Two countries, two degrees. We spoke to three Italian students to learn about their experiences studying abroad in the USA at the Master of International Business program at Darla Moore School of Business.
At the University of South Carolina’s (USC) Darla Moore School of Business, the Master of International Business (MIB) gives students a panoramic view of the global business landscape. It can be studied as a one-year program or as part of a MIB Double-Degree with one of Darla Moore’s partner universities. One of those schools is the top-ranked SDA Bocconi in Milan.
SDA Bocconi is ranked #4 in Europe by the Financial Times and is generally considered to be one of the leading schools globally. As part of the double-degree program, students earn a Master of International Management there.
Giulia de Riva, an Italian alumna of the double-degree program, says the opportunity to study at a leading US business school was an obvious next step after studying at Bocconi.
“I really wanted to study at a top-ranked university because I come from Bocconi, so I wanted to keep going with my path,” she says. “And I really think that USC is a great university. It offers a lot of opportunities [and] the master of international business is a high-level master’s. So these were the main reasons I picked USC.” (01:23)
To find out more about the program, we spoke to Giulia and two other Italian alumni to hear about their experiences at Darla Moore.
After getting his first master’s degree at ESCP Business School in France, one of Darla Moore’s partner universities, Ettore Cola decided to complete his studies in the US.
“I chose to go to the US because of mainly three reasons,” he says. “It is an international environment, it was really a high-valued, accredited university, and also I wanted to study in the US.” (00:17)
Darla Moore is well-known for its internationally-focused programs. It has had the leading undergraduate international business degree in the US for 24 consecutive years. Meanwhile, its MBA program has earned the distinction of the top international MBA in the USA, according to the U.S. News & World Report.
Similarly, the MIB program is highly regarded both domestically and internationally. Students can benefit from the world-class teaching experience in the USA, combined with the international exposure of a year at one of the partner universities abroad.
For Ettore, his time at Darla Moore was a dream come true.
When Giulia de Riva set her sights on a career in consulting, she knew she was targeting a highly competitive industry.
Consultants have high average salaries and excellent opportunities for career progression. It is understandable a popular option for business school graduates all over the world. So Giulia knew she had to make her application special.
For Giulia, having both Darla Moore and SDA Bocconi on her CV was invaluable. “Great companies like McKinsey, BCG, and Bain, when they see schools like USC and Bocconi together in a resume, they really pay attention to you because you just stand out,” she explains. (01:51)
Moreover, earning a Master of International Business in the US equipped her with the skills she needed to launch her career in Italy. Employers not only recognized the prestige of the schools on her CV but also valued her international experiences.
In the fiercely competitive consulting industry, Darla Moore’s international business program offered Giulia the edge she needed to succeed.
For Cristian Andreozzi, studying abroad in the United States meant the chance to discover American college life.
Unlike in Italy, where most students live off campus, American colleges prioritize a more campus-centered experience. US students often reside together in shared accommodations and spend extensive time on campus engaging in “college life.” It was a unique study experience, unlike anything Cristian had experienced before.
“As an Italian, the most unexpected thing about USC was the college life,” he says. “My friends were telling me about their US experience but living the college life, and the student experience within the USC college was amazing.” (02:46)
Now back in Italy, Cristian is excited to be part of the growing Darla Moore alumni network in Milan. He’s hoping to see even more Italian students follow in his footsteps.
“I’m very excited to see the USC community build and grow even stronger here in Milan,” he says. “We are already ten people, and we are experiencing things together; we are going out, we are hanging out, and we are sharing our professional path. But what we are looking for is to welcome more people here with us.” (03:11)
As Cristian and his fellow alumni anticipate welcoming more Italians to their growing USC community in Milan, you might just find that your own path leads to Darla Moore, where a world of opportunity awaits.
If you want to learn more about studying at the Darla Moore School of Business, feel free to reach out to one of our Darla Moore ambassadors. They’ll be happy to answer any questions you might have about Darla Moore, USC, or even South Carolina itself.
