Bocconi vs UIUC (Undergrad)

The only two offers I've got at the moment are form Bocconi (Economics and Management taught in Italian) and University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (liberal arts and sciences). Which one should I chose if I plan on getting an MBA form a reputable US University? (However, I'm not going to seek a work in the US. I'm from China and would definitely prefer some work for which I can often travel from China to Europe.) I would appreciate all of your opinions!

11 Comments
 

UIUC assuming you top MBA is your main goal...

  1. the rigor and quality of UIUC is better acknowledged by top MBAs
  2. MBA programs are adverse to letting in business and finance students (at least, this is the growing trend), so your degree in management and economics at bocconi might hurt you
.
 

That surprises me... Why sould MBA programs be adverse to business students? I thought just the contrary about the major issue.

 

I think most ppl on this site probably have never heard of that school in Italy so they would advise you to go with a top 50 US university. The MBA program will look at what you've done after school as well. If you want to specifically work in europe after, then maybe that italian school will make more sense for getting that first job. Assuming you end up doing the exact same thing regardless of which school you went to, you're probably better off going to the US school.

 

Thank you for your reply! i would like to go for a top MBA but I am not so sure about it. After all, nobody can foresee what the life will be in five or more years. However, I am quite sure about looking for a job in Europe. That being said, is Bocconi more convenient or UIUC still is a tad above?

 

If you want to work in Europe, Bocconi is a clear winner. Nobody here has ever heard of UIUC, while Bocconi is one of Europe's top programmes. I also think that Bocconi in Europe >>>> UIUC in USA.

 

Thank you... Bocconi is certainly a big name in Europe, but I have heard that its masters carry all its weight whereas the undergraduate programs cannot be called ''top programs''... is that true?

 

I can only speak for the BB's in London, but I've met plenty of people from Bocconi Undergrad.

BTW, what's up with the MS? I didn't say anything untrue

 

Thanks Ghosh. It's true. I have plenty of friends studying at UIUC or other US colleges... and UIUC is clearly above Bocconi international-reputation-wise. However, if the gap is not exaggeratedly evident (although it's not as prestigious as UIUC), I would chose Bocconi just for economic convenience. The case would be different if Bocconi undergrad was just a name without any academic substance (as I was told by some Italians here).

 

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