For prospective business school students The MBA Tour events provide the opportunity to learn about MBA programs both in Canada and abroad. The Tour spends a day in each city, with seminars and round table forums being held in an educational conference format.

Eighty per cent of participants in an international survey conducted by the MBA Tour said they would prefer to work abroad, while 70% said they would work internationally once they had completed their MBA.

The diversity of schools in attendance will help students connect with distinguished schools from around the world. This year schools in attendance at the Canadian events will include Duke University, ESADE Business School, HEC Paris, Melbourne Business School, Schulich, Ivey, RSM Erasmus, Chinese University of Hong Kong and 30 more.

"At this years MBA Tour, we are delighted to host 18 Canadian schools, and 18 schools from abroad including, one from France, three from Spain, and one from Hong Kong. This diversity will give students the opportunity to learn what is unique about each school, relate that to their needs and find a match," says Peter con Loesecke, CEO and Managing Director of the MBA Tour.

We are very excited about the Canadian interest for this year's tour. To date we have seen a 78% (in Toronto) percent increase in registration from last year's tours, says Peter von Loesecke. Last year three hundred students were expected, but in the end over 700 registered. There is no cost to the students to attend.

"In today's world, you can do all your MBA program research online, but by participating in panel discussions at The MBA Tour, I gained a deeper understanding of how admissions decisions are made and if an MBA is the right degree for me. It's also a great place to meet people and begin networking which is an aspect that you can easily miss online," says Kathy Devon, a pre-MBA in Toronto.

Going to business school is a big decision. Tuition fees typically range from $14,000 to 55,000 CDN in Canada and US$40,000- 90,000 at international schools. The MBA Tour's survey found that finances and the financial return after graduation are the biggest concerns among prospective students.

The high cost of an MBA is an investment usually pays off. Studies have shown that graduating students are paid at least two times more than they were before graduation. Another five years later they can expect to earn almost three times more.

Peter von Loesecke says "MBA graduates not only command higher salaries, but they also will seek expanded career opportunities. The desire to improve one's career path is the top motivation for pursuing an MBA according to a recent survey by The MBA Tour of over 1000 pre-MBAs."

Dennis Georges attended The MBA Tour last year in Montreal and is now at applying to the HEC School of Management. He comments, "I found that my needs are unique as I am an older MBA student and for me choosing the right school was critical. The MBA Tour gave me the opportunity to have personal contact with both alumni and admissions representatives from around the world allowing me to see which school was a good fit for my needs."