right out of undergrad, it would be. But i know plans after undergrad do change, and are not guaranteed.
If I go to Berkeley, I would take advantage of everything there to set myself up for a career in big firm consulting straight out of undergrad.
Help me Decide: Sciences Po & UC Berkeley Dual Degree [CAD$250k] vs University of Toronto [CAD$120k]
I know this is an MBA-level article, but Bain, (unrealistic for me? but as an example) doesn’t require visa/H1B processes until the last stage of hiring.
I’m not sure at all if this applies to undergrad. And not all companies are like this. But would it be something to consider? Out of most industries, consulting firms, tech companies, investment banks, VC’s (?) are least concerned about visas.
This article is from 2017. The hiring landscape for international applicants is much changed.
Re-read the post by @aunt_bea.
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You have to be into the dual degree program without an expectation beyond OPT.
I also don’t get how you leap from political experience to Bain.
If the dual program isn’t interesting to you in itself, it’s not worth the cost. UoT won’t get you into US or European politics but if that’s not your actual goal you can try to beat the odds and be recruited from UoT, which may be more reasonable than going from OPT to H1B without a Master’s degree.
This^
UofT seems like the better choice.
I know you really don’t want to hear that because it doesn’t fit your supposed scenario. What I understand, from your posts, is that you want the responses to affirm your choice of Berkeley.
Fine, go to Berkeley and spend your excessive dollars at an Uber competitive, crowded university with expensive limited summer housing within sketchy areas. I gather that you haven’t visited? Flights are not cheap. Get used to spending a lot on living expenses and transportation. We don’t have the services and benefits that Canada provides to its residents and NON residents.
It doesn’t change the basic premise but strictly speaking this student would spend 2 years in France for Sciences Po then complete upper level courses at UCB and I think the Sciences Po students have housing (OP wd need to check). OP would get 2 degrees and be part of a cohort. But all in all, if OP wants to participate in American local politics it’s one thing, if the sole goal is IB/consulting…
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I’m actually leaning toward committing to UofT, I hope I don’t fully come across as having my mind made up. I simply am worried about declining such a good school that would guarantee at least temporary (volunteer/student org) experience in the US, and wanted to exhaust all possibilities coming from it since I would definitely try to make the best out of it.
Agree with your guess that experience in Canadian politics would not be valued by US political organizations.
Additionally, getting paid to work on political campaigns in the US is not common. And, if paid, the pay is low.
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exactly my thought why private firms are more realistic (although clearly still a slim chance) of helping me have a career in the US. But I still may be misguided
Yes I have priority housing & would be living in co-op housing at Berkeley to keep costs low.
That’s my goal straight out of undergrad, with a focus to get a green card. Before I achieve residency, anything really political is kind of out of the question lol. Even before citizenship. I’m aware of that
OPT can be volunteering or low pay - it just needs to provide practical experience for what you studied.
The US system is completely blocked and anyone trying to unblock it would become a pawn in political games so nothing can move - unlike Canada, which values people who get a higher education degree especially if obtained in Canada (since their transcript is easily understandable AND they have absorbed Canadian values+brands) and thus easily offers them a work permit which is a path to residency (with college “counting” timewise), the US has nothing. It sounds like lunacy or designed by someone intent on hurting the US economy but the work permit for college graduates is a lottery (relatively recent) AND doesn’t automatically lead to a green card. How do people do it then? Some get married instead of just living with their partner. Some get an academic H1B. Some come from under represented nations and have an accelerated pathway. Some speak a critical language and join the military which accelerates their official residency. Some, finally, are hired because their skills are unique and in-demand and are lucky enough to win the lottery/to have employers who have prepaid for H1B.
So, if you want to move from OPT to H1B, sure the dual degree will help, but only because it opens doors at OPT level. You have to really consider whether you can be so extraordinary, will possess such unique skills during your 4 years of college+2 years OPT that you’ll be in thst last situation. So you need to think of ways the dual degree will allow you to develop skills others don’t have and lean into that.
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I’ve been talking to people in similar dual degrees with my goals (Columbia, etc) and they also agree this is their goal. But for someone who isn’t sure about doing consulting would UofT → a higher degree be a better move or is that a waste of time, money, and be too late?
There are other companies, mostly in tech (https://h1bgrader.com/) that would sponsor H1B so I’m not completely locked in but I certainly will not have the flexibility to fail and try many new things
There have been recent changes made by the Canadian government. Not sure of the specifics, but I will do a Google search–but it involves a cap on student visas and fewer temporary residents will be allowed due to housing shortages and due to lengthy wait times for medical care. Nevertheless, the point system used by Canadian immigration values education, skills, and work experience.
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The student visa cap only applies to for-profit “colleges” (not universities or legit programs.) The for-profit system had basically become a “pay to play” visa system that didn’t actually deliver much, if any, education.
I just talked to the dual degree coordinator and she said most students who work hard and seek jobs in the US post-berkeley do get them, and she has had a bunch of students who got H1B, and even one who became naturalized.
That being said, she told me my estimate of CAD 250k was conservative and its more like USD 200k or CAD 270k.
So this still begs the question for me whether it’s worth it, even if I get American employment…
hey all,
i think im choosing uoft tomorrow with a very heavy heart 
I’ve been told a lot that it’ll be impossible to get into the positions i want from a Canadian non-target, but at this point it’s either live with the regret that i fumbled my best early career starter or that i fumbled $200k… and I don’t know which one is worse.
thinking of accepting Berekeley tmrw and then withdrawing if i need more time but I don’t want to drag this on more… ugh this is so sad
What did you decide? I know it’s too late for this, but UBC has a dual-degree program with Sciences Po and a direct exchange program with the UC system, meaning that you can study at a UC for a year while paying UBC tuition.
U of T is a terrific university, BTW, and if you want to test the waters south of the border, you can apply for a Killam Fellowship to study in the USA: Killam Fellowships Program - U of T - Learning and Safety Abroad
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I’ve committed to UofT tonight (albeit with a very very heavy heart) since they doubled my scholarship. I can’t but help have a bad feeling about it but it was becoming more apparent that it was the better choice 
Thank you so much for the info on the fellowship 
I’ll make my American dream come true somehow anyways.
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Winning scholarships at a university like Toronto is not easy, congratulations 
Be determined to do very well (for you to really benefit from the opportunities and what comes next) and look for ways to make things the most enjoyable possible 
And you can start researching study abroad options. Because this is very affordable for your family, you can plan on going as often as you wish - for vacation, internship, etc. And you can even add SciencesPo as a full-pay add-on for a year long professional master’s (I think it’s like 15k).
Have you been admitted to or chosen a College?
Thank you for the kind words. Yep I’m in Trinity College
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