News Roundup – Haas Launches Deferred Admissions, Tuck MBAs Attend Climate Conference, and More
Let’s take a look at some of the biggest stories from this week, including UC Berkeley admissions deferment for its MBA program.
Haas Launches Deferred MBA Admissions Program – Berkeley Haas Newsroom
The Haas School of Business at UC Berkeley has announced a new program, Accelerated Access, which allows graduate and undergraduate students to defer MBA admission in order to obtain work experience.
Launching January 22, 2020, Accelerated Access will at first only be open to students in their final year of study, but UC plans to expand the program to include all students across the university system. Applicants who are accepted will gain conditional admission with a two to five year deferment period.
Morgan Bernstein, Director of Strategic Initiatives at Haas, says, “Accelerated Access is an innovative way for students to secure a seat in our MBA program, providing a way for them to pursue full-time work that aligns with their passions, with reassurance that they will be able to return to a top-ranked MBA program in a few years…We have so much talent here in the Berkeley community—and this is another way that we are cultivating and committing to that talent.”
The goal of Accelerated Access is to open admission to students who may not have previously considered pursuing an MBA due to a lack of professional experience.
The opening year of the program has two application deadlines: Thursday, April 2, 2020 and Thursday, June 11, 2020. The application process has similar requirements as the regular MBA program, with one notable difference. Haas has waived the $200 application fee for Accelerated Access students. In addition, qualified applicants will be eligible for up to five scholarships worth $100,000.
Read here for more on Accelerated Access and UC Berkeley admissions.
At COP25, Tuck Has a Front-Row Seat – Tuck School of Business News
A delegation of ten Dartmouth Tuck School of Business students attended the United Nations’ COP25 conference in Madrid last December. Led by Professor Tracy Bach, the delegation was able to observe climate change negotiations in action.
One delegate, Melena Sanchez Montanes, (T, 20), is the Director of the Tuck Social Venture Fund. She says of COP25, “It was very energizing to see all these young people committed to finding solutions to climate change and an amazing experience to see the negotiators working live on behalf of their countries and hearing what’s important to them.”
Tuck’s Revers Center for Energy and the Center for Business, Government & Society each had a hand in sending the delegation. It is one of numerous experiential opportunities offered to Tuck students interested in sustainability, impact investing, and energy innovation. Tuck offers electives devoted to the business of climate change and to leadership in the new global economy.
Another Tuck delegate Kevin Yuan (T, ’20), recently accepted a position with Nike as global manager of sustainability. He became connected with the brand at a previous COP conference in Poland, and his new position will allow him to work on such projects as seeking ways to offset Nike’s carbon footprint.
Yuan says:
“The climate crisis can seem like this huge problem, where we don’t even know where to start, and it can feel defeating and deafening. But if you find your sliver of the pie and give it everything you can give, the world will be in a better place … As the world’s largest apparel company, Nike is a bellwether, and I feel uniquely empowered to impact climate change because of Nike’s global presence.”
For more on the delegation and COP25, read here.
How I Got the Job: Program Manager II, Twitter – Vanderbilt Owen News & Events
Shanah Gaskill, a current MBA at Vanderbilt University’s Owen Graduate School of Management, recently shared the experience of her application, interview and hiring process as a Program Manager at Twitter.
Her story is part of the school’s “How I Got the Job” series. Gaskill began her career in marketing at Uber, where she eventually became a Senior Marketing Manager. There, she discovered her yen for ‘people-centered’ projects. Gaskill’s desire to use these skills prompted her to consider a future in HR, in addition to pursuing an MBA. This decision led Gaskill to the Owen MBA, which offers a concentration in Human and Organizational Performance (HOP).
“Coming to get my MBA, specifically at a school that was focused on HR, would allow me to make the jump. In [Twitter’s] interview process, being able to speak to what I was learning in class was super cool. What we learned in the HOP classes are very applicable to the HR roles that we’re going into,” Gaskill says.
Her success in the interview process won her a summer internship at Twitter, which has led to a full-time position as a Program Manager on their Global Talent Management Team. Of her new position, Gaskill adds, “I’m just really excited to work with and learn from my colleagues … They just pour so much into their employees that everyone there is so proud to work there … everyone is [dedicated to] the same mission.”
Read here for more on Gaskill’s MBA experience at Owen, including a helpful timeline of events that led her to Twitter.
