Transfer to NYU Stern or Richard Ivey (UWO)?

Transfer Students
1

<p>Hey guys!</p>

<p>I apologize in advance for this lengthy post, but my mind is a COMPLETE mess, and I am hoping for some important wisdom:</p>

<p>A little background:
I'm currently a sophomore "studying" Finance at a non-target university in Canada. As a freshman, I was accepted into top programs in many fields (Queen's Commerce, Toronto EngSci, McGill LifeSci) with wonderful financial packages, but I didn't go for personal reasons. </p>

<p>My current school is gaining ground as an "emerging tiger", but I also understand I cannot benefit from this as it will still be seen as a "Tier-2 school" by 2013. I have tried to make it work here, but I feel an aura of complacency, a sense that the students here physically "exist", but their minds are hovering at a standstill. I feel it is poisoning my life. Also, the job opportunities I want are just not here, and more importantly, I need academic stimulation and like-minded peers. </p>

<p>This is why I'm looking to transfer to Ivey (University of Western Ontario) or NYU Stern. I guess my first question would be, in your opinion, which would be a better choice? I have compiled a few pros/cons:</p>

<p>Stern:
- liberal arts education
- proximity to Wall Street (absolutely amazing for networking)
- I love the city and the feeling of "the sky is your limit"
Disadv: extremely high tuition with probably no financial aid (as Canadians are 'international')</p>

<p>Ivey:
- unique case-study approach to teaching (their cases are used by other universities)
- my social life will not be destroyed because the HBA program starts in 3rd year
- amazing alum network in Canada and mostly recruited Canadian grads on Wall Street
Disadv: not the most vibrant city, unsure of an Ivey degree's 'portability' outside of Canada</p>

<p>Any advice would be appreciated!! =)</p>

<p>Note: I would be transferring from a university where I am actually MAKING money by studying here to one where I'd probably have to pay 100% of tuition....</p>

2

<p>Can you and your family afford to pay and/or borrow $60,000/year at NYU for two years?</p>

3

<p>We do have some money saved up, but I would assume loans would definitely be required… so it’d be challenging.</p>

4

<p>Definitely NYU Stern but ONLY if you can afford it. With Stern you get international recognition and have to option of going back to Canada (if that’s what you prefer) or remaining in NYC or HK. Ivey may be the best business school in Canada but outside of Canada it gets little to no recognition - it’s like saying the University of Cape town is the best university in South Africa. Does this mean that UCape Town is equal to harvard? NO</p>

<p>Esp. since you are considering finance, Stern is one of the tops for that area. HOWEVER, if you will go $200k in debt then do NOT go to Stern, only go there if you can really afford it (meaning it will not place a huge financial constraint to your family).</p>

5

<p>That’s a good point shuffleace!</p>

<p>If you put it that way, then wouldn’t the obvious choice be the Investment Management option at McGill (if I’m looking for a cost-effective undergraduate degree) since I will receive both international prestige AND have the option of working in Canada/US?</p>

6

<p>NYU if and ONLY if, you are able to finance it.
If not, then Ivey.</p>

7

<p>If my goal is to work on Wall Street (or anywhere else internationally, just not immediately in Canada), would Ivey still immediately be the “no-brainer” even though it is not as internationally recognized?</p>

8

<p>I am also in a similar situation. I am averaging 3.7/3.8 GPA at JMSB in Montreal, but I believe I can raise it closer to 4. From what I’ve heard JMSB is not recognized by the big schools that get you high paying starting salaries in big firms. </p>

<p>I want to get an MBA from one of the big schools like: LSE, Wharton, HBS, Stanford, Columbia, Chicago, MIT, Stern, Dartmouth, Yale, Oxford, Michigan, Berkeley, Virginia, North Carolina, Carnegie Mellon, Indiana, Villanova, Georgetown, Northwestern, Duke, Brown, Cornell, Mcgill or Ivey.</p>

<p>Can I get into the graduate programs at these schools with a 3.8 GPA from JMSB?</p>

<p>Should I transfer during my undergrad to one of these schools? Will they accept me on transfer with my GPA? </p>

<p>The only school I feel I have a good shot at is McGill or Ivey.</p>

<p>Lets say I do transfer to McGill or Ivey, then could I get into the MBA program at one of the better schools I listed? Obviously like anybody in finance my absolute dream would be to attend LSE, Wharton, HBS, Stanford, MIT or Yale, but I have been cautioned that getting into these ones is next to impossible from my position. </p>

<p>How about the others? Can I get into Stern or Columbia?? I would love to go there and be close to wall street. Alternatively, I would love the historic University of Chicago or Tuck, Said in the UK, Carnegie Mellon or Kellogg. If not these, I would “settle” for the others I listed.</p>

<p>If anyone has past experience or knows a lot about the graduate admission or undergrad transfer at these schools please advise!</p>

9

<p>I just wanted to add this note–I don’t think it’s the end of the world if you graduate from where you’re currently at. (I’m not knocking your decision to transfer or anything, btw. I’m just saying.) Coming from a just-okay school isn’t a death sentence. My father graduated from University of Delaware, which was and still is just an “eh” school, and got into the University of Chicago’s business school.</p>

<p>It’s probably tougher now than it was back in the 80s, but it’s still possible.</p>