where should I go for undergrad? (Ivey HBA vs UMich LSA)

guys, this has been stuck in my mind for a week already and since I got the AEO status from Ivey its been actually quite depressing for me to think about which uni I should go to...

Okay so I'm an international student and I really don't know whether I should go to Ivey or UMich LSA (if accepted) - my career goal is to either start within the finance sector (BBs) and hopefully end up in wall street or get into one of the top american hitech companies like google for a few years and start up a company myself.

but since I'm a Canadian, tuition to Ivey will be much cheaper, and tbh I'm not really that confident about getting into Ross...

imo pros for Ivey:
- Best B-school in Canada, guaranteed future career
- Relatively cheap (compared to US) tuition
- More realistic path to reach my goal to end up in a BB
cons:
- future prospect is limited - not as well recognized in the states - my dream is actually to be an entrepreneur!
- is it likely to pursue a top 20 business MBA program in the states from Ivey? I mean its UWO man I'm really worried...

imo pros for UMich LSA (or USC Marshall if I get in):
- Amazing alumni network - so many of my idols went there!
- tiny chance of Ross?
- Overall UMich is a WAY better school
cons:
- i believe its VERY hard to get into Ross....
- what if I happen to stay in LSA.. employment would be a big problem...
- people have been telling me LSA or CAS or whatever liberal arts programs are just bs and they won't ever get me jobs
- limited prospect if I am unable to excel myself during first two years

So overall, weighing in career prospect, school reputation and chances for continual study in top US grad schools, which one should I go to? (I mean, put it this way, would a Ivey HBA or a UMich LSA degree be more likely to get me into a semi target - target business grad school like Stern, Kellogg, or Cornell? Ughh I'm so uncertain about this and it feels like it would be the second most important decision in my life after marriage. lol.

Thanksss guys!

 

I don't get it, most of Ross gets in after their 1st year and its a 3 year program. If you are smart enough to get into Ivey/get into Michigan out of state and work reasonably hard for good grades, no reason Ross won't take you. That being said, if you are Canadian and you would be taking substantial debt to go to Michigan, Ivey is a good enough school, and has pretty loyal alumni on the street.

 
Best Response

First of all why are you depressed to choose between two schools?

Ivey is good enough to get you into the doors of BB, but then you need to be one of the top students (usually top 25%) to get interviews for BB IBD or elite boutiques

Not so sure about Mich LSA and the application process, and I will sound like a dick for saying this, but honestly if you don't have the confidence to be good enough to get into Ross, you prob wont be good enough to make it to BB from Ivey either.

If you get LSA go for that if money isn't an issue. Afterall Ross does have better placements than Ivey (No visa issues for banks if you want to work in the states, meet good biz students, better school etc).

Congrats on your AEO offer, worst case senerio is going to Western with AEO, which is not that bad....Goodluck.

 

thankss! yea I guess now I'm much more certain about going to UMich. Money isn't an issue for me, and the reason I'm worried about transferring into Ross from LSA is because that my high school GPAs ain't that good afterall (~3.7), but I'm taking like the hardest combination IB diploma offers, and + bunch of leadership ECs, so do you guys think i have a shot?

 

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