I am planning on applying/attending one of the following MBA
programs...Rotman, Ivey, HEC Paris, IESE, Insituto De Empresa, York,
ESADE, McGill.  I would like to enter IB or Consulting upon
graduation.  I do not have direct IB experience so I must enter as an
Analyst if possible.  My aim is to work in NY for my first
professional job upon completing my MBA.  Could you please advise me
on the most saught after university on this list for these industries
in NYC?  Which banks/consulting firms recruit for NY positions from
this list of MBA schools?

Hi Timmxs-ga,

My following advice is based on what I've seen and heard from my
contacts who work in investment banking and consulting in New York,
career services at some of the universities on the list, online
search, and discussion with various faculty members.

Firstly, I have been told that most of the Canadians at the NY firms
are from UT (Rotman), Queen's, UWO (Ivey), and McGill.

While they are all excellent schools, if you know you want to work
outside of Canada, I would recommend the UT as your first choice and
McGill or Queen's as your second choice due to the broader alumni
network and greater recognition in the US.  While Queen's is not as
well recognized in the US as Rotman, it has been ranked the top
business school in Canada by BusinessWeek and I personally know
several business students graduating from Queen's who have landed
positions in NY at bulge bracket investment banks.

Another very attractive option (though extremely competitive) is the
Queen's-Cornell Executive MBA program.  Upon completion of the 17
month program, you receive both Queen's MBA and Cornell MBA. 
Certainly Cornell's ivy league reputation will take you far in landing
the job of your choice.
http://business.queensu.ca/qcemba/index.htm


I hope this has helped and please feel free to ask for any clarification.

Cheers,
Tox-ga

---

Request for Answer Clarification by timmxs-ga on 19 Jun 2006 17:45 PDT

Thank you for the input tox-ga.  I intend on focusing my efforts on
your three recommended schools...Rotman, Queens, McGill.  Could you
please provide some additional information about the process involved
in landing a position in a NY based IB after graduation.  Is it true
that most NY based firms do not recruit on such campuses...and...if
so, should I aim to make trips to NY to network with fellow IB'ers? 
Also...would you recommend an internship at a Toronto based IB in the
summer if a NY option is not available?

Thank you.

timmxs

---

Clarification of Answer by tox-ga on 20 Jun 2006 03:48 PDT

Hi there,

Most investment banks recruiting on campus will be recruiting for a
Canadian branch.  If you want to apply for a NY based position, you
will either need to find connections (ie alumni) working in NY or
apply online.  Trips to NY may be unnecessary - I would contact the
career services of the university you enroll in and they may be able
to help you build the connections you need.  I would definitely
recommend a summer internship in Toronto if an NY option is not
available.  Any experience in the field is considered a significant
plus as it shows that you know what you're getting yourself into and
you don't require as much training as others.

Lastly, I would recommend that you look at the Vault Guide to
Investment Banking on www.vault.ca after you enroll in one of the
universities.  Depending on where you enroll, you should get access to
the guide (and many other ones) for free as a student.  They offer a
good overview of the company and tips on getting hired.

Cheers,
Tox-ga