Bocconi AFC vs ESCP MiM
Hi guys!
I received offers both from Bocconi for the Accounting and Finance Master and from ESCP for the Master in Management.
I am Italian, 2 experiences in Italy (one the finance team of a firm and one in a M&A boutique), graduated from Bocconi in Bs International Economics and Finance and I would like to work in IB or Advisory, either Milan or London.
ESCP has its strength in the good placement in London, international experience and different uni on my CV. On the other hand I don't like the management course, except for the specialisation in corp finance but will be in french and I don't speak great french.
Bocconi AFC has great placement in Milan (don't know if better than ESCP) but I am not sure about London. I really like the topics of the course but I will miss the international part of ESCP and the new school on my CV.
What do you think?
Thanks
Bocconi hands down imho, ESCP is nowhere near Bocconi. Only pros of ESCP are travel opps and difficulty - way easier than AFC at Bocconi
Thanks! Don't you think that ESCP would give me more chances in London compared to AFC (given that it isn't the famous Finance course)?
For Milan 100% Bocconi. For London I personally think also Bocconi because it's a bigger name, for IB A&F is more relevant than MiM. If you want to add something international to your CV aim for a non-Italian IB or Advisory internship this summer otherwise no rush. Assuming you're 21-22 if you do another year in Milan then move abroad it'll still be good and help you gain international experience.
Thank you! To give you all the background I studied 6 months in Hong Kong for the exchange program. So you don't thing that on CV Bocconi+ESCP is better than Bocconi+Bocconi, right?
Probably not. 6 months in Asia is a good amount of international experience. Aim to get non-Italian internships before you start or when you finish. You should be fine.
E ti do un consiglio, evita di usare il tuo vero nome su WSO ;)
Thanks!
Lo cambio immediatamente :)
how did you get the offer that early? the test was 2 weeks ago, wasn't it?
(visto che siamo tra italiani: ma il test non era stato circa 2 sett. fa e i risultati sarebbero usciti a maggio? Non ho applicato btw)
Io sono entrato in sessione anticipata a metà ottobre
I would go for Bocconi. Bocconi is the only target Italian uni for all the big banks (regardless of the location) and if you are good you will have your chances to break in (the class is not huge). ESCP has been constantly improving and the BBs have increased hiring from them but the network and the OCR of Bocconi are a huge plus for Italians. IMHO and given what I see around me in London, the quality of teaching/students is not comparable. On the other hand, ESCP will likely be a less intense, more fun and international experience (although Bocconi has many exchanges available) and the fact of having two diff business schools is a valid point. I still see Bocconi overall superior but you will be fine with both given your background.
Thank you! Do you think that the two business school on my CV can be "replicated" with another exchange or, even better, a double degree?
I agree very much with the comments below that applying for a 1-year master in the UK makes a lot of sense in your situation, otherwise stick with Bocconi if you are worried you don't have enough experience on your CV. A double degree can be a good tool but double degrees (or not continuing at Bocconi) make sense if and only if the second school is equal or better than Bocconi and ESCP is not. (I am not a Bocconi alumni btw)
No brainer, Bocconi wins hands down. A lot of rejected students from Finance/AFC programs at Bocconi actually get into ESCP's MiM. ESCP has a better reputation in London? Damn no. ESCP has a great brand in Paris, although yet in London (and of course Milan) is mile under Bocconi. ESCP program is easier? Right, but is a management one, you will do BSc's stuffs another time in a less relevant way.
Anyway, da Italiano a Italiano, with your work experience and CV I would go for a 1yr MSc in the UK. Try to get into LSE, Imperial and so on.
Sure Bocconi has a better reputation in London but I don't know about AFC. I agree with you that the ESCP MiM's program is way less interesting compared to Bocconi's one. Few students from LBS told me not to do 1 year master if you don't have internships at big brand (either IB, Audit or Consulting) on your CV.
M&A experience > BB's BO or Auditing in big4 experience. Given this I would say that you're profile could be strong as well in 1y program. Bocconi - ESCP mean another summer internship either way. Good work experience + 1 year program = you can try to get FT offers just straight after the MSc... Anyway, Bocconi >>>>> ESCP
Il mio consiglio è di far leverage su bachelor Bocconi e work experience per 1 year MSc
Che bello vedere un thread di Italiani hahah
m8 siamo più molti più di quanto avessi mai pensato
da non credere ahah ...Comunque Bocconi senza dubbio ;-) hai ricevuto l’offerta con il gmat? Io ho applicato per Finance ma ho ricevuto un’offerta in UK (Imperial) quindi credo andró lí.
Nono sono entrato da lo scorso ottobre. Il problema si è posto ora che ho ricevuto l'offer da ESCP.
Se hai già work experience fai benissimo. No sense fare due anni
Guys, update. I have been admitted to the HEC Master in Management program that would allow me to specialise in Finance during the second year. What do you think between Bocconi AFC and HEC MiM? Obviously my second choice after London would be Milan.
Be careful. The Finance major at HEC's MiM is selective: it will depend heavily on your 1st year's GPA, + interview. By enrolling at HEC's MiM, you're NOT guaranteed to pursue the Finance major/track in your 2nd year. Crucial detail you might want to take into account.
If you can get into the majeure Finance I would go with HEC (disclaimer, I graduated from Bocconi), as it is a smaller class compared to AFC at Bocconi (which is also competing with Finance and, to an extent, IM) hence easier to stand out and better chances to land a BB/EB job.
As already said, I've been told by friends and colleagues who did HEC that it's not that easy to get into the Finance track so take that into account (if you can't get in, you will be stuck with less relevant tracks or DDs).
Another plus of HEC would be flexibility, if you take a gap year and realise banking is not for you (I see it happening very often), you're still in time to switch to strategy/marketing/whatever in M2, and if you're willing to put in the effort to learn proper French you'll have great access to France's job market in addition to the Italian one (if you're interested).
Main downside is that campus' location is terrible, especially compared to Bocconi, and, for Italians, Bocconi can't be really beaten when it gets to networking and brand (e.g. 99% of Italians in London are from Bocconi), but this is a subjective point and given the alternative is HEC I wouldn't worry too much.
Imho key decision drivers should be how sure you are that Finance is what you want to do, where you want to study (downtown vs countryside) and if you're interested in learning well a new language.
Thank you for your answer. I agree with you on every point.
My idea is that for M2 I can put 3 options and a part from Finance there are Managerial and Financial Economics and Corporate Financial Management. Both of them look quite similar to AFC, so I could only "improve" the AFC course.
What do you think about the Italian job market? Because I believe that, just personal opinion, someone with Bocconi + HEC MiM may have more chances compared to Bocconi+ AFC also in the Italian market (thinking about all the IB plus the big consulting)
About the location that is obviously the main weak point of HEC but I think I can deal with it for 2 years.
Never worked in Italy so hopefully someone else can chime on this, and take my words with multiple grains of salt. My idea is that for consulting Bocconi + HEC > Bocconi + Bocconi, everything else equal.
Concerning IB, for sure you won't have problems landing interviews; since most of banks have small intakes (excluding the Italians I guess?) they may prefer to stick to students already in Milan, but once you are interviewing this can be easily offset if they like you enough.
Anyway, you can take the decision without many worries as they are both very good programmes. Se sei conscio del fatto che non sarai a Parigi e che il valore aggiunto di HEC lo hai soprattutto in Francia, io andrei lì, anche per evitare di fare l'intero 3+2 in Bocconi che potrebbe essere meno stimolante (io stesso ho fatto un double degree, altrimenti 5 anni interi mi sarebbero pesati un pò)
Thanks! Can I PM you?
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