Hi there,
I am currently a high school student in Canada. Probably ever since I was 15, I have wanted to get into investment banking. My marks are good enough to get into a top undergraduate business program here in Canada (think Ivey, Schulich, Queens, UofT), and right now I am in my Grade 11 year. I have pretty good extracurriculars, like the Founder and President of the Business Club, Student Council, Golf, etc.
This summer, I am also going to be volunteering quite extensively, both of which will be office settings. My dad is friend's with a Partner in a law firm, and he is letting me volunteer in his office this summer, as well as volunteering at a Non-Profit office.
My main questions for all of you, especially if you're familiar with Canadian business schools are:
Which school should I attend? Which one tends to get the top recruiters in investment banking (Goldman, Morgan, even TD or CIBC, RBC)? I'm leaning towards Schulich because you get straight into the business program, where it is quite the opposite at Ivey where I'd get admitted into the AEO program before going into Ivey in my 3rd year.
My other question is if you guys have any tips for me at all... I would truly appreciate any advice for anyone that is already in investment banking, or planning to get into investment banking. ANY tips are appreciated... really!
I'd like to really thank you all for your time, I really appreciate any help/tips.
Thanks again.
is to search through the threads.
There have been MULTIPLE threads about Canadian schools.
Second, there is tons of advice on 100's of possible topics from interviews, to recruiting, to networking, etc.
This is not meant to put you off, but there is a wealth of information already on this site.
If after going through it, you have more specific questions or something is unclear, then ask that.
I think Ivey offers the greatest opportunity to enter Investment Banking. Schulich/UofT are probably the worst choices of those four schools. They are both improving but do not place nearly as many people into banking as Ivey and Queens. Take a look here. http://www.ibankingoasis.com/node/4393
lol you kinda remind me of me. I found out about ibanking at around the same as you and had to decide between all of the programs you mentioned. So i'll provide my $.02
As of now the best CDN undergrad business program in terms of ibanking recruitment is Ivey with Queens Commerce following close behind. I'm pretty sure all the BB's recruit from these guys but in much smaller numbers than obviouly other target schools in the US. You have to remember though that Ivey has certain conditions such as maintaining 80+ and extraccuriculurs during your fist 2 years which means that if you don't meet those requirements you may be booted from the program. Check out the Job placement statistics on both programs sites too find out more about ibanking placements and which firms recruit.
In terms of Schulich, I'm currently a first year here in the BBA program. All of the big 5 CDN firms recruit (CIBC WM, RBC capital markets, BMO capital, Scotia capital and TD sec.) and this past year I personally have met 3rd/4th years that got into Morgan Stanley, Citigroup and Merrill Lynch. Schulich was mainly known as an accounting school in the past but things are definately starting to change. More and more students here are going into finance and ibanks are beggining to notice Schulich's talent pool and heavy curriculum. Ivey and Queens are where they are right now because of there Alumni network, Schulich is a much younger program and therefore has a shittier alumni.
Anyways, next year apply to all three of these programs and look more into each of them. Like I said, Ivey and Queens are your top choices right now but you have to determine for yourself if the 2 year entry delay at Ivey and the fact that you have to live in Kingston for Queens is worth it. IMHO, since you know a bit about the industry already and are thinking about this stuff at such a young age im sure you can break into the field from any of the three schools mentioned.
PS enjoy life while you still can man. Go out get laid, get drunk and high because the workload at all three of these places is pretty intense.
Well, thanks a lot for everyone's help. I still have a year to go in high school, but I am managing a full course load + night school for an extra credit. Taking 2 Grade 12 courses now.
Yeah, the main drawback for Ivey is just the AEO. I'd like to get in and get dirty with business first thing out of high school. I know they offer BMOS and everything, but it still wouldn't compare to actually taking the wide range of business courses.
For Queens, I wouldn't mind the small town. Right now, my top one would be Schulich for some odd reason I'm not even sure about.
I also have another question if you'd all be kind and answer it:
Would you recommend me reading the Wall Street Journal? The subscription fee doesn't bother my parents, but would the reading be hard to understand for a high school student? If so, what would you recommend a student to read that would be helpful later on?
Thanks again!
MCGILL...
It doesn't sound right. I know.
I went to Schulich, myself. If you want to be a banker, GO TO McGILL!! I have a bunch of buddies, they all landed IB jobs from McGill whereas I was a bitch and struggled because Schulich graduated a bunch of accountants but very few real bankers.
End of the day, you don't have to listen to me. You can go to one of these schools that promise to be "great business programs" and end up fighting against all these chumps who couldn't even get into the same school as you. I've been through the grind, though. I'm Canadian, now working for an American boutique.
WSJ is easy reading, go ahead and get it if you your parents don't mind the sub-fee. It'll be good overview of business and markets.
Ivey would be your best bet I would say. McGill if you like Montreal. But if you have this good of a resume why not aim for a US school? I know a bunch of people who got into all these top programs, and got into US schools too.
Some people, chose UW math/business, Ivey, Queens, McGill over HYPS, other top US schools. You should consider it as an option.
What you undergrads have to realize is that you shouldn't choose one school over another based which education may be marginally better. At the undergrad level (in business, anyway), the education itself is nothing too exciting, and you won't learn any ground-breaking material at one place vs another. Similar argument could be made for MBAs.
GO WHERE THE RECRUITERS GO. The only things that matters is rep, connections, and alumni network. Unless you are at the top 1% of another "better-quality" (in terms of how you may perceive the education) school, the most connected school will get you where you need to be.
And that, my friend, is Ivey.
How can kids these days choose what school they want to go to based on where do they have the best chance to go into investment banking? Just go to whatever school you like and things will just fall into place, if you decide you have to do investment banking you will find a way into investment banking no matter what school you go to. You could go to Wharton and suck ass and Goldman will never even look at you or you could go to San Jose State and find out their is an MD at Goldman who is a San Jose State Alum who sees your desire and hard work and will bring you in. You cannot plan out your entire life for this shit. Don't freaken think, "Ok I have to go to the school b/c then I will get Goldman"
good advice...I think we all...or at least the ones not in ibanking yet...tend to take things too seriously sometimes...try to enjoy what little free time you have left. You're gonna be working 100 hour weeks when you graduate anyway, is it really worth it if you've been working your ass off in school also? When are you going to enjoy yourself?
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