Bocconi Vs SSE Vs HSG for VC

Based on the most helpful WSO content, here's what you need to know:

Language Barrier Concerns:

• Swedish and German Importance:
  • For Private Equity in London, knowing a European language like German or French is quite important. It gives you a practical edge in day-to-day and client interactions. While it's possible to break into PE with only English, it will be a harder road.
  • For Investment Banking (IB) and Private Equity (PE) in general, languages like French, German, Italian, and Spanish are highly useful. For PE specifically, German, French, and Italian are top priorities.

International Experience:

• Value of International Experience:
  • Working in a country other than the US is a plus for business school applications and is a desired experience for job candidates. Your exchange semester in Sweden and the LSE summer program are valuable experiences that will enhance your profile.

Profile Evaluation:

• Curriculars:

  • GPA: 27/30
  • GMAT: 700
  • IELTS: 8
  • Exchange semester in Sweden (non-target)
  • LSE summer program in Advanced Corporate Finance

• Work Experience:

  • 2 months curricular internship at M&A local shop
  • 6 months extracurricular internship at a bigger M&A local shop

• Extracurriculars:

  • Director of the student’s finance club at your university
  • Mentoring program focused on finance
  • Volunteering

Master and Place Choice for VC:

• Best Master and Place Choice for VC:
  • If you are inclined towards the Start-up/VC path, consider the following:
  • Bocconi: Known for its strong finance programs and extensive network in Europe, which can be beneficial for VC.
  • SSE (Stockholm School of Economics): Offers a strong international experience and is well-regarded in the Nordic region, which has a growing start-up ecosystem.
  • HSG (University of St. Gallen): Highly respected in the finance industry, with strong ties to both traditional finance and emerging sectors like VC.

Conclusion:

• Language Skills: While knowing Swedish or German can be beneficial, especially for local interactions and networking, it is not an absolute barrier. Your strong profile and international experiences will help mitigate this.
• VC Path: Given your inclination towards VC, SSE and Bocconi might offer more dynamic environments with growing start-up ecosystems. However, HSG's strong reputation in finance can also open doors in the VC space.

Good luck with your applications!

Sources: How important is knowing a European language for Private Equity in London?, 20 Most Frequently Asked Questions - London Edition, Germany Sucks, 20 Most Frequently Asked Questions - London Edition, How important is international experience?