Canadian Universities and Where to Go
I'll preface by saying that I'm pretty much set on a high finance career path for the money and potential connections, mainly looking at IB as a starting point (as most kids here).
Am I right in considering the following ranking correct (based on sentiment I've seen and placement stats):
- Western
- Queens
- McGill
- Waterloo
- UBC (Portfolio Placement is rlly strong apparently)
- Schulich
Since I live in the GTA and am not really a university town type (not a party person) I'm strongly considering Waterloo, then Schulich as my primary options.
That said, if the difference between the likes of Western and Queens and Waterloo and Schulich is that great, I would consider those two. So my question is whether Western and Queens do provide a significantly greater advantage.
Academics are not a problem, nor are extracurriculars.
Just go to ivey if you can get it in. Don't go to Schulich man...
While I'm sure I can make it to Ivey based on grades and extras, I doubt I could afford it without significant student loans, which is another reason I'm not fully on board with Ivey.
How do you feel about Waterloo AFM, maybe with a joint Laurier program?
I've never really heard of Schulich placing on such a list. UBC is nice but doesn't seem like an option here.
Was in the same position as you last year.. although I have to say that finance was enticing to me for other reasons than u listed (if you want to make money go do software dev. sure as hell beats our finance if you don’t have a passion for it)
Made countless lists and a handful of research reports on which university would be better and hands down it always came back to Western Ivey. Objectively Western will give you the best placement, but in no way is that a guarantee you’ll cut it though. It’s a difficult industry and only the top of the class really make it to those prestigious positions that you seem to be set on. My 2 cents on the matter.
Go Ivey. That being said, Ivey/Queens aren't the be all end all - I took another uni on your list over them, and don't regret it. If you have the innate capability, you'll succeed regardless
How do you feel about Waterloo AFM with a joint Laurier program?
AFM isn't a joint program with Laurier, it's a standalone Waterloo program.
AFM is great for Toronto Big 5 recruiting (coop placements are great, and these guys are going to be going full time over the next few years), but placements in BBs and EBs is weaker. One person from Waterloo always gets a Goldman coop (usually AFM). In general, I don't think it's placed too well in many BBs apart from Goldman or Barclays, and in terms of EBs, there's one placement in Evercore and Greenhill, and a few placements at Moelis.
AFM's arguably better for learning technicals than other programs like Ivey, so as long as you've got the innate ability, you shouldn't have much of a program (just make sure your social skills are excellent though because thats where Waterloo kids famously lack).
Ivey no question. Recruiting is accelerated so start grinding from day 1.
Queens > Ivey (unless ur in WIC which is only 6 kids a year)
Ivey barely places kids into US firms anymore (no more Qatalyst, Moelis LA, Ares, Goldman etc) + places they still do send kids have reduced how many Ivey kids they target
(ex. Evercore 8-10 kids to now 1-3/4)
Queens sends 3x the kids to the states and a lot more to mid/top BB
Ivey network is still very strong in PE and HF for later career development and still has a very prestigious reputation but they’ve been in a bit of a downturn + canadian to us Visa not great rn
Either one is great, most people would say Ivey, and that might be the smart move long term, but Queens is where i’d head if you like Kingston
Next would be McGill barely > Waterloo (some programs here > McGill by a landslide) > all
Btw if looking to recruit for Toronto then Ivey > Queens > McGill; 60-70% of BB positions land to these, with Waterloo and McGill taking up 20-30% and UFT/UBC/Non-Targets fill rest of remaining spots
Big 5 will give more of a chance to semi/non targets like Laurier etc but still dominated by Ivey/Queens followed by Waterloo/McGill, although a lot of the McGill part is by choice as kids will choose to stay at Big 5 offices in MTL.
Also about Waterloo, some kids place extremely well into top HF/top BB/EB via their co-op program (ex. student does 6 ‘internships’ during their studies- not uncommon to see goldman, point72, citadel etc)
Oh and also yes PMF at UBC is super elite (ex. Goldman TMT, KKR out of undergrad, HL RX) but is a huge gamble as regular UBC gets stomped by Ivey/Queens and even McGill+Waterloo if not looking at positions in Vancouver. PMF is usually 6-7 kids a year and they take about half in international hardos
Who da fuck likes Kingston? Lol.
Ivey hands down. Stronger alumni network.
This info is just wrong graduated recently and moved to the US. A lot of my friends have also gotten any placement in the US that they wanted with WIC and without. Plus Ivey gets Silverlake, KKR, p72, bridgewater and also Ares. The best you can do at queens is Lazard Toronto and that usually goes to the people in the clubs. The only world where a person would choose queens over Ivey is if they couldn’t get into Ivey or they are legacy for queens. Evercore (don’t know where tf you got that 1-3 figure from) took a shit ton of people this year same with HL RX. CS LA still takes a decent amount of people. There was also one offs for Moelis and PWP. Plus globals in Toronto is still dominated by Ivey and you can easily transfer to any US office within 6-12 months. Not shitting on Queens but going there over Ivey if you have an offer for both is like going to NYU over Wharton.
Graduated from Queen’s and this is blatantly incorrect. I graduated and worked at GS / JPM NY in a top group. Check out websites for Queen’s University Investment Council and Limestone Capital
Do they not consider Rotman students at all?
Rotman sucks. Full of international students. Not great alumni. Bad student experience.
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