Hello,
I'm a current undergraduate student from Bocconi University, in Milan, Italy. I'm going to graduate next june, and I'm not really looking at what to do next.
I'm aware that without a master in something it would be hard for me to find a good job (if any), so I'm going looking around for many different options, and I'm pretty confused.
In Bocconi, which is considered Italy's best business school (and it's among the top ones in Europe), I'm studying "CLEAM", which is Business & Management.
I've always been passionate about innovation and technologies, and I've been working in the IT industry for many years (as a freelancer, or developing some projects together with a small firm in my area).
I'd love to work in a IT company (or other highly innovative companies in different industries, like automotive, energy...), and maybe start my own startup (as I often come up with new ideas
).
As my graduation comes closer, though, I'm presented with dozens of options, and I find myself having some problems choosing among them!
Right now, I'm considering:
1. Master of Business Entrepreneurship and Technology (MBET) at University of Waterloo (Ontario). This looks great to me: it's focused on entrepreneurship and technology, which are the things I like most. Also, it lasts only 1 year (12 months) and at the end there's a 8-month commercialization practicum in a startup (or another highly innovative environment). The downside is that it's not a famous program at all: Waterloo is probably famous only in North America (if not only in Canada...), and it's immediately linked with engineering, not business! If I were to choose this program, it would be because I think it's really interesting and helpful for me, even though I'm aware it will not shine on my CV as other universities may do. I was able to find a MBET graduate on the Internet (who enrolled MBET after a bachelor in engineering), and he agreed the program is not famous... but - he said - that's something that may be worth to explain during an interview. Another plus is that I'm a Canadian citizen as well (per ius sanguini), so I would be treated like a Canadian (less fees, no problems with visas, etc). Another pro: they have, as far as I know, close relationships with many IT companies, like Google, Facebook, etc...
2. Staying in Bocconi, which has the EMIT course (Economics and Management of Innovation and Technology). Bocconi has probably a better brand in the world (definitely it has in Italy and Europe... Remember that Mario Monti was the president of Bocconi University!). However, this is a bit more about management than entrepreneurship, and it lasts 2 years (9+9 months). And, to be honest, I'm quite sick of living in Milan... Also, speaking about post-graduate opportunities... While there are recruiters from companies like Vodafone, Eni, etc, a big portion of EMIT graduates find a work in consultancy firms (like Accenture, especially for IT consulting), and that's NOT what I'd love to do!
3. Hult. They don't have a master program like MBET or EMIT, so I'd take the Master in International Management... But they're a really international environment, and that's awesome in my opinion... But yet, that's a different kind of course!
4. Going to other universities in Northern Europe... I was thinking about University of Amsterdam, which has a program similar to EMIT, and as the other universities above, they don't ask for a GMAT (for Bocconi graduates, at least). It's not that I don't want to take the GMAT, but I really don't have time to study for it... So, that's why I'm not looking at Rotterdam Business School, for example (even if I've been told it's better).
As you can see, I'm *really* confused. And the marketing those universities are doing (and all others) really confuses me...
What are your opinions on this? Any hint? Have I forgotten some criteria, that should instead be relevant when taking this decision?
Thank you, and apologizes for the loooong post!
PS: all of the programs above are affordable to me. Waterloo's MBET is ~25k €, Bocconi's EMIT is ~25k € and Hult is ~35k €. Universities in the NL are cheaper, being state-financed, and for EU citizens it's only around 2k € per year...