I've been very lucky and received admissions offers from both the University of Toronto's Rotman School of Management and York University's Schulich School of Business in the last two days.

I was hoping anyone could shed light onto either school for the following questions:

1. What is the lifestyle around York/UofT like? I know UofT is right downtown, but does anyone know what kind of life outside of school people have?

2. What is the ROI for both schools like? Rotman is about 30k more than Schulich, but they have to be able to justify charging so much for people to keep coming back. I've heard Rotman has a great track record for placement etc., but does anyone know how the two compare? Is York as prestigious as Rotman?

3. The main thing I like about Rotman is their Brand Management majour option - is this recognized at all? I know UofT is usually loved for financial grads, but what about their brand management grads?

4. With York, what are the classes like in Niche areas like Arts & Media and Non-Profit?

My profile is 23, M, Canadian, White, Gay, BA Communications, Diploma in TV Producing, would like to pursue a career in brand management/marketing

Thanks so much for your advice guys, you've been great through this whole process!

I have no idea then!

But I did just get a scholarship today after being admitted March 3, so keep your chin up!!

Thanks so much DrSatisfaction

I went to see both schools last week and still nothing stood out for one school or another.

UofT has a great location, no doubt, but the Rotman MBA school seems so small! I love the cohort based learning system they have, but it scares me a little that their brand management major only offered 10 courses to choose from last year, some of which are quite dry like Data Marketing or Financial Marketing. I am wondering if they are eager to get me because I would be such a fish out of water for them. When I went, the admissions staff seemed a little un-eager to answer some of my questions (like about how their job placement and career track for brand management majors has been). There is no doubt in my mind that they have a strong bias towards finance kids as they have a complete mockup of the TSX (very impressive, but not my main interest). However, it seems the lifestyle at Rotman is a little more communal, making it easier to meet people (more social clubs, cohort-style class setting, international tours etc.)

York is totally in hillbilly country and I definitely would live closer to Downtown, already causing a bitch of a commute every day. However, when I went to Schulich they seemed way more excited to see me than Rotman - they had me meet with the Arts & Media Management program director and they have several marketing streams that you can major in. You can also have a double concentration in Arts & Media Management and Marketing, which seems nice. However, and I have no clue to say this so I sound politically correct, but from what I have read, Schulich is very internationally based and has about 50% of the students coming from abroad, which makes class discussions a little more jumbled. I would also be worried about meeting people on campus. A student ambassador told me that the students have a bar night every Friday and there are club socials almost every day on campus, but it would still be harder to make connections.

From what I can tell, both programs are interchangeable for top spot in Canada (I kinda think of York as Stanford and UofT as Harvard for Canada), but I am having a real tough time choosing which one will be better during and after school. I would love to get a job in high-concept brand management, and I have no clue whether Rotman, as the international leader in Canada for MBA status and what looks like a more communal feel, is better, or Schulich with more choices in classes in Marketing and a reputation (from what their admissions director told me) as the leading marketing school in Canada.

Any thoughts from your end? Have you known anyone who came out of either school? Any guidance or insight you might have is greatly appreciated! My York offer expires on Weds (the 31st) and my UofT offer expires on the 3rd (following Sunday).

Thanks so much!

After mulling over the decision, I think by tomorrow I should be ready to put a deposit down

Thanks for your help!

BTW, I can't believe you got into both INSEAD and Oxford; good job!!!

Great!! Congrats for the admission. Could you please share your profile and Gmat score.
_________________

Fight for your dreams :For all those who fear from Verbal- lets give it a fight

Money Saved is the Money Earned

Jo Bole So Nihaal , Sat Shri Akaal

Support GMAT Club by putting a GMAT Club badge on your blog/Facebook

Find out what's new at GMAT Club - latest features and updates

Gmat test review :
670-to-710-a-long-journey-without-destination-still-happy-141642.html

My profile :-

GMAT- 690
Work Ex -3.5yrs
Industry-IT
Ecademics-commendable
Extracurriculars- Above average

Beats me! Where do you hail from?