Bocconi BIEF vs HSG Econ vs Erasmus vs SSE
Pretty much what the title says. I am an IB student from Germany going into 12th grade and soon have to start applying. I am interested in Investment Banking and finance in general, and eventual PE, etc, most likely in Europe/London. Most likely cities like: London, Paris or Frankfurt.
I have a predicted 45/45, a 7/7 10th grade and 11th grade gpa, and a 1530 SAT, with solid ec's (starting an investment fund for 10k, econ world cup gold certificate, and some forage certificates). I take Maths AA HL, Econ HL and Physics HL.
- Between Bocconi, HSG, Erasmus and SSE, which is the best for placement into Frankfurt/London, which has the best culture, internship opportunities, exchange programs, rankings, difficulty, etc?. I am not an EU citizen right now, but might be by the time I apply, although it is doubtful, so costs might change as well.
- So far I have read that HSG is best for DACH, and Bocconi is best for London, but I have also read many negative reviews about Bocconi, saying it is too theoretical, and bad for international students. Is that true?
- is it possible to go straight to London IB after a bachelor's, or is a master's required as well?
- What are my chances of getting into the mentioned unis given my grades and SAT?
What do you guys recommend?
Based on the most helpful WSO content, here's a breakdown of your options:
1. Placement into Frankfurt/London:
2. Culture and International Student Experience:
3. Internship Opportunities and Exchange Programs:
4. Rankings and Reputation:
5. Difficulty and Admission Chances:
6. Bachelor's vs. Master's for London IB:
Recommendation:
Your academic profile makes you a strong candidate for all these schools, so consider your geographical preferences, cultural fit, and long-term career goals when making a decision.
Sources: Is target MSc Finance still possible in my situation? (Bocconi, HEC, LSE, HSG....), https://www.wallstreetoasis.com/forum/school/master-in-finance-hec-paris-vs-bocconi-vs-st-gallen?customgpt=1, Bocconi AFC vs ESCP MiM, European Masters Rankings, European Masters Rankings
A master at a top UK uni LBS, LSE or Oxford is required for top posts! Go for the cheaper option! With all these you can go to any top master!
Should I have to rank:
HSG>>Erasmus/Bocconi>SSE
HSG/Bocconi > SSE >> RSM
HSG is top for dach, and places very well in London too. Can't go wrong with it
All are very solid choices, and each will open paths to IB at reputable firms across Europe. A few notes below I think you should consider:
1) The most important thing is grades. E.g. a top 10% GPA at SSE will outweigh a medium GPA at Bocconi and so on. HSG and SSE is academically the toughest of the choices you listed, so if you feel like your an "average" student, you would perhaps be better of going to e.g. RSM. However, based on your performance in high school I'm quite firm you will be top 10% at all the listed universities.
1.1) This point also extends to "Bocconi being too theoretical". The knowledge you will pick up in Uni do not translate to what makes a good IB analyst. Rather, Uni is a way to prove to recruiters that you have the grit and motivation to work in IB. Hence, the exact curriculum is not important and the focus should be to maximize grades above all. E.g. once I had a top 10% GPA, I only studied bullshit courses that weren't graded but could be counted towards my degree and no one ever cared, as they only look at the GPA anyway.
2) Most banks in continental Europe (especially the BB/EBs) will have local language requirements, e.g. German for German officies, France for Paris office or a Nordic language for the nordic offices etc. Thus, unless you are fluent in German it doesn't really matter which school "places best in DACH" as your chances of getting hired is very slim. However as long as you fulfil the language requirements, each school will be best for its local market, e.g. SSE for Stockholm, HSG for DACH, RSM for Benelux and so on.
3) It is possible to go to London IB after only a bachelor, but people who do it from Universities outside of UK is small and mainly tends to be students who early on manage to land a somewhat "cool" internship they then can use to leverage in recruiting. My view is that Stockholm and Milan offers the best opportunities for internships for early students, (perhaps at one of Stockholms many local banks offering an ocean of different IB internships).
4) The main way people from Europe get into London IB is by doing a masters in Finance at one of the target schools. Bocconi and HEC is the by far best, followed by HSG, SSE, and some others. The way you get into those master programs is by doing a bachelor degree at one of Europes "good" business schools (e.g. SSE, HSG, Bocconi, Nova, CBS, NHH, Otto, ESCP and so on), and get a top 10% GPA. A top 10% gpa will also (pretty much) guarantee you a spot at one of LSE/LBS master programs.
5) Im not sure about the admissions etc, but given that you seem to basically have perfect GPA I would assume your chances are very high.
Eaque atque omnis repudiandae delectus occaecati molestiae rerum. Eos fuga ullam sapiente mollitia dolore. Eveniet et aperiam expedita culpa deserunt quo.
Esse molestias nihil quo optio qui repudiandae. Et iste accusantium esse illum ut officia dolores ducimus. Mollitia nihil sequi et quis illo.
See All Comments - 100% Free
WSO depends on everyone being able to pitch in when they know something. Unlock with your email and get bonus: 6 financial modeling lessons free ($199 value)
or Unlock with your social account...