This is my first post here but have been lurking for MONTHS trying to keep the stress level at bay. I have a son that is a Senior with a 3.4 GPA and a 26 ACT score in CP/AP classes. He has a love of all things math and wants to study finance. He has always excelled in Math and Economics classes but had a rough Freshman year at a competitive private high school. That all being said, we are extremely proud of him so I will take my talented, handsome son and his 3.4 GPA and find him a great school! We have been in conversation with Admissions people in Concordia University and both he (and we) are excited about the possibility to study at JMSB. I have done extensive reading and we LOVE the city of Montreal and travel there quite a bit (we live in NH).
Can someone whose child attends Concordia give us some real world perspective? What are some of the advantages and disadvantages? What are some suggestions if this is our first choice? What would you do differently in terms of residence halls vs living on their own as freshmen?
I apologize for all the questions but everyone talks about McGill but when we are in Montreal everyone tells us for business Concordia is top dog. Have we really found “the one”?
None of my children were students at Concordia but I do know Concordia grads, although none in business. I’m not sure who it is who is telling you that Concordia is top dog in business. I have lived in Canada for 40+ years and have never heard that even once. I do know that it is a huge program and is much less competitive than Desautels at McGill. The top undergrad business programs here are typically McGill, U of T, Queen’s, Western and Osgoode.
The Concordia grads I know went there for their fine arts programs, which are well-respected in Canada.
Interesting… We have heard that Concordia’s Case competitions are always in the top places, even over McGill. We spoke to Canadian Attache for Economic and Political Affairs who went to school there and he had nothing but glowing reviews. We also asked around when we travel in Montreal and have consistently heard that JMSB is phenomenal so maybe the opinions we are getting are just from Montreal residents? Their CFA passing rate is almost twice the US national average.
You’re welcome. It may be that some in Montreal are of that opinion but, as I said, outside QC, that certainly isn’t the case. If your son is planning to return to the U.S., I doubt that many employers are going to be familiar with Concordia, which may or may not have an impact on his employment prospects.
I’m not saying anything to denigrate the program, it may be a fine program, but it certainly isn’t one of the top business programs in Canada.
p.s. On my list in post #1 it should be York, not Osgoode. Osgoode is the law school at York, the business school is Schulich.
You might want to post this in the Canada forum on the International forum. It’s unlikely that you’ll get many responses, though. In all the years I’ve been on CC, I don’t think I’ve ever seen a post by a Concordia parent.
Concordia is a decent school, but no one I know in Canada rates it over Western, McGill, U of T, York, Queen’s, or UBC for business. My SIL is a grad, but it was so long ago that her experience wouldn’t be relevant.
I would put it in the same tier as Guelph, McMaster, etc. though those two have certain areas where they excel.
I certainly wouldn’t rule it out as a school, though.
Thank you @57special The more we learn about, the more excited we become especially since my S18 is does not have “super stats.” He is great kid with decent grades and stellar academic potential. The harder the classes the better he does. So frustrating! LOL but we have learned to live with how he is. LOL
I don’t need him to get into Harvard or Yale, I just want him to find a school he will be happy to attend that will challenge him enough to stay engaged. He loves Montreal, loves the idea of living in a “different country,” loves the diversity that Montreal has to offer and loves the fact that he will hopefully learn a third language. MicGill will be out of reach for him, but he will apply anyway.
I have a son that is a Senior with a 3.4 GPA and a 26 ACT score in CP/AP classes. He has a love of all things math and wants to study finance. He has always excelled in Math and Economics classes but had a rough Freshman year at a competitive private high school. That all being said, we are extremely proud of him so I will take my talented, handsome son and his 3.4 GPA and find him a great school! We have been in conversation with Admissions people in Concordia University and both he (and we) are excited about the possibility to study at JMSB. I have done extensive reading and we LOVE the city of Montreal and travel there quite a bit (we live in NH).