Ask another Canadian studying in the US :)

Student Lounge International Students
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<p>Hey guys! I'm currently a freshman at the University of Pennsylvania. I lived in Toronto before this year and I'm currently finishing up my first semester here at Penn. I applied to a ton of American universities as well as a wide range of Canadian programs. </p>

<p>I'm happy to answer questions about the process, the Common App, and even questions about OUAC (accepted to Queen's Commerce, Western Ivey AEO, McMaster Hsci, and Rotman ) and McGill (accepted to Biomed & Art Sci).</p>

<p>I'd be glad to tell you guys about my experience here at Penn so far as well as the process of getting all of the paperwork for studying in the USA and FA!</p>

<p>xoxo Nebbalish</p>

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<p>Hi Nebbalish,</p>

<p>I must say that you have a unique set of experience and I appreciate your sharing these with the CC members.</p>

<p>Here are my questions: </p>

<p>1) What made you select UPenn over McMasters?</p>

<p>2) So, far, what is your feeling about the choice you made? Are you finding UPenn to be what you had expected. Are you getting research opportunities that you had only dreamed about, as they say. What is the Teacher/Student ration like? Is there a good deal of personal contact between students and teachers.</p>

<p>3) Is there a discernible difference between the student “quality or preparedness” between Canadian and US students? </p>

<p>4) Are you inclined towards Medical profession? If so, are you planning to practice in Canada or US? </p>

<p>5) I have heard that UPenn considers Canadian students to be the same as out of state US students (as far as Tuition goes). Is that correct? Is there good FA available?</p>

<p>6) What would you suggest to (Health/Life/Biology Sc.) bright students who are torn between the choice of studying in Canada or USA.</p>

<p>Sorry, too many questions :-)</p>

<p>Thanks,</p>

<p>Vinsim</p>

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<p>

</p>

<p>Penn is a private university. The tuition is the same for all students.</p>

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<p>How do you feel about a lot of Americans not liking the Toronto Maple Leafs? I’m not Canadian, btw(SORRY!).</p>

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<p>Hey! Thank you for this opportunity. </p>

<p>1) Did you go to a public school? I have no AP/IB? Did you have access to those?
2) Right so, were you like the top 1% of your school? Any sense of what your OSSD average was like and what I should be aiming for?
p.s- Barnard is my first choice school if you have heard about it!
3) Did you do the SATs or ACTs?
4) Did you counselor do the mid year report? My second semester midterms would be too late! They are like in mid February…should I send the first mark-book printout?
5) Did you apply for financial aid? Any tips?
6) did you find a lot of Canadians at Penn?</p>

<p>Congratulations for getting in and a BIG thank you for offering to answer my questions!!</p>

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<p>Just out of curiosity:
What made you want to study in the US?
Are you happy with your decision (choosing UPenn)?
What other US schools did you apply to?</p>

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<p>1) I chose Penn over McMasters for plenty of reasons. Over the course of senior year, I realized that I didn’t want to go into medicine as I originally wanted to. I had volunteered in a hospital and saw the real side of the medical profession and I realized that just because I liked science and I liked helping people didn’t mean that I should be a doctor. I also wasn’t the biggest fan of McMaster’s campus, but I fell in love with Penn’s campus.</p>

<p>2) I am 100% happy with my choice. I can’t imagine myself anywhere else really. Penn is really what I wanted in a university, as I am being challenged by my peers in and out of the classroom. I am actually not pursuing pre-med (though I applied to science programs in Canada) here at Penn so I can’t say much about research opportunities. I have many many friends who have found research positions here and they’re loving it as well! I found a work study placement with Wharton Marketing for the next four years and I’m doing something I’m passionate about. The teacher student ratio is pretty low, from what I’ve heard. The class sizes are smaller in general compared to Canadian universities. </p>

<p>My best friends go to Western and Mcgill and from my conversations with them, their largest lectures vary from 500-900 people in one hall. My largest lecture was probably 200 people while my smallest class was 15 people (while theirs was 60 people). Penn offers tons of seminar-style classes that allow very close student professor interactions. You can also take your professor out to lunch and chat with them outside the classroom. </p>

<p>3) Considering I go to an Ivy League university, I would say yes. The students here (at the risk of sounding elitist, which I don’t want to sound) are really something. They’re really the crème de la crème, from all over the world. Considering what I know of my classmates who weren’t the most stellar students in my Toronto high school still go to great schools like Queen’s, Western, U of T etc., I would say that the general student body is more diverse and accomplished than that of Canadian universities.
4) As I said before, I’m not planning on going into medicine (to the chagrin of my mother). The other Canadian students I know who’re in pre-med here at Penn are planning on practicing in the USA.
5) If you get accepted requesting FA, then it’s the same for any student. Penn evaluates you based on your need, not merit. Penn is need-blind for Canadians, so whether or not you want FA doesn’t impact your application. FA is pretty good. I’m upper middle class and my FA package is about $20k. Tuition before FA is pretty much the same for everybody.</p>

<p>6) First, I suggest them to look at their circumstances and what they’re willing to give up to come to the States. If they get into the States and their family can afford it, COME! It’s an entirely different atmosphere than Canada. Ivy League universities and those on par offer world class facilities, professors, and opportunities that Canadian universities might not. There’s also the Ivy League brand that carries you through life. </p>

<p>ADifference:

  1. I did go to a public school (within the TDSB). I had access to AP courses. I took 5 of them.
  2. Well…I was around the top %5. My school doesn’t weight our averages and such and so I crammed my schedule with AP courses (I took the most rigorous courseload in terms of breadth and depth in my graduating class), but there were good students who weren’t doing AP who got higher averages than me by taking the easier 4U courses. I was also very very involved in my school and so that also took time away from my studies. My OSSD average ranged between 93-94%.
    I totally heard of Barnard! :relaxed:
  3. I did the SATS.
  4. Yeah my counselor sent in the mid-year report. My school was termed so it came right after our first report card. I would suggest sending whatever marks you have to Penn.
  5. I did! If you’re from Canada, it doesn’t hurt to get FA. Plus, it would suck if you got in without FA but the tuition really burdened your family. It doesn’t harm your application so go for it! Penn’s one of the last Ivies to offer need-blind applications to Canadians.
  6. There are tons of Canadians at Penn. We’re the biggest national group in the international students pool. We’re everywhere :stuck_out_tongue: </p>

<p>CollegiateDreams:</p>

<p>I wanted to study in the States because I wanted a well rounded education at an excellent institution. At Canada, I was really forced to choose a major/program to apply to and I wasn’t ready to commit myself to a choice for the next four years. I love coding, but I also love science, but I also love history…I didn’t want to just choose one of these. Penn allows me to explore these options for the first two years before I can let myself declare a major.
I am very very happy with Penn! I have a great diverse friend group that spans the different schools and age as well. The school is gorgeous and steeped in history and notable alumni. The networking opportunities here are also unparalleled by Canadian schools.
I also applied to the rest of the Ivies (minus Cornell), Duke, and Georgetown.</p>

<p>Whew! Sorry for the delay! I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday! Toronto finally got snow on Boxing Day :relaxed:</p>

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<p>Thank you so much!</p>