I came from the Dominican Republic to visit family in Calgary in 2003. I liked what I saw so much, that I decided to stay and complete the Haskayne MBA at the University of Calgary.
That Calgary has the second highest number of head-offices in Canada was a key selling point. A city that is still small enough that people are approachable and friendly was comforting for me and my family and that Canada is a safe place for me to go and study. The Rocky Mountains are only an hour away, being close to the mountains made winter easier. Getting into winter sports meant I could look forward to the weekends.
Canada is a first world country, where you can get a top-end education, with the latest technology, health care, and a safe environment. When you look at cost, the value of studying in Canada is better than the US.
One of the things I value the most is the friends I met during the program. You have people from many different backgrounds, which adds to the classroom experience. Since we work in teams in the real-world, a lot of our courses involved group work. Your education is enriched by the people you work with. The business network I have established is going to be a huge asset to my career.
The Haskayne MBA gave me unlimited opportunities to develop my career in whatever direction I want. The Career Centre at the Haskayne School of Business set-up the interviews for my new career. Because Haskayne isn't a huge business school faculty and staff get to know you better and help you find a good fit.
It was worth taking time off work to come back and do my MBA. It was tough, but in the end it was worth it.