[sdabocconi_09]

Originally Posted by asv711

Hi...

Thanks for taking the initiative to generate awareness regarding SDA. I have sent my application to SDA last week. I am interested to work in the luxury goods sector. Italy being the fashion capital was one of my first choices.

But the website does not boast of many high-end luxury brands coming to recruit to the school. Is it because there are few people with this 'niche' interest? Can the career services help you get a job of your choice?

Moreover, how easy it is to find a job, say in UK post your MBA from SDA? Please elaborate.

Lastly, how well does an Indian fit into the Italian education and work culture? If you could speak about your experiences, it would be great!!

Thanks,
ASV.

Dear ASV,

Happy New Year and All the best for your application.

Milan/Italy is one of the best places if you want to enhance your skills in fashion/style/brand. Its home to almost all known fashion brands in the world. However, the issue why SDA is not so upbeat about Luxury industry is that the industry pays much lower than average starting salary to graduates. Haing said that, if you are willing to put in a little extra efforts, getting an entry into companies such as Luxxotica/Gucci is not difficult.

As far as career prospects in UK are concerned, a lot of companies hire for their UK offices. At this point I do not have statistics to share with you. In general, it is definitely easier to approach UK based openings from Italy compared to from India, however, it may not be as simple as it may seem.

I did not find much difficulty in adjusting to the Italian education and culture. It is very similar to India with a little extra focus on soft skills and networking [which I believe is an added value for Indian engineers]. Presentation, networking and creative abilities are valued more than analytical abilities. Italians prefer to have a work-life balance. In the last 3 months, I have the opportunity to attend almost 2-3 social parties [apertivos] every week, which is a great way of relaxing and catching up with friends.

On the con side, Italy is not as tech savvy as US/UK and the public administration is not very efficient. Most of the processes are complex and manual. For e.g., I had to visit the bank almost 6 times before I could not get my bank account opened (& this is more or less the same case with most of my friends). However, this does not affect your day to day life @ SDA much.

Hope that answers your queries to an extent.

[asv711]

Hi,
Thanks so much for the info. That was much like the information I was looking for

Is it possible to connect with you via chat / phone? There are quite a few questions that I have regarding the school and job prospects.

I have applied to quite a few good schools internationally, but since luxury happens to be my interest area... I am definitely looking at Bocconi with keen interest.

Thanks,
ASV.

[sdabocconi_09]

Dear ASV,

I'm happy that you found the reply informative.

If the questions are of general interest, I would appreciate if you can post them here for the benefit of everyone. If specific to you, please send me a PM along with a brief about you.

The classes are starting from tomorrow so I may be a little slow in my replies.

Thanks

[gtorna82]

Sorry,

Could you share your profile??
Could you report something about the admission process?

Thanks

[sdabocconi_09]

Originally Posted by gtorna82

Sorry,

Could you share your profile??
Could you report something about the admission process?

Thanks

Sure... Indian IT-Consultant with 6 Yr work ex, amongst top 2% in GMAT. International workex across 3 countries ... winner of Govt Scholarship (one of the 2 winners at all India level)...
[Also - rejected thrice by IIMs (lack of speed during exam), waitlisted and rejected by SPJAIN, ISB, IESE and Tepper (poor performance in Interviews)...]

blah blah blah...

If that's what u wanted to know... but honestly does those statistics really matter ?? esp after we know where a Slumdog can reach [hope u have watched 'Slumdog Millionare' ] ... Just be yourself and show the adcom that "I'm Unique".. Not an easy task but if you can spend some time than u will be able to 'connect the dots' and don't give up...

SDA's website has a detailed section on admission process. I would suggest you to browse through it and I'm sure most of your queries would be answered. Is their something specific u want to know ? One of the most important aspects that adcom wants to understand is whether the applicant has the right expectations from the MBA program and has a clear vision of his/her post MBA goals. If you can communicate these 2 aspects convincingly both in application and in interview than most likely you will be selected.


ATB
[and please please please spend a little more time on framing queries... I know you are busy, did not have time, etc.. but it really helps me.. I spent 30 mins in answering the query presuming a lot of things... it may all be a waste in case my presumptions are incorrect]

[indrani12]

@sdabocconi09
Hey!..
Really wanna thank you for taking out the time to answer so many questions!..
I had applied in the second week of Dec for the Sept 09 intake and I got a mail today telling me my interview is on the 3rd of Feb on the phone with Prof Mikkel Draebye. Just wanted to know if you could shoot me some pointers.

