(Help needed) University of Miami Or Università Bocconi

Hello, I need help with which school I will attend for my undergraduate studies.

I am choosing between the Miami Herbert School of Business in the US and Università Bocconi in Italy. I would be an international student at both and will definitely be completing a graduate degree at another US institution.

I want to work in the field of finance, most likely in the United States, doing IB, PE, etc. 

I am not sure which university to choose as, to my knowledge, Bocconi is highly prestigious and renowned globally, especially in the field of finance. On the other hand, the University of Miami, while reputable, may not have the same prestige or recognition as Bocconi.

However, Bocconi is in Milan, Italy, and I do not particularly like the city and find it boring. Miami, though, is a lot more appealing with a seemingly more established social scene and a more traditional “college experience,” which I like.

1. How important is the institution where I complete my undergraduate studies, assuming I would go to a target school in the US for my graduate degree?

2. Should I prioritize the prestige and reputation of Bocconi, despite my reservations about Milan, or should I opt for the potentially more enjoyable and well-rounded experience at the University of Miami?

I would greatly appreciate any insights, experiences, or advice you can share to help me make this important decision.
Thank you!

11 Comments
 

Wouldn't you say that if I do plan on working in the US a graduate degree in a US university would balance an undergraduate degree in Europe?

 

I go to University of Miami, it’s definitely better then bocconi for in the United States, but we are not a target at all and do not place well into IB, and pe out of undergrad basically unheard of here. Everything is still possible though, dm if you have questions.

 
Most Helpful

Have seen senior folks from Bocconi in both London and NYC.

As an international, I’d say go for Bocconi. Miami is not as reputable and will hurt someone who also needs H1B sponsorship. You’ll be checking off less and less boxes.

Do Bocconi -> try recruit for London SAs (actually also network with NYC folks, might land a SA as I’ve seen even Canadian non-target unis getting NYC EB SAs). -> Target US Masters -> recruit for US IB.

This way if you secure something in London during undergrad, can always gain a few year ex and lateral as firms are a lot more willing to hire/transfer you on H1B with experience.

Maximizes and diversifies your options.

 

Yeah, but there are also decent firms who do summer programs not expecting to return.

And TN explicitly states jobs like investment banking don’t count under economist visa category, it’s just some folks get it if their coursework aligns and the bank modifies their job description.

US folks are cool. If you can network and impress senior folks, you can always do SA in NYC and land a FT in London.

 

Would you say that excelling academically at UMiami, being at the top of the class, and participating in organizations like Bermont Carlin and Foote Fellows would compensate for its low reputation? From what I’m reading the clear pick in terms of job opportunities and etc would be Bocconi. However, Miami seems so much better in terms of the actual experience. Additionally Bocconi also seems to very largely favor the Italian community over the international one in terms of networking and job positions in London. I also plan to attend a prestigious target grad school after my UG. What do you think?

 

See, bro. I did my undergrad in the US, top of class, 3.98 GPA, multiple awards and shit, from a very similar university.

Yes, your 4 years will be party life, sexy women, wild fiesta, and whatnot, but visa and brand is a high factor that will fuck you up. I have cleared interviews to not get internships/jobs because “visa”. (After final rounds when discussing start dates).

Even for a bank that sponsors who do you think they’ll kick out from an interview process first? It’s such a good excuse even if reasoning is just having to reduce their class size or hiring a client’s kid instead. 

If you are an international in the US, don’t go to anything less than top tier. Cause no one is going to kick you out of a recruitment process if you’re from Harvard with a flimsy visa excuse if you already networked and cleared interviews, cause everyone else from Harvard will chew them out. No one’s going to be in your corner or have the power to chew the bank out if you go to U Miami.

And for Bocconi/London. You can always network with folks that are not alumni. I went to a very strong MFin (not US, but again international). And even though cold outreach was actually bad to alumni (could be the non-Italian to Bocconi equivalent reason), folks from everywhere else responded and helped. From analysts to global heads.

So if you don’t want to mess up your long term for short term fun, go to Bocconi. Otherwise you’ll be breaking into the industry at 27-28 instead of 22-23.

Learn from my mistakes and my regrets, go to Bocconi, otherwise you’ll be responding 4 years later saying, I should have listened to you man.

 

If you want to work in US long-term then Miami. I have only met/worked one person from Bocconi in the US that's only because he transferred to the US branch of the Italian bank he started in Italy. Also Miami as a city is interesting... I wouldn't say it will be the "typical" college experience if your point of reference is from word of mouth or seen from pop culture. Miami has such a big LatAm population the culture is more Latin than your typical American university. 

 

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