Exchange Report

I would highly recommend you to learn about Bocconi courses, since they are actually super interesting. Furthermore, try to be really specific in your interview and application letter. Don't just say you like good food, making international friends and Italian culture. While this is good to mention, I think it's best to differentiate yourself and show how does WU profit from sending YOU to Bocconi.

Good accommodation is quite hard to find, rather expensive and often a bit outdated. I found my apartment via Joivy (they charge quite a few extra fees but it was definitely the best option). In general the area around Bocconi is really good, but also highly demanded. If possible, don't move behind the orbital motorway, since some of the neighborhoods felt really sketchy. Also, the Bocconi housing is super hard to get and if it's not in the modern housing, it is actually quite dirty.

The campus is rather small and not extremely central. However, there are a lot of coffee shops, bars, and supermarkets close by. In general, the academic culture can be quite competitive due to its curved system, but most international students don't really participate in that. The teaching style is very participative and you learn a lot. My professors encouraged open conversation and discussions. I felt that the professors were more passionate about their courses than WU professors (nobody reads from the slides). If you want to achieve 28–30 points (1.0 at WU), you definitely need to study and be active in the group assignments. But all in all, the courses are extremely interesting and you will learn a lot. Also, there are extremely interesting guest lecturers, e.g. someone from Kering, Bain, and Rolex. If you want to pursue a career in Finance or Fashion and Luxury, you should definitely apply to Bocconi, since its courses on that are not only interesting but also quite well renowned. Plus, if you spent your exchange semester there, it is apparently a lot easier to get accepted for your Masters.

Milan is not terribly touristy, which will allow you to have a much more authentic experience than in other Italian towns. Public transportation is terrible, so I would recommend you get a Bikemi annual membership (around 35€ p.a.). In general, Milan is not super safe and you should be a bit careful when out at night. I haven't had any bad experiences, but if possible, get an apartment in a safe area (best close to Bocconi). While cappuccino might be cheaper, Milan is a quite expensive town (food, social activities). However, Milan has great opportunities: you can go out to great bars, spend summer days at Bagni Misteriosi (highly recommend), visit museums (Pinacoteca di Brera), attend fashion shows, shop a lot (check out designer outlets such as Intrend (Max Mara), winery visits (Bwine), go to good clubs (the sanctuary), spend weekends at the surrounding lakes, study at the Library of the Pinacoteca di Brera or go to the stadium. My favorite area was definitely Brera, which has a lot of trendy shops, galleries and cafes.

Bocconi helped me discover what I want to do in life. Not only did I attend extremely interesting courses taught by highly skilled and passionate professors, but I also met some of my closest friends there. I had the opportunity to gain countless experiences and create memories that truly shaped me as a person.