Narrowed my choices down to two after deliberating on all options, however I am still unsure of what route to take and the deadline is not moving any further away. I am not 100% sure that I want to become a CA, however I am interested in both accounting and finance and having the CA designation as an option is always nice. Waterloo's benefits for people that want a designation seem to be superior to Schulich's. I like the co-op available at Waterloo, but is it necessary? If I go to Schulich, will the same opportunities for employment be there? Can anyone give some insight into internships or jobs that they received through Schulich? I am a fan of Schulich's reputation, but I just don't know what to do and would appreciate some input.

Thanks

AFM-PA if you're really keen on getting your CA or have a personal affection for the school. Schulich if you want to do anything else. Mind you that Schulich is also quite good for accounting.

I don't think AFM offers co-op first year summer so after first year you're essentially on the same page was the Schulich people. After that point, I believe Schulich has access to some sort of co-op, but I'd still say that Waterloo's co-op placement is vastly superior.

Since MINTOK gave a harder sell than I did, I'll add onto my post:

Waterloo AFM takes out most of the fluff (the softer courses where you really don't learn anything important). They want you to get that experience from group projects in class, executive/committee positions within clubs, and co-op work experience. There are also a number of new case integrative courses where everything you have learned (accounting, finance, the math and statistics related to finance, and business/marketing/HR concepts briefly covered) is applied in a realistic situation to what you could face as a co-op student or as a recent graduate. You get to work in teams and it's a tremendous opportunity to gain broad management perspective. The MAcc program at Waterloo gives you a chance to get some extra tax courses (huge advantage if you want to move from audit to tax), as well as specialize in audit or tax and take some advanced electives such as forensic accounting or business valuation (plus you get a masters). The courses are all case-based or at least have case-exams. These prepare you very well for the UFE (students from other schools have to go to the School of Accountancy in order to learn how to do these accounting case-based exams) and are considered to be a superior way of learning (see Ivey, Harvard, and the training programs of many top companies). There are lots of finance courses and you can use some of your electives to essentially double specialize in both accounting and finance (no extra courses or fees) and work towards both your CA and CFA (or CMA and CFA) designation (same thing works with public/managerial accounting and CA/CMA designations). There's a ton of ways to get involved within the program and as I said lots of recruiting and networking opportunities. The tuition is more expensive but with scholarships and co-op earnings it's totally manageable (plus cheaper to live in Waterloo than Toronto) and I personally think it's a nicer area than York/Schulich area. The co-op program gives you a tremendous opportunity to get work experience during the busy season at top employers- this is the best way to learn all about the business and accounting fields and how managing works. It's a pretty smooth transition from public accounting to industry and you can easily graduate Waterloo with at least 16 months of work experience, in a higher position than your friends at other schools, with a Masters, without writing the CKE and SOA, and it will likely only take you 30 months to get your work experience than the 36 or at other non co-op schools.

:) Ask if you have any questions.

I'm afraid so.Last week I went to my EA and guess what?Some of the good sections were full so I had to take a 8:30 section.You might have take more morning classes first year since all the good ones are taken.But this shouldn't influence your decision right? You can't go wrong with any of the two.
If you decide to go to Schulich then I'll see in September.

^With lower tuition at York, summer internship earnings and the ability to hold a great part time job in Toronto, I am able to not only graduate without any debt, but live fully on my own while in school and lead a very comfortable lifestyle (my own downtown apartment, Hugo Boss suits, eating out all the time and going out quite often). ;)

To the argument above^

Facts:

Waterloo Costs:
- Total Tuition 10 academic terms: 75K
- Renting Fee 10 terms: 20K give or take

Schulich Costs:
- Total Tuition: 30K

Waterloo earnings:
- Coop: approximately 60K

Schulich Earnings:
- 3rd year Internship: 10K
- Assuming Full-Time right after undergrad, graduating 16 months ahead of UW AFM: Approximately 60K

You'll be buying more food at UW, but you'll probably be going out more in Toronto for more expensive stuff. Transit is free at UW.

The winner is clearly Schulich by a landslide. A difference of 60-80K at the end. That ain't chump-change.

There are no arguments on the tuition. Renting is on average. You have to buy all your food at UW. You can eat food at home in Toronto - but there are a lot more opportunities to eat out and and expensively. I didn't mean eating more food, I meant buying more food.

I don't see why UW is faster than Schulich. By the time you graduate from AFM, with your Macc, you'd have 16 months of experience and a Schulich grad would have 20 months. The 2 exams before the UFE don't take 4 months so Schulich students would be ahead.

You're right on the busy season stuff though, AFM students would have had 3 busy seasons to 1.