the hiring. But even the recruiting American firms do at top European schools, for example, are mainly for projects based in Europe. As Simpson explains, "Nearly all major corporations have large offices in London. It is convenient for recruiters there to meet students and hire them for projects, internships or jobs (in London)." At INSEAD, statistics for the Class of 2002 show that while 12% of the graduates were from North America, only 9% accepted jobs upon graduation within North America. Again, the notable exception is Thunderbird, with 34% of 2005 graduates accepting work outside the U.S. in 33 different countries.

One in a growing number of examples, The Wharton-INSEAD Alliance was created in 2001 to enable students of both schools at any of its four campuses (France, Singapore, Philadelphia and San Francisco) to enjoy the benefits of both schools. Presumably, this also gives students in either program career paths to pursue on any of three continents.

In this category as well, Thunderbird stands out among U.S. b-schools with programs worldwide. While the main campus is in Arizona, Thunderbird campuses extend throughout Latin America, the Czech Republic, Russia and China. U.S.-based students have many options for study abroad and students at worldwide campuses may study in Arizona.

Targeted Admission Requirements
So what can American applicants who are charmed by the thought of an international school and an international career do to assess and improve their chances at top schools overseas?

A major point is to carefully and insightfully express your intentions in your essays. Says Simpson, "We expect excellent essays…that show that a candidate has researched a London Business School MBA. They should not be generic MBA application essays.

Also encouraged is a grasp, if not a mastery, of at least one foreign language. The grand majority of schools in non-English-speaking countries will teach American students the local tongue and provide instruction in it. Even schools in areas where English is the primary language, such as LBS and Thunderbird demand that students learn another language to graduate.

International experience—such as work, a semester of study, or extensive travel abroad—is certainly a plus for U.S. applicants but is not necessary.

What is necessary is desire. American applicants looking at top American business schools will naturally have a greater number of opportunities for employment in the U.S than they would overseas.

Applicants of any background, Americans included, who are looking for opportunities to work and to live overseas—or even better, to frequent houses, flats, and beach bungalows sprinkled all over the world—should recognize international business schools as vital options in their school searches.