I am from Calgary and live in Vancouver now. My 2 cents:
UBC & Vancouver - Vancouver is a lovely, multi-cultural city. Low crime rate, nice weather (although a bit too much rain), and is a very beautiful place. I love living here.
- Students at UBC are mixed. I am sure that you will meet a number of students with outstanding profiles, but do expect classmates who aren't that accomplished and/or ambitious.
- Its MBA program isn't the best in Canada and won't help you get a good job by itself. My friend met couple UBC MBA grads who expereinced a somewhat tough time finding a job. The company that I worked for just let go a UBC MBA grad because he can't perform as a Strategy Consultant. However, our Global Executive President is a UBC MBA grad and I guarantee you that he is a smart guy.
- You will hardly learn English. Too many Chinese here. No one speaks English to you inside or outside of school. -Last but not least, you will probably meet tons and tons and tons and tons of immature, cocky, rich undergrad kids who drive super expensive sports cars.
They think they are so cool but they are not.
Calgary - I live in Calgary for 10 years, and personally I don't like my expereince. It's cold & boring although tons of $$$ flow to this city in recent years.
- I do believe that there are positions for MBAs but, of course, they need more engineers than MBAs. But it is a great place to save and make $$. Companies there pay extremely well and living cost & tax are relatively low.