Study Abroad - Student at a target school

Hey,

If you really have good work experience (as it seems) and you're from a target I wouldn't see any problem doing a study abroad/exchange. It's actually a decent thing to have on a resume. This is coming from someone basically in the same situation as you are.

Answering your question regarding the schools, the ones you listed are pretty much the best in each country. There really is not much differance between Sydney and Melbourne for business, although I have been told by more people that Melbourne might have the edge and if you look at the rankings it's always higher than Sydney.

That said I ultimately chose to go to Melbourne next semester though they are all great choices.

Bocconi places well into London, lots of network opportunities.

Bocconi. You'll love Italy, I spent a semester there and it's phenomenal. Plus, coming from a target, if you can add study abroad to your resume, it's absolute money and you'll invariably get questioned (enthusiastically) about your experience in interviews. Together I think that outweighs only one semester of grades at your new school. Just make sure if your semester abroad isn't pass/fail that those grades are stellar. Don't make it look like a four-month party trip. Even if it was, the grades should cover it up.

My buddy loved Bocconi when he was there but obviously you would love Australia too. You just gotta watch out about the start date though, because if you're planning on interning this summer then keep in mind that for Australia you would be leaving in mid to late July probably.

I'm studying abroad in the spring and left the US with an offer in hand.

1. Definitely plausible
2. European schools and/or big names

Your situation is a bit different because you're going in the fall. This is actually VERY, VERY advantageous because you don't miss on campus recruiting AND you do your spring interviews with unique studying abroad stories to tell. Definitely do Bologna. No one really cares about the courses you took while abroad. With Bologna, you can perhaps pop over to Milan and London and chat with some of the bankers there. Yes, you miss campus info sessions in the fall, but I'm sure you can find a couple in Europe to go to.

Good luck!

I'd definitely go with the Italy opportunity. Europass makes it so you can travel to any one of a dozen countries in less than 24 hours. You also have the opportunity to NETWORK not only in Italy, but also France, England, Germany, etc. Just ask your school to put you in contact with other students studying abroad from your school. If they're decent enough people they'll probably have a couch you can crash on (as long as you offer the same in return!).

Of course, like everyone else said, nobody really cares where you go for study abroad, so if you're set on Australia, DO Australia. Having been to a number of European countries and Australia, I think you'd have a better experience and get the chance to see more varied cultures in Europe. Australia is awesome, but when you're in Australia, all you get is Australia. Australia, Australia, Australia. Australia.

Long night, don't judge me.

Also, get try and get involved in something wherever you go. An internship (unpaid or paid, doesn't matter) won't be that big of a commitment (10-15 hours, I'd assume), you'll get some insight into how finance is done in another country, AND have something to put on your resume. That is assuming you speak the language or find a place that can deal with your inability to speak their language. You could also get involved with a club of some sort.

Ryanair>Europass

Trains in Europe are absurdly expensive. Discount airlines like Ryanair, Easyjet, WizzAir, Vuelos, and others will get you places far quicker for far less. If you only take a carry-on you get can get one-way flights as cheap as $15, if you check a bag it'll be another $20 each way, but for light weekend trips, it's unbeatable.

I went to Bocconi my junior fall and it was an amazing experience. The way I see it is that you will work the rest of your life and study abroad is something honestly worth the experience. I will admit I missed out on a lot of networking opportunities, but if you're a strong candidate you will do fine. I ended up at a BB doing IBD this summer. Feel free to PM if you have any questions.

Yeah, I only knew about Ryanair and Easyjet before I went, but once I arrived and began traveling a lot, my impecunious limitations forced me to seek out the most economical means of transportation everywhere haha.

How did you guys like italy? DId you like the culture, universities you attended?

I'm sure you would enjoy both Australia and Italy but if you're a US guy / girl then I would say go for Italy. It will make you look much more interesting in interviews: it's more different culturally, different language and you can talk about all the European countries you visited while being there. Milan is a great place to travel from as it's right in the middle of Europe.

i think you don't understand the point of studying abroad, ie not a factory for ibanking. if it's your life passion to be a banker and don't care about being an interesting person, stay on campus and do your info sessions. not saying you need to study abroad to be interesting, but if that's your reason for not going abroad, then that is pure foolish. also, imo you should study abroad in a crazy unique place like africa or japan rather than the most "prestigious" university in australia that nobody gives a shit about.

Does study abroad help with b-school students? Obviously I wouldn't do it if I didn't have a summer-internship lined up, but would it help with potential full-time offers?

I can do any of the biggies, LBS, IE, IESE, Bocconi....and basically any other top Asian/European/Australian school.

Second Enid´s comment about Europe. Plus, if you´re in Milan you´re in a major travel hub for lower-fare companies. Better plain, trane, and bus lines run out of that city compared to Firenze or even Bologna/Pisa, the other better travel cities. Rome has more access but will be more expensive.

DO IT.

Everyone I know who has studied abroad, loved it. I studied abroad and had the best time of my life. Many of my friends who studied abroad ended up as bankers at BBs. It will change your life. Life is about being happy, man, go enjoy a semester and refresh yourself before coming back to the stress of recruiting.

Trust me, it's worth it... even the people I know who studied abroad during the Spring of their Junior years ended up landing offers and they were fine in the end.

go to italy, end of story.