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01 Jun 2021, 15:48
Kudos
Bookmarks
Hi guys,
I have a big dilemma that I would appreciate your thoughts and perspectives about.
I was granted a significant scholarship at SDA Bocconi, and was also accepted to a top 15 US MBA (no $).
SDA Bocconi really attracts me in terms of living in Italy/Europe (which I would love to do post graduation) and getting out of my MBA with a much lower debt (especially as compared to a US MBA).
But I am afraid that doing the MBA at Bocconi will eventually won’t provide me good outcomes and opportunities as I could have gotten from a US MBA.
(I read in a lot of places that SDA Bocconi doesn’t have a good placement outside Italy, and, as I have a European passport but don’t speak Italian, I heard it’s hard to get a good job in Italy without speaking local language).
But on the other end I think- it’s not like I got into Harvard, so what’s the different of choosing SDA Bocconi instead of just another top-15 US school.
So it’s kind of comes down to-
having a great experience in the country I dream of living in, but with career opportunities that are not the best that I could have achieved
VS
Studying at a good US MBA (though, not one of the truly best), coming out with a large debt, but probably with good career opportunities
(Some general points about me: age 30+, management consulting and product management background, very open about my post MBA position. In general, I am doing the MBA to gain international experience, living abroad and gain a job abroad)
I know that at the end of the day, it is my choice to make, but I would be happy to hear others experiences and thoughts on the topic
Thanks in advance!
I have a big dilemma that I would appreciate your thoughts and perspectives about.
I was granted a significant scholarship at SDA Bocconi, and was also accepted to a top 15 US MBA (no $).
SDA Bocconi really attracts me in terms of living in Italy/Europe (which I would love to do post graduation) and getting out of my MBA with a much lower debt (especially as compared to a US MBA).
But I am afraid that doing the MBA at Bocconi will eventually won’t provide me good outcomes and opportunities as I could have gotten from a US MBA.
(I read in a lot of places that SDA Bocconi doesn’t have a good placement outside Italy, and, as I have a European passport but don’t speak Italian, I heard it’s hard to get a good job in Italy without speaking local language).
But on the other end I think- it’s not like I got into Harvard, so what’s the different of choosing SDA Bocconi instead of just another top-15 US school.
So it’s kind of comes down to-
having a great experience in the country I dream of living in, but with career opportunities that are not the best that I could have achieved
VS
Studying at a good US MBA (though, not one of the truly best), coming out with a large debt, but probably with good career opportunities
(Some general points about me: age 30+, management consulting and product management background, very open about my post MBA position. In general, I am doing the MBA to gain international experience, living abroad and gain a job abroad)
I know that at the end of the day, it is my choice to make, but I would be happy to hear others experiences and thoughts on the topic
Thanks in advance!
01 Jun 2021, 16:20
Kudos
Bookmarks
Congratulations on your admits!
Take 2
1. Congrats on the SDA Bocconi scholarship! That's awesome
2. usually, my recommendation is to study in the country you want to be in the long term. If you are planning to be in Italy or would like to be in Europe/italy, then no reason going to the US unless it is HSW or perhaps MIT/Yale.
3. A top 15 program in the US is still impressive even if it is not HSW and the fact that you got a scholarship at one and not the other should give you an idea how the programs compare and what caliber of students you will be presented with at each program.
I would consider 2 scenarios in your case:
1. Let's say you go to SDA. Your upside is no debt and a free MBA basically. Your downside is that you will likely have some regrets during the hard days. You will be upset with your stupid classmates (everyone always has a few) and think that you would have have a much better cohort at the T15. My guess the employment at the SDA is also not so hot esp with the Italian gov being on and off and locked down but everyone usually finds something. Hopefully you have some good brands to help you land interviews. One positive thing is that the student body is likely slightly older than your US T15 so less of a difference. Worst case, you will have a bit of a hard time in the first semester and potentially struggle to find a job not speaking Italian and have to recruit in UK/Netherlands, though I hope you will pick Italian up if you like the country but not having debt provides flexibility. It is a blessing in disguise since having flexibility will make you not so desperate and less hungry. I don't know how easy/simple it is to get a work permit after your 1 year in Italy but my guess you know. Perhaps carcass can comment on the Italian state of things
2. Going to the US T15, you will definitely feel the heat of competitiveness and people shooting for the stars. That will drive you and challenge you but also probably wear you out more so than at SDA. Having Tech and Consulting background is super helpful esp if you have brand names on your resume and you can plan on being at MSFT, Amazon, Google, or Apple if you are interested. You can also shoot for consulting which you would have a leg up with that background. The MBA job market is pretty hot (does not mean you get a job, it is still competitive, but lots of hiring taking place, so things are moving briskly... things could be different of course by the time you graduate). Graduating with 150K of debt is nothing new. Lots of US and international people have done this and are doing it. A traditional Top 5 Tech PM job will likely come with a $50K sign on bonus, $140-150K annually and $250K additional worth of stock over the first 3-4 years. This does not include taxes, so subtract 1/3 from that but basically it is possible to pay back your loan in 3-4 years using your bonus money. Having said that, most people don't do it and instead invest in stock, condos, cars, etc and that's understandable. However, being in a place you are not particularly aspiring to be at will have its toll on you. You won't be as eager to recruit, as eager to engage, and as hard of a go getter which is required to score a job in the US - you have to perform 110% at each job opportunity, interview, and treat them as your best/last/etc. It would not make sense to do a T15 MBA in the US and then move to Europe or elsewhere most of the time. You are not utilizing a lot of the value you will be working for during your MBA. In terms of the negatives, you have the big loan/debt with you. You will definitely feel the heat of it the year you graduate to stabilize yourself. I feel you would have more work, more stress, less sleep, but more development and more personal change and income earning potential doing a T15. I am not sure if that is what you want/looking for. I know we are all at different life stages. At one point, I wanted maximum change/improvement. Now I want maximum peace
Bottom line is I feel you can make it work very well at either place. The path after is different and the experience will likely be different. At the same time, if you have an idea of where you want to be in the long term, it may make sense to attend the program in that country/continent and get a head start liking/enjoying/building your life there.
