Should I take the risk? (Canada or US)

I'm a Canadian in HS entering university in 2 years and I need people's opinion on my decision. Just like many people on this forum, I'm trying to become an investment banker but I have a decision to make as to where to study and work either Toronto or New York.

1: Go through the SATs and apply to an American target school, go through the headache of being an international student and getting my Visa but in the end, New York is the financial capital of the world offering way more education and career opportunities as well as better overall compensation.

2: Apply to Canadian targets (Ivey and Queens) and get a job on Bay Street at a Big 5 or possibly a BB in Toronto (they only hire a couple people from what I hear). Canadian schools are cheaper so that's a plus but Toronto has a much smaller industry as well as generally smaller salaries and bonuses.

I have heard of many people who choose to study and get a job in Canada and then lateral to the US but I don't know if this would be easier than studying in the US or the chances of it happening.

I've seen many different comparisons for New York vs Toronto cost of living but I can't really draw conclusions, I know that Toronto currently has extremely expensive housing but I assume they're both about equal? Please correct me if I'm wrong.

I know this may sound like a really stupid first-world problem but I'd really like to read what people think since everyone here has more experience in this than I do.

8 Comments
 

Grade 10 and you want to be a banker? This is getting out of hand... But my two pennies, one Canuck to another: If you want to work in New York, write the SATs in Grade 12, then you can decide based on what offers you get whether you want to study in CAN or US, you don't have to make that decision now. And as much as I hate to admit it, Ivey has very good placement into American banks, so even if you choose to study in Canada, it's not like you're stuck here.

 
"cdnbig5" 1: Go through the SATs and apply to an American target school, go through the headache of being an international student and getting my Visa but in the end,

Pshhh just cross the border everyone is doing it. Visas and laws are so 1900's.

26 Broadway where's your sense of humor?
 
Best Response

Good job on you for figuring out what you wanted to do in grade 10...I wish I was as prepared when I was in grade 10.

I would highly recommend that you prepare for and write the SAT. Study your ass off and gun for the targets in US, and also apply to some Canadian schools. I would only recommend Ivey, Queens, UBC/McGill. If you open up your options to US schools early, it'll prove to be very beneficial for you. As you're aware, this entire industry is driven off of prestige (or at least perceived prestige) so it's absolutely crucial you aim for these top tier schools whether in Canada or US.

 

As a Canadian you don't need to go through the proper f1 process. It takes like 15 minutes to do the i20 form in place of your Visa. Can confirm from Vancouver to Stern this year. Btw Sauder for investment banking, is that even real... jk, but you should probably look at the financials of it first. Try to get into something need blind to internationals, so for now focus on grades and SAT's.

 

I was in your situation, decided to go to an American target school and landed SA offers at at NYC BBs this year for capital markets. I majored in political science and took a lot of fun liberal artsy classes, something I would not have been able to do if I was trying to break into Canadian BBs. So yeah, I would go for the ivy league school if you can, the Visa issue is not that big of a deal.

 

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