Hermine is French and holds a Bachelor’s degree in International Economics and Finance from the prestigious Bocconi University in the heart of Milan. After passing her baccalaureate in Paris with flying colors, she was admitted to Bocconi. With her Bocconi diploma in her pocket and a final GMAT score of 106/110 and 720 (94th percentile), she was admitted to the Grande Ecole program at HEC Paris via the international parallel admissions route. Read her testimonial below and find out more about her university experience at Bocconi!
Profile
FIRST NAME:HermineNATIONALITY: FrenchNAME OF COURSE ATTENDED: BSc. in International Economics and Finance
UNIVERSITY NAME: Bocconi UniversityTYPE OF BACCALAUREATE AND RESULT OBTAINED : Bac S – Mention Très BienNAME OF YOUR SCHOOL : Lycée Saint Louis de Gonzague – FranklinUN DETAIL FUN ON YOU: I can touch my nose with my tongue
Why did you choose to study abroad?
Which course did you apply for abroad? Why did you choose this subject/curriculum for your Bachelor’s degree?
Bocconi was the only foreign university I applied to. I chose the Bocconi rather than an ECS prep school for two main reasons: firstly, because I wanted to study abroad and improve my English; and secondly, because I’ve always been very supervised by my teachers and parents, and I was keen to become more autonomous in my work and see “the big time”.
What was the admissions process like for you?
Could you explain how you prepared for the Bocconi test?
The Bocconi test is a 90-question MCQ to be taken in 90 minutes – that’s fast! It consists mainly of English, math and logic questions. I prepared for it by working through the Study guide and the Mock exam available on the Bocconi website. These two documents are the only official work aids available, and if you’re panicking at the thought of not being able to work on it much, take comfort in the fact that other candidates couldn’t really prepare for it either! My best advice is to identify the type of Mock exam questions you perform well on, so that you can recognize them at a glance on the big day and ensure maximum points in minimum time! 
Why did you choose this particular university?
Have you been influenced by the rankings? Do you think students should look at rankings to choose?
The Bocconi’s excellent FT ranking obviously influenced my decision.
Did the content of the curriculum at your particular university influence your choice of university?
No, not really.
What do you think of the campus and the city in which it’s located?
The Bocconi campus has the great advantage of being located in the city of Milan, very close to the Navigli district. Milan is a very pleasant city to study in, and there are plenty of weekend options: lakes, mountains, sea… 
What are the 3 things you like best about your university and the 3 things you’d like to improve?
I really liked: – the great autonomy offered to students – the urban campus and Milan in general – the coexistence of Italian roots and an international identity I would like to improve : – community life: there are a lot of associations on campus, but I don’t feel that anyone is very involved, apart from the board members of course – the emphasis is sometimes too much on the mathematical/quantitative aspect of the subjects studied – administration, and in particular internship procedures, which are a real headache for companies.
Do you have any international friends (French or otherwise) at your university?
Are there many international students at your university? How easy do you find it to integrate and make friends at your university as a foreigner? Generally speaking, around 75% of foreign students are of European origin, 10% of American origin and 15% of Asian origin. American and 15% Asian. 
What was your student residence like in 1st year (comfort, cleanliness, proximity to campus…)?
I wasn’t in residence, but from what I could see and hear, the residences are very clean. Some (Bligny, Bocconi) are on the campus itself, others are nearby. Students in their 3rd year are not normally allowed to live in the residences and generally live in shared flats in the Bocconi area.
How far from the university are the halls of residence? Where do 2nd and 3rd year students live?
Students generally rent apartments (single or shared) around campus. There are other residences that you can find on the student services page.
Is it possible to cook for yourself?
In the case of residential apartments, there is usually one kitchen for every 4 flatmates. For rooms, there are shared kitchens on each floor.
What was the process like to get a place in a residence? Which student residences would you recommend to French or international students at your university?
The process is very simple: just log in when the portal opens and select your order of preference. First come, first served. I’d recommend the Bligny, Izonso and Dubini residences.
Could you describe your experience at your university?
How many hours of lessons do you have each week?
I had about fifteen hours of lessons a week.
How much work?
Validating a subject (18/30) does not require an astronomical amount of work. On the other hand, exchange and Master’s admissions are dependent on grades, so many students work hard and don’t hesitate to withdraw during exams to rework the subject in question in an attempt to achieve the maximum grade: 31/30 (cum laude). 
Do you have exams once or several times a year?
In most subjects, you can take mid-term and final exams. In others, there is only a general exam at the end of the semester. At Bocconi, it’s possible not to sit an exam if you don’t feel ready, or not to hand in your exam paper (withdraw), just as it’s possible to sit the general if you’re dissatisfied with the mark you received at mid-term. In the event of absence or withdrawal, the exam can be retaken at the next exam session (January, February, May, June/July, September).
Are you involved in any student associations at Bocconi?
Yes, the Bocconi Ski Club, Students for Humanity and the Bocconi Students Philosophy Club.
Is there anything about the university system in the country where you’re studying that you’d like to improve?
The Italian system can be very confusing at first, but it is in fact very empowering and allows you to significantly raise your overall level: instead of just barely passing an exam and telling yourself that you’ve done what you can, you choose to work until you’ve mastered the subject in question!