What do you think?
Take 2
1. Congrats on the SDA Bocconi scholarship! That's awesome
2. usually, my recommendation is to study in the country you want to be in the long term. If you are planning to be in Italy or would like to be in Europe/italy, then no reason going to the US unless it is HSW or perhaps MIT/Yale.
3. A top 15 program in the US is still impressive even if it is not HSW and the fact that you got a scholarship at one and not the other should give you an idea how the programs compare and what caliber of students you will be presented with at each program.
I would consider 2 scenarios in your case:
1. Let's say you go to SDA. Your upside is no debt and a free MBA basically. Your downside is that you will likely have some regrets during the hard days. You will be upset with your stupid classmates (everyone always has a few) and think that you would have have a much better cohort at the T15. My guess the employment at the SDA is also not so hot esp with the Italian gov being on and off and locked down but everyone usually finds something. Hopefully you have some good brands to help you land interviews. One positive thing is that the student body is likely slightly older than your US T15 so less of a difference. Worst case, you will have a bit of a hard time in the first semester and potentially struggle to find a job not speaking Italian and have to recruit in UK/Netherlands, though I hope you will pick Italian up if you like the country but not having debt provides flexibility. It is a blessing in disguise since having flexibility will make you not so desperate and less hungry. I don't know how easy/simple it is to get a work permit after your 1 year in Italy but my guess you know. Perhaps carcass can comment on the Italian state of things
2. Going to the US T15, you will definitely feel the heat of competitiveness and people shooting for the stars. That will drive you and challenge you but also probably wear you out more so than at SDA. Having Tech and Consulting background is super helpful esp if you have brand names on your resume and you can plan on being at MSFT, Amazon, Google, or Apple if you are interested. You can also shoot for consulting which you would have a leg up with that background. The MBA job market is pretty hot (does not mean you get a job, it is still competitive, but lots of hiring taking place, so things are moving briskly... things could be different of course by the time you graduate). Graduating with 150K of debt is nothing new. Lots of US and international people have done this and are doing it. A traditional Top 5 Tech PM job will likely come with a $50K sign on bonus, $140-150K annually and $250K additional worth of stock over the first 3-4 years. This does not include taxes, so subtract 1/3 from that but basically it is possible to pay back your loan in 3-4 years using your bonus money. Having said that, most people don't do it and instead invest in stock, condos, cars, etc and that's understandable. However, being in a place you are not particularly aspiring to be at will have its toll on you. You won't be as eager to recruit, as eager to engage, and as hard of a go getter which is required to score a job in the US - you have to perform 110% at each job opportunity, interview, and treat them as your best/last/etc. It would not make sense to do a T15 MBA in the US and then move to Europe or elsewhere most of the time. You are not utilizing a lot of the value you will be working for during your MBA. In terms of the negatives, you have the big loan/debt with you. You will definitely feel the heat of it the year you graduate to stabilize yourself. I feel you would have more work, more stress, less sleep, but more development and more personal change and income earning potential doing a T15. I am not sure if that is what you want/looking for. I know we are all at different life stages. At one point, I wanted maximum change/improvement. Now I want maximum peace
Bottom line is I feel you can make it work very well at either place. The path after is different and the experience will likely be different. At the same time, if you have an idea of where you want to be in the long term, it may make sense to attend the program in that country/continent and get a head start liking/enjoying/building your life there.
What do you think?
mba20202022
02 Jun 2021, 04:35
Kudos
Bookmarks
Thanks, bb
Although in terms of location I have a minor preference towards Italy/Europe (as I have a EU passport), the career oppurtunities takes the first priority for me.
Essentially (and I know no one can guarantee that for me), if I were to know the career opportunities I could turn upon graduation are quite the same in both schools, I can't see the benefit of going to top-15 US MBA with such a significant debt (i.e. despite the US salary advantage, $125K debt difference is very significant, even in the long-term).
I also think that given my openness to different career routes, the school's brand prestige plays a significant role for me, seeing it as a way to open as many doors as I can in the future... but the questing is - would a top-15 US MBA will do so for me?
Although in terms of location I have a minor preference towards Italy/Europe (as I have a EU passport), the career oppurtunities takes the first priority for me.
Essentially (and I know no one can guarantee that for me), if I were to know the career opportunities I could turn upon graduation are quite the same in both schools, I can't see the benefit of going to top-15 US MBA with such a significant debt (i.e. despite the US salary advantage, $125K debt difference is very significant, even in the long-term).
I also think that given my openness to different career routes, the school's brand prestige plays a significant role for me, seeing it as a way to open as many doors as I can in the future... but the questing is - would a top-15 US MBA will do so for me?
bb