Cheers,
Indrani

[askme_scor]

Hi sdabocconi_09,
well i have a very basic question. Is there any difference in degree (apart from the course specialization part) provided be Bocconi University and SDA Bocconi.

Since i am 2008 passout so by sep 2009 i ll have 1+ year of work-ex only, due to it i think i wont be eligible to apply for MBA Course. so now i am looking at Masters course.

Now option that i am having from Bocconi are:

1. MCF @ SDA Bocconi @ 1 yr course
2. MSF @ Bocconi University @ 2 Year Course
3. MS International Management @ Bocconi University @ 2 Year Course

now I am basically interested in top 2 choices. but if i apply to both, could it be possible that both of my application may be checked by same adcom staff, (in case if they have common staff for both courses.) then i think it would leave bad impression.

also except for sub specialization what the difference in MSF from Bocconi University and MCF from SDA Bocconi from point of Brand Value or is it same.

Yes My GMAT score is 710 and my Toefl score is 101.

thanks and regards
Priyesh Khunteta

[sdabocconi_09]

Originally Posted by indrani12

@sdabocconi09
Hey!..
Really wanna thank you for taking out the time to answer so many questions!..
I had applied in the second week of Dec for the Sept 09 intake and I got a mail today telling me my interview is on the 3rd of Feb on the phone with Prof Mikkel Draebye. Just wanted to know if you could shoot me some pointers.

Cheers,
Indrani

Congratulations !!!

1. Practice Prctice Practice (do this for 1 hr every day till 3rd feb)

• A 1 - 2 min brief introduction (depending on the number of yrs and quality of experience)
• Why MBA ? Why SDA ? Why now ? Why You ?
• Ensure that you have atleast 2-3 examples on teamskills, leadership, achievements, strengths, weaknesses, etc ready
• Phone Interview would mean that you have to express your passion, commitment, sincerity through your voice. So if possible have 3-4 mock phone interviews with your close friends and seek feedback

2. Do have atleast 3 insightful questions (and 1 sub questions if possible) for the professor.

3. Do go through the profile of the professor SDA Bocconi : Professors.
He would prefer to have a logical structure in your answers. Personally speaking, he is very nice and supportive

4. Please be very clear of why you want to attend SDA ? What are the post MBA career options you can have. One of the challenges current indian students are facing is 'inability to access italian labour market due to lack of fluency in italian language and work permit issues' especially in consulting


These are some of the generic points that come to my mind right now.

All the best :snipersm:

Thanks

[sdabocconi_09]

Originally Posted by askme_scor

Hi sdabocconi_09,
well i have a very basic question. Is there any difference in degree (apart from the course specialization part) provided be Bocconi University and SDA Bocconi.

Since i am 2008 passout so by sep 2009 i ll have 1+ year of work-ex only, due to it i think i wont be eligible to apply for MBA Course. so now i am looking at Masters course.

Now option that i am having from Bocconi are:

1. MCF @ SDA Bocconi @ 1 yr course
2. MSF @ Bocconi University @ 2 Year Course
3. MS International Management @ Bocconi University @ 2 Year Course

now I am basically interested in top 2 choices. but if i apply to both, could it be possible that both of my application may be checked by same adcom staff, (in case if they have common staff for both courses.) then i think it would leave bad impression.

also except for sub specialization what the difference in MSF from Bocconi University and MCF from SDA Bocconi from point of Brand Value or is it same.

Yes My GMAT score is 710 and my Toefl score is 101.

thanks and regards
Priyesh Khunteta

The adcom staff @ SDA Bocconi is different from Bocconi University so their is low probability. Having said that, i do not have any official insights into how adcom works so the best thing is to send a mail to admissions and seek clarifications.

Brand value of SDA Bocconi is very high. Moreover, MCF, MAFED and MBA courses are run in the same building, which offers students a great opportunities to network with professors/students/staff of other programs. In many of the MBA events, we do invite MCF students. So if your long term goal is to do an MBA, an MCF is definitely better than MSF.

HTH

[sdabocconi_09]

FT ranked SDA's Full time MBA program @ 38th (& in Top 15 in Europe) - up 10 positions from 48

If the school can resolve placement issues for non-EU candidates, I'm sure it would be in Top 5 in EU and top 25 in the world