Hi Rhino,

Because the US has so many b-schools, it usually is best to get an MBA from there if you intend to work there itself. Rotman is 2 years so are almost all the US schools. Pick a state you want to work in within the US and go to a school in that state.

Moreover, why go to Rotman? (unless your accomo is paid for if you are at home or you did not get admitted anywhere else). Go to Queens, HEC, Ivy. All good schools and all 1 yr programs.

If you must eventually go to the US, you can leverage the NAFTA TN Visa and go there as a management consultant with an MBA from Canada. But then again you can get an MBA from the US and work on the TN too.....

True.

However, there are 3 (three) things that prevent me for applying to U.S. Schools:
1) Tuition fee is too expensive.
2) Foreigner will have hard time to obtain H1B
3) If I cannot get into the top 20 schools, it will be SUPER hard to compete with those graduates from HBS, Wharton, Columbia, Stern, Cornell,

Of course in the long run, nothing can beat the brand name of U.S. Schools.

Hi Rhino, true about the visa problems and stiff competition in the US. It will be more now, especially since the unemployment is so high.

I would still try to get into a top 1 yr program in Canada insteaed of Rotman. Unless, as I said earlier there is some cost saving you are makign at Rotman or your application for the 1 year programs were unsuccesful.

I would say Queens and Ivy especially well recognized as non-US schools. Queens is ranked the best non US school by business week.

I would prefer to choose 2 year school.
Eventhough, it's expensive, but I have a chance to switch my career.

I've done research on 1-yr school (IE, IMD, Ivey, INSEAD, Cranfield)
and found out that the workload wouldn't allow you to do other thing except
Studying, studying and studying...

Ppl who goes to these schools spend an average 100 hours per week
(a three-hour sleep per day is considered normal).

I don't think I would be ready for that kind of environment.

Yeah, the courseload at one-year schools is generally heavy. But, if you're spending 100 hours a week average on school, "you're doing it wrong," as the kids today would say.

I think 65-70 hours is considered more of an average.

Back to the original discussion, I agree, especially with the visa issues, Canadian might be a more viable destination for you. Have you considered Schulich or John Molson? Those offer two-year programs.

I just read this article, it's got some good info on Canada programs:

http://www.find-mba.com/article/391/mba-programs-in-canada-maple-trees-bacon-and-business-schools

True. Working visa is easier to obtain in canada.
In U.S., there's only 1 year OPT (for those who can obtain a job in the first 3 months after graduation)

Last month, I met one Ivey alumni, he said that he spent only 2 hours sleeping during MBA program.
Scared the sh*t out of me.
2 hours of sleep ?!? I bet he took huge doses of Redbull on a daily basis.

<blockquote>True. Working visa is easier to obtain in canada.
In U.S., there's only 1 year OPT (for those who can obtain a job in the first 3 months after graduation)

Last month, I met one Ivey alumni, he said that he spent only 2 hours sleeping during MBA program.
Scared the sh*t out of me.
2 hours of sleep ?!? I bet he took huge doses of Redbull on a daily basis.
</blockquote>

a working visa is actually much easier to obtain in Canada(and very hard to get in the u.s.a), and in general, Canada is a very welcoming place of foreigners with qualifications(they are a very big country with very little population)

and about the work load - this is a personal thing, and it changes from person to person greatly. of course the demands are pretty high in during MBA, but you i don't think that you can say that 3 hours sleep per night is normal(and also, this is a vicious circle: less sleep - less concentration - takes more time to study - even less sleep).

Rotman seems to be a decent school with a good place in rankings. it looks like it has good career services, and some respectable companies are recruiting there. it is not that cheap though(80000 - ok, for two years, but add living costs ect.), and integrative thinking sounds to me like a marketing slogan.....

i couldn't find any information about accreditation on the site - is it properly accredited?

<blockquote>Rotman seems to be a decent school with a good place in rankings. it looks like it has good career services, and some respectable companies are recruiting there. it is not that cheap though(80000 - ok, for two years, but add living costs ect.), and integrative thinking sounds to me like a marketing slogan..... </blockquote>

No it's not cheap. I think it's closer to 90k now. John Molson and Schulich are both substantially less.

<blockquote>
i couldn't find any information about accreditation on the site - is it properly accredited?</blockquote>

Yes, it's AASCB accredited.

One thing I didn't understand, where is Rhino from?
Are you Canadian that wants to work in the US or are you international student that wants to work in Canada?
I am Canadian and I initially thought about a Canadian MBA from Schulich or Rotman (and I even got in to both) but now I realized that if I want to work in the USA then I have to attend a school there. As for Visas, as a Canadian I can get the NAFTA TN visa for 3 years quite easily, all I need is a job offer after graduation and just to submit it in the border crossing. Also, bottom line, if you are good and the employer wants you then a visa wil be issued no problem.

Rotman has great reputation in Canada but if the USA is the destination then do an MBA in the USA.

I am applying now, last second to the USA schools...

I consider myself as 'world' citizen. Just like bono from U2.
*just joking*
I am actually an international student who want to get easy work permit in canada. If I study in U.S., I don't think U.S. employer will be willing to support H1B for me. If they're willing to, I have to fight with other foreigners to get H1B (due to limited quota).

If I work in Canada. Hopefully, I can apply myself for a canadian PR.
Then when the U.S. are back on their feet, maybe in 2015, I'll take my chance to look for a job in New york.
Canada is a perfect place for foreigners, thanks to their kind immigration policy. I am not sure how the policy will help (or hurt) canada in the long run. Only time will tell.

if work visa is all you are looking for and you dont mind CAnada vs. the USA then definitely canada will be an easy option. you can come here and apply right away to the permanent resident status and by the time you finish your MBA you will probably have it by then. in canada the rules are simpler as there is an actual program to attract people to the country with no need of arranging for an employer to sponsor you. If you find that you dont have the point necessary for a PR status at this point then you can just get the 3 years open work permit that the government will give you post graduation. It used to be much harder few years ago when they only gave 1 year work permit but now it is 3 years and it is open if i am not mistaken.

This is what i meant by people coming to canadian schools for the wrong reasons, it is not the Rotman reputation like the fact that they can get the citizenship one day....

Hi,

How difficult is getting PR in Canada after and MBA? I know Canada has a policy for PHDs that they can apply for PR after 2 years of study but is it the same for MBA?