Even though undergrad is mainly Ivey as a target and then Queens. Rotman MBA definitely passes all of those with being number 1 in Canada consistently over the past years. I would put McGill second and then Ivey or Queens MBA after that. I also heard Sauder is really top tier, just not too sure what industry. Also, Rotman got number 54 global ranking for their MBA which is really good considering Canadian schools don’t get much recognition.

 

If you are talking about IB in Canada (excl. no name shops), then +1 vote for Rotman. Secondary options would be other 2-year programs (e.g. Schulich).

Avoid those 1-year programs e.g. Ivey or Queens.

You need to get a summer internship and convert to FT. Otherwise it's very very tough unless you are miles ahead other candidates.

 
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With regards to IB in Toronto, it's Rotman uncontested. Just look at the placement numbers - Rotman MBA associates essentially sweep the street every year (90%-100% of available spots). This is partly due to academic strength and finance focus (vs. the consulting focus of a school like Ivey), but also leverages the downtown Toronto location (and deep financial services alumni connections/events, and mostly leans on the 2-year program structure (similar to US MBAs). Investment Banks prefer to hire students who have completed a summer internship with them - Rotman is one of few schools (and really the only top school) - where this is even an option. It's kind of unfortunate the other Canadian MBA programs essentially eliminate themselves from the recruiting process due to structure alone... Calgary IB shops hire Oil & Gas bankers from Western Canadian MBA programs (UofC etc), or directly from industry, as it's more niche. Hope this helps!

 

Go to the US.  My advice working as someone working in IB in Canada (RBC).  Rotman likes to say they 'sweep the spots' but won't tell you how few spots there are and that's typically less than 15 across the country.  Which isn't great for a school with combined full and part time enrollment of 400, most of whom are desperately gunning for IB.   RBC took 2-3 MBA associates across Canada last year.

 

Understood.  Nothing wrong with Toronto.  Just make the informed decision about whether investment banking is a 'nice-to-have' or whether it's the end goal and everything else is just peripheral.  I just wouldn't want you to spend 100k on an MBA here with only investment banking as the end goal because while I'm sure you're very good at what you do, it's a numbers game in the end and the deck is statistically stacked against you.  If you want to do the MBA for learning / experience and are satisfied getting a good job (which may not be investment banking) but feel that IB would be the icing on the cake, then go for it.  I would suggest in the latter case that you don't go to Rotman though - my opinion is that Ivey is a lot more fun / interactive since it's case-based and gets better looks for almost any other job opportunity that isn't IB.  Since the class is much smaller, the alumni base is a lot more open to networking as well.  Good luck!

 

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