<p>One thing to think about is the cheap cost in comparison of coming to school in Canada, as US students can come to Canada and have their entire year cost around $20,000 which is huge!</p>
<p>i am from bermuda, everyone i know who has graduated from Mt. A has had a great career…
lawyers, CEOs, senior underwriters, and partners in the big 4 accounting firms</p>
<p>Consider Queen’s for something academically strong and somewhat in-between the huge impersonal of U of T, UBC or McGill and the LAC experience of Mt. A. Queen’s tends to be ranked in the top 5 or so of Canadian schools (to the extent that rankings mean anything), it’s in Kingston Ontario, a mid-sized college town, it’s medium sized (about 12,000 undergrads), and it’s famous for having a freshman experience oriented towards fostering school spirit and a sense of community (rare in Canada). It’s up there with McGill as one of the most selective Canadian schools to get into, so students are smart and high achievers. But it’s not sink or swim-- if you get admitted, chances are high you graduate. Why nobody outside of Canada has ever heard of the school is a mystery to me. Downsides-- currently in a budget crisis caused in part by overaggressive construction projects in recent years and in part by starting to pay entry-level professors decently, and first-year classes tend to be big (though not like U of T), though lots of small classes starting in year 3.</p>
<p>In looking into low-cost Canadian university possibilities, I was tipped off to this especially affordable option by the Canadian Embassy in D.C.: Brandon University, a liberal arts school of about 3,000 students located in Manitoba, about an hour north of the border.</p>
<p>It has a strong music program, charges international students just 5,700 to 6,300 Canadian dollars