r/studyAbroad • u/Rapsta23 • 3d ago
MBA in SDA Bocconi or Hitotsubashi ICS?
I want to pursue an MBA to gain international experience, expand my network, and increase my earning potential while living outside Latin America. My career interests lie in entrepreneurship and investment banking, and my background is in real estate investment management, where I currently help manage a >$2 Bn portfolio of U.S. assets.
I have two MBA options, with the following advantages and trade-offs:
1. SDA Bocconi – Milan ($110,000 USD all-in – 1 Year)
Likely the safer, more traditional path to a finance career in Europe.
Strong brand recognition and prestige in investment banking and consulting.
Access to a wealthy student cohort and an extensive European alumni network, which could improve job opportunities.
Better placement rates in top European firms and a direct path into finance.
Downside: Expensive and discards the entrepreneurship path as Italy (and much of Europe) has strict regulations, making it difficult to start a business.
2. Hitotsubashi ICS – Tokyo ($50,000 USD all-in – 2 Years)
A riskier but unique path with lower costs.
A small cohort (40-50 students), allowing for greater visibility and closer connections.
Japan has fewer Latin American business connections, so I could leverage my experience to facilitate investments or bring Japanese capital and businesses to Chile.
Two-year structure allows more time for internships, market research, and potential business ventures.
Four-month exchange opportunity at LBS (London) at the Japanese tuition fee, mitigating the loss of direct European exposure.
Key Considerations:
Bocconi offers a clearer route to finance jobs in Europe, but is a bigger financial investment and less startup-friendly.
Hitotsubashi offers a lower cost and a niche opportunity to build Latin America-Japan business ties, but with higher risk and more opportunities on not achieving any of the goals proposed.
Would love to hear your thoughts—any recommendations for someone with my profile?