World’s Leading Behavioral Science Conference Comes to the University of Toronto’s Rotman School of Management – Rotman News Releases
The University of Toronto Rotman School of Management‘s Behavioral Economics in Action at Rotman (BEAR) research center will host a global conference on behavioral science on July 13 and 14, 2020.
Behavioral Exchange 2020 (BX2020) brings together industry, academic, and government experts to explore innovations in the field of behavioral innovations. The conference’s 500 delegates will share their expertise in the areas of public health, diversity and inclusion, global finance, and sustainability as each pertains to human behavioral science.
Click here to learn more about the upcoming event.
Western University Tops Bloomberg Canada Business School Ranking
Bloomberg Businessweek‘s recently revealed its top Canada business school rankings for 2019, with Western University Canada’s Ivey Business School leading the way.
Continue reading…HEC Paris Jumps to 1st in 2019 Financial Times Executive MBA Ranking
Leaping up from the sixth overall spot in the 2019 Financial Times Executive MBA ranking, Jouy-en-Josas, France’s HEC Paris claimed the top spot in the publication’s newest release.
Continue reading…Women’s MBA Enrollment Increasing, According to Forté Foundation
The Forté Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to advancing women in business, just released some good news: A greater percentage of women than ever before are enrolled in full-time MBA programs in the U.S. This year, female full-time MBA enrollment neared 39 percent on average in the U.S., while international programs neared 36 percent. In both cases, it’s clear that we are heading toward gender parity at an impressive pace.
Continue reading…Pick Your City: Should You Get an MBA in Toronto or Vancouver?
Should you get an MBA in Toronto or Vancouver? What are the benefits of each city, how much will each location cost, what can you expect in terms of job opportunities, and what MBA programs are available?
At a glance, the two Canadian cities are very comparable, offering similar big-city experiences for residents. However, when you dig a little deeper, some major differences arise. In our “Pick Your City” series, we break down two similar locations to help you choose your best MBA program.
Toronto or Vancouver: Cost of Living
Before we start digging down into the nitty-gritty details comparing Toronto to Vancouver, let’s take a look at the facts. When it comes to how much it costs to live in each city, which city comes out on top? According to Numbeo, it’s actually more affordable to live in Vancouver, if you can believe it.
To maintain the same standard of living in both cities, you would need $6,293 CAD in Vancouver compared to $6,900 CAD in Toronto (assuming you rent in both locations). This breaks down to:
- Consumer prices in Vancouver are 8.72 percent lower
- Rent prices in Vancouver are .18 percent higher
- Restaurant prices in Vancouver are 11.46 percent lower
- Groceries in Vancouver are 13.75 percent cheaper
Overall, if you live in Vancouver, your purchasing power is 13.41 percent higher than in Toronto.
However, a major cost of living difference between each city comes down to where specific residents live. According to data from Expatistan, a furnished apartment in the most expensive part of Vancouver can cost about 11 percent more than living in the most expensive part of Toronto.
Toronto or Vancouver: Culture
Vancouver is consistently named as one of the top five worldwide cities for livability and quality of life, and the Economist Intelligence Unit acknowledged it as the first city ranked among the top-ten of the world’s most well-living cities for five consecutive years.
But what about when you start looking at living in Toronto or Vancouver outside of how much it costs? Lifestyle, activities, and culture can be a significant differentiator for where you want to live and earn your MBA. In many ways the cities are very similar; they offer all the same essential conveniences that you would expect from any big city.
Toronto Lifestyle
Toronto is the largest city in Canada. It’s known for being the financial and cultural hub of the entire country. It has a global city vibe that’s always bustling. Think of it as the New York City of Canada. If you love the city lifestyle, you may love Toronto.
When you are downtown in Toronto, you’ll be surrounded by hundreds and thousands of people all going about their business at the same time. And speaking of business, Toronto’s salaries are the highest in the country, and there are many incredible job opportunities (we’ll talk about this more a little later).
One major selling point for Toronto is its extreme diversity. More than 50 percent of residents belong to a visible minority population group. Residents of Toronto come from all different backgrounds, cultures, and locations. It’s a vibrant community for anyone from anywhere, which can translate to some incredible food, activities, and shops
Vancouver Lifestyle
Vancouver is also a big city, but it’s a lot more laid back. People say the city has a more relaxed pace, which can mean it’s a little boring if you’re looking for nightlife. However, if you’re looking for better work/life balance, Vancouver takes the lead.
