Desautels (McGill U) 2013 - Calling All MBA Applicants

Hey cofre,

I hope submitting early gives me a fighting chance with the app. I'm a bit worried about the GPA, but adcom was very encouraging (unlike some other schools). Scholarships and tuition fees will probably ending up deciding which school I go to, as is the case with many students. But say, if tuition for all schools is exactly the same, then the only real competition is b/w McGill and Rotman.

Rotman has location on its side, its basically one train stop away from Bay Street. Plus its more national-oriented than internationally focused, which is good since I would like to work in Canada. On the other hand its a very competitive program and since I want to major in finance, I'll be up against half the school.

McGill has a very good environment and seems community oriented, specially because of the small class size. The students seems very happy and the placement rate is off the charts. On the other hand, location is not good at all. As a non-french speaker, I probably wont be working in Montreal, which means I'll have to network across borders. Not an easy thing.

P.s. why would you think I'm from US? Deep, deep south Asia. Same as you, I'm heading to Canada for the working conditions!

Echelon,

It's because your profile says Location: United States (maybe you hadn't realized that until now?

GPA will also be sort of an issue for me, but I have contacted admissions people from Schulich and Rotman and both schools encouraged me to apply.

As for schools: I'm finding it kind of hard to decide among Canadian schools. It's not like in the US where some schools (HBS, Wharton, Stanford) are obviously better than others. The rankings differ a lot, and personally I'm more inclined to Rotman, then Schulich, then McGill. They are all great schools, but the location to me will be very important, since I don't speak French either. If I were to sum up the pros and cons, they would be:

Rotman - pros: location, international reputation, good rankings; cons: tuition.
McGill - pros: international reputation, job placement rate, smaller program (I have the impression this could mean it's easier to get a job); cons: location, small network (the "other side" of a small program)
Schulich - pros: good rankings, location (not as good as Rotman, but still Toronto) and tuition; cons: York doesn't have great overall reputation.

If you plan to go to finance, I'd say Rotman would be the best choice. Yes, you're going to be just one more of half of the class, but then again the best opportunities might be there after all. That's just my opinion, though. I'll probably have a more informed one after I visit the schools. And just like you, scholarships will play an important role in my decision. All things equaled I'd go to Rotman, but I'd need a generous scholarship from them for that condition to be true (and no scholarships from the others).

Now, even more important than which school, what do you think it's gonna be like in the Canadian job market for foreigners like us? I contacted a girl from Rotman and she said it's actually hard to get a good job. A guy from Schulich was more optimistic and said that it's totally possible to get a good job on par with Canadian-born MBAs.

I agree with most points in your pros/cons list. I have the same concerns you have about the job market for foreigners. Even more so for myself, at least (I think) you'll have an easier time with accent similarities. Mine will really stand out.

If you go through businessweek profiles, each college has b/w 45-60% international students and their placement rates are in mid-80s (95+ for McGill) so unless the programs are flat out lying about their employment rates (which has been known to happen), it means some of the non-Canadians do get placed. Plus Canada is a much more diverse country than say Australia (where employers are extremely reluctant to give non PRs a job) and employment laws are much easier, so maybe it'll turn out ok? I do know that for international students looking to 'shift' Canada is the best opportunity, in relative terms. Europe and Aus are pretty much off the list and U.S. is a gamble, a gamble that seems to pays off very well though, if the placement rates of US unis are really accurate. Anyway that's what I'm going with, whether it works out or not, at least I made sure to give myself the best chance out there. Maybe 'good' jobs wont come easily, but a job is a job I guess. I've heard about PHDs and MBAs driving cabs and stocking shelves, but they don't have Canadian degrees. I hope at least a Canadian MBA will get us something better than that.

p.s. are you actually plan on visiting the schools before applying? gonna fly out?

I am. I mean, I REALLY hope to get admitted to at least a couple of schools, and I don't think I'd be able to forgive myself if I felt I made the "wrong" choice of school (if there's even such a thing).

I also heard of guys with PhDs driving cabs, but yes, they were guys without a Canadian degree. I really hope we can get decent jobs having studied in Canada.

I do not rule out the US entirely, especially if I can get admitted to a strong program. Hiring foreigners in the US is a pain in the neck for companies, and friends of mine in really good MBAs (such as NYU) say that they act accordingly, meaning, they virtually don't hire at all (except for banks and consulting firms: they do hire foreigners, but the competition for these jobs is really intense, so you have to really stand out). Do you even consider any US school? Say, schools close to Canada, such as Ross, Johnson or Tuck? I talked to a Canadian from Johnson and she said that Canadian schools are really more in touch with the Canadian job market reality than any other US school, but there ARE some firms that hire there (especially banks). It's not such a huge thing though, and probably something you'll have to go after on your own. I'm applying to these US schools and I really wouldn't know what to do if I got admitted to them or to a Canadian one (except for Tuck - that'd be a no brainer for me).

The 2012 brochure states that the application deadline from Canada is 1st of May and from outside (international students) is March 15th.I have booked my GMAT for Feb. the 3rd please wish me good luck

By the way did anybody check the student loan page on their website ?? Could not afford time to read it

Good luck!

Seeing your ug gpa, i see we're in the same boat. Hope you kock one out of the park with the gmat

I would say McGill's location is its greatest asset! IMO the best city in the continent.

Hi there Guys and Gals,

First post ever for myself as well. I`m an Mtl native, applied in mid-December and have been invited to interview Friday. I`ll let you know what the decision is once I receive the yay or nay. Like a couple of you, student loans are a big factor for me.

Looking forward to getting to know you all.

Carl

I couldn`t agree more!

Btw, Montréal is genuinely bilingual. I would not worry if at this stage you do not speak French.

I am fonddddddddddddddddd of Montreal

thx a lot .. same to you

wishing you all the best of luck ... please share with us as well your application experience esp.the essay whether the final decision was a nay or hopefully a yay . best wishes

I am fonddddddddddddddddd of Montreal[/quote]

Nona,

When are you writing the GMAT? Why does McGill interest you? What part of the US are you from?

Carl

Hi Olivieri,

Congrats on the interview. Currents students in Canada have told me getting an invite to interview at a Canadian MBA is as good as getting an admit. So good luck and hope for the best, you are almost in!

Oddly enough, I submitted my application early december and still have not heard back. Wonder if that's a bad sign.....?

Hey echelon99,

I've heard that about McGill as well (interview as good as in), but I'm preparing for a solid interview none the less.

Where did you do your undergrad? Work experience? Your GMAT is right on point with the average at McGill last year, so your chances are probably pretty good. I'll keep my fingers crossed for you.

Carl