Canadian Universities - comparison to US universities
Hey everyone, I was just wondering how you would compare Canadian universities (undergrad) to American universities for their business schools.
I didn't even consider applying to the US due to the cost of tuition - Canadian schools are much, much cheaper.
The main two universities I'm looking at are Queen's University and University of Toronto.
It seems international rankings are a bit misleading - UoFT (Toronto) ranks extremely high on such rankings, but I believe the reality might be different from such rankings - UoFT > Northwestern, Brown? I don't really think so.
International Rankings I looked at:(If you have any more, please post them!)
http://www.online-universities.us/top500universit…
http://www.topuniversities.com/university-ranking…
Queen's School of Business has been ranked the #1 business school outside of the US for 3 years in a row - business week magazine.
Thus, I'd like to hear your opinion on where these universities stand in a comparison to universities in the US.
Was it a mistake only applying to Canadian universities?
UofT ranks very high in world rankings because it is a top notch research intensive school, one of the best. UofT along with Mcgill are without a doubt world class.
If you were to rank all of the Canadian and American schools together, Canadian schools would end up in the middle. The best of Canada are simply not as good as the best of the U.S., and the worst of Canada are nowhere near as bad as the worst of the States. Canadian universities provide excellent value, and unless you get into an Ivy league school I would argue that the extra cost is not worth it.
As far as business schools are concerned, are you talking undergraduate or masters level? If you're talking undergraduate, Queen's, Ivey, and Schulich will all be looked upon favorably nationally and (if you are in the top 5-10%) internationally. If you're talking MBA level, if you can afford the price of admission and have the credentials for the top 16, American schools are the way to go.
I'm talking undergraduate level - I'm going to Queen's this fall.
I agree with your points regarding masters - I'm not even considering Canada for an MBA in the future. It's just that at the undergraduate level, I don't see the point in dishing out over 50k a year to go to a university in the states when I can go to Queen's for ~20k a year. Only thing is international recognition, but that doesn't matter that much - once again, it's undergrad.
surferdude is right re: Canadian universities
As universities overall, their rough equivalent are the top public US schools in terms of resources and research prowess -- Berkeley, UCLA, UVA, UT-Austin, Michigan -- schools that are publicly funded, well run, draw students across the country (and not just in-state), and if you are in-state (or in Canada, a Canadian resident), they are great value for the money.
As a Canadian resident, tuition is cheap as hell for me.
UoFT (Toronto) would have cost me ~15k a year, including food, living, etc. Total after 4 years - ~60k. Quite cheap compared to the 60k a year my friend going to NYU has to pay. Total after 4 years - 240k
Big difference.
My only concern with going to a Canadian university is the lack of recognition - it seems nearly nobody with whom I talk to has heard of Queen's University, or Queen's School of Business (where I'm headed next year) - or perhaps I wasn't talking to the right people...
How does Queen's compare to such universities you listed? As a MUCH smaller school (compared to UoFT) it doesn't have the kind of research output. Also, it's public, so how would it stack up against American universities?
Ok,
You can consider the top commerce programs in Canada as a sort of "Canadian Ivy League." Schulich, Ivey, Queen's, and to a lesser extent Rotman are the most difficult undergraduate programs to get into in Canada (with the exception of McMasters pre-med school health science program). They all require exceptional grades, volunteer work, extracurriculars etc. etc... Much like top U.S. universities, they are very expensive (relative to other similar programs) and offer large alumni networks.
Queen's school of business is top notch. All of the American bulge bracket banks recruit from the program, as do the major consulting firms (although they do not necessarily extend offers every single year). Check the websites of PE megafunds, you will find a Queen's Bcomm grad here and there.
You can't make a direct comparison to any of the American schools, but as the previous poster mentioned they are roughly on par with the top public universities.
As far as the size of the school is concerned a smaller school works to your benefit; you will build stronger relationships with your like-minded peers.
And finally what do you care about the research output of Queen's? That only matters if you plan on doing... wait for it.... research.
@surferdude867: Wouldn't you consider McGill to be one of the top commerce programs in Canada?
You seem to be very biased towards business schools in Ontario, particularly Queen's. Judging from your post, you seem to be a Queen's Commerce grad.
Nope UWO Ivey all the way.
I would argue that Mcgill's commerce program is not as good as Ivey's/Queen's/Schulich's.
My brother went to Mcgill for commerce and was not impressed with the program.
Why was he not impressed?
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