However, that also means that business can be a little slower in Vancouver. Don’t expect quite as high salaries or as many open jobs. Though there are still many companies thriving in the area, which we’ll talk about more later.
One of Vancouver’s main features is its landscape. It’s surrounded by mountains, which makes it not only one of the most beautiful cities in Canada but one of the best for outdoor enthusiasts. There are many opportunities for skiing, kayaking, hiking, and more all within 30-minutes of downtown.
We also have to mention Vancouver’s incredible public transportation. It has the world’s longest fully automatic driverless train system in the world: Skytrain. It’s known for its efficiency and regularity. There’s also the Seabus, which ferries people to North Vancouver in 20 minutes.
Toronto or Vancouver: Job Opportunities
Toronto is one of the most multicultural and multiracial cities in the world with established ethnic neighborhoods such as Chinatown, Corso Italia, Little India, Greektown, Koreatown, Little Jamaica, Little Portugal, and Roncesvalles.
When it comes to job opportunities and the economy, Toronto stands out. The city is home to the Toronto Stock Exchange as well as being the headquarters of Canada’s five largest banks (known as the Big Five). Also, many large Canadian and multinational corporations call the city home. You’ll find jobs in almost every industry from technology to design, financial services, life sciences, education, arts, fashion, business services, tourism, and more.
Some of Toronto’s top employers include:
- Accenture
- Bayer
- AIG Insurance Company of Canada
- CIBC
- Ford Motor Company
- Proctor & Gamble
- Oracle
- IMAX Corporation
- Salesforce
- Royal Bank of Canada
- Xerox
As for Vancouver, it’s consistently named one of the top five worldwide cities for livability and quality of life. And since the Port of Metro Vancouver is the third-largest port by tonnage in the Americas (beating out NYC), it offers some uniquely thriving industries, doing more than $172 CAD billion in trade with over 160 different trading economies annually. Vancouver is also a center of software development, biotechnology, aerospace, video game development, animation studios, and television production. There’s also a strong focus on lifestyle and health culture, being the hub for Lululemon, Arc’teryx, Nature’s Path Foods, and more.
Some of Vancouver’s top employers include:
- Best Buy Canada
- BC Assessment
- BC Hydro
- HSBC Bank Canada
- Fraser Health Authority
- Nintendo
- Oppenheimer Group
- SPK Consulting
- Arrow Transportation Systems
Toronto or Vancouver: MBA Programs
Both Vancouver and Toronto are home to some well-known business schools with quality MBA programs. We’ll take a quick look at the top three programs in each location.
Toronto MBA Programs
- University of Toronto Rotman School of Management: Rotman offers both a part-time and full-time MBA program with sixteen possible majors, including Brand Management; Business Design; Sustainability and Health Sector Management.
- Wilfrid Laurier University’s Lazaridis School of Business and Economics: The Lazaridis School offers both a part-time and full-time MBA program along with multiple dual-degree options with specializations in everything from Operations Management to Innovation and Entrepreneurship.
- York University’s Schulich School of Business: The Schulich School offers both a flexible part-time MBA as well as a full-time MBA. Students can specialize in more than twenty different areas, including Arts, Media & Entertainment Management; Organizational Studies; Business & Sustainability and Social Sector Management.
Vancouver MBA Programs
- University of British Columbia Sauder School of Business: The Sauder School offers both a full-time and part-time MBA program with three pre-determined career tracks in Product & Service Management, Innovation & Entrepreneurship, and Finance.
- Simon Fraser University Beedie School of Business: The Beedie School has both a full-time MBA and a part-time MBA. The school stands out for enrolling just 55 students each year and taking only 12 months to graduate.
- Vancouver Island University: The Vancouver Island University offers a 14 to 16-month MBA program featuring 12 core courses in subjects such as Managing and Strategy; Foundations of Marketing; Foundations of Economics; and Basics of Accounting and Quantitative Methods.
School v. School: Queen’s University Smith School of Business vs Toronto Rotman School of Management
Apples or oranges? Steak or chicken? Toronto or Kingston, Ontario? If you’re having a difficult time making a decision, you’re not alone. When it comes to choosing the best MBA program for your needs, there can be more than one choice that seems like the “perfect” fit, so how make a final decision? It’s not easy, but that’s what we’re here for.
Our School v. School series offers a point-by-point comparison of two highly respected MBA programs in Ontario: Queen’s University Smith School of Business and the University of Toronto Rotman School of Management. Keep reading to see how each school stacks up. Continue reading…
