<p>Everyone has given you great advice – I will just add a bit of perspective as someone originally from Canada now living in the states with a son at the University of Michigan’s school of music.</p>
<p>A Canadian composer who at the time was encouraging my son to attend school in Canada felt that it was considerably easier for a talented composer to make a reasonable living in Canada compared to the US. The US life of an artist if things don’t line up very serendipitously can be tough. There is no national healthcare, comparatively little funding for the arts, and of course, intense competition among those with benefactors (eg young adults without a driving need to necessarily sustain themselves economically due to the socioeconomic status of parents) that can put a working kid at a disadvantage.</p>
<p>There is also the matter of immigration law and your status. It is exceedingly difficult to get and maintain residency status in the US – the process can literally take years. So after graduation (student visas end with your education) you often have to go back to Canada unless an employer is willing to undertake the considerable expense and headache of proving they can’t find a qualified US applicant for a job…which isn’t likely in starter level composition work, which likely as not is commission in nature. It would be simpler if your family were relocating to the US, because you could derive your visa status from them, but that’s not the case.</p>
<p>At the same time, you’ve then bypassed the opportunity to make connections in Canada while a student.</p>
<p>Then, there’s the financial albatross of student debt, which cannot be discharged even in bankruptcy in the US, and which is substantially higher than in Canada. For example, we are blessed that my son received generous scholarships, but the end cost even at instate rates and with a full tuition scholarship has been another $40,000 - $48,000 over four years.</p>
<p>You would not qualify for instate rates anywhere in the US. At Michigan, for example, that would mean a cost in the neighborhood of $200,000 without scholarship. but the real kicker is that as an international student, you would not be qualified to access US student loans, and Canadian student loans are not designed to cover these costs (since it’s so much cheaper in Canada.) On top of that, in order to get your student visa yo study, you also have to “prove” that you have the money BEFORE you’re allowed the visa to attend.</p>
<p>So there are myriad practical obstacles and to my mind a lack of compelling reason or means to study in the US. I strongly, strongly advise you to focus your efforts on Canadian schools, including UBC, for undergrad at least.</p>
<p>BTW, UBC has a great film Program as well and would be an excellent location for a composer who wants to score!</p>
<p>I’m sorry if the unvarnished picture I’ve painted depresses you and I will be the first to say there are always exceptiions, but I feel you need to seriously weigh the immigration and financial implications of your plan, and focus on the best way to reach your goals without burdening your future self! best wishes in your quest ;)</p>