Is It Over
Hi there I will start university next year however I am not really hopeful about it. I applied to top US schools (ivies and some t20s) however I got rejections from all of them. I never thought I would end up like this as my SAT score and GPA is really high and I had a great resume. Luckily I was accepted to a european target (or semi-target im not really sure) school (bocconi university). I feel like I am doomed. It is impossible for me to work in US and I dont speak any local language from europe like italian, german etc. and I am not good at learning languages at all. If you know anyone who graduated from this university, where did they ended up? My target is working in UK or Dubai now. As these are the only well paying countries that speak english but I am not sure if bocconi is a target university for these countries. I am looking out for your responses, thanks
Based on the most helpful WSO content, Bocconi University is widely recognized as a strong target or semi-target school, particularly in Europe. It has an excellent reputation for placing graduates into top finance roles, especially in Italy, London, and other European financial hubs. While it may not have the same level of recognition as Ivy League schools in the US, it is highly regarded for its MSc Finance and Economics programs, which are well-connected to the job market.
Here’s what you should know:
Placement in the UK and Dubai: Bocconi graduates have a solid track record of landing roles in London, particularly in investment banking, consulting, and finance. Many alumni work at top firms like Goldman Sachs, J.P. Morgan, and McKinsey. For Dubai, while less common, Bocconi’s international reputation and alumni network can still open doors, especially if you focus on networking and internships.
Language Barrier: While not speaking a local European language might limit your options in some countries, it won’t be a significant issue for roles in London or Dubai, as English is the primary business language in these markets.
Maximizing Bocconi’s Potential:
Outlook: You’re far from “doomed.” Bocconi is a fantastic platform to launch a career in finance or consulting, especially in Europe. With strategic planning, you can achieve your goal of working in the UK or Dubai.
Keep your head up—many students have felt similarly but ended up thriving with the opportunities Bocconi provides!
Sources: Ask Natalie from Accepted about Business School Admissions, Physics undergrad admitted to top b-school, My future after Bocconi?, 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
I'm fighting the urge to call you a fucking moron because I know you're 17/18 and this seems like the end of the world, but trust me it's not.
Bocconi is a phenomenal school, as an English speaker you will have every opportunity to land top finance roles in London. If you learn another language, elsewhere in Europe too. Yea it'll be difficult compared to the Wharton kids if you want nyc, but the benefit is, you won't need visa sponsorship so you'll have it easier than Europeans. I go to school in Canada, and all my American classmates got American roles with ease, because they were able to network with the firms who came to campus (ie globals with toronto offices, or nyc firms that sponsor visas), but they also could apply to EVERY job posting. Trust me, there are plenty of finance jobs in the US if you're a citizen and open to all cities.
Bocconi is one of the best business schools in the world, the T20s are inflated by things like nyc IB placements (rightfully so I guess? Depending on who you ask). I've met many of their students when they came to my school for exhange, they all work top IB/MBB/B4 across Europe, mainly london, and when I went to Milan I had a blast. Yea Milan is a small city and not as fun as Rome, but you're so close to everywhere. You can take a train to lake como, fly to Rome for dinner, weekend in Barcelona, or fly to london for a random Tottenham match.
You're about to have the best time of your life in bocconi, and trust me, every one you know back home will be super jealous
Take a deep breath :)
I like the fashionista girls in Milan.
Thanks for the reply, I hope one day I can look back at this thread and think how stupid I was.
I'll be brutally honest, when you look at Bocconi's placement, 90% of the time it's an Italian speaker. The appeal for EU targets in London is the local EU language the candidates bring.
You'll be in Italy, you shouldn't have any excuses to not practice and learn. It will be harder than your Italian peers, but you still have a chance.
Many thanks for being honest. Unfortunately I am not really good at learning languages so I dont think I can learn italian in 3 years. Is bocconi well regarded in countries other than european ones. If I cant make it to london can I possibly work in UAE, east asia or maybe Saudi Arabia? And lastly do you have any suggestions for the summer? Is there anything I can do to boost my resume. Thanks again for your reply :)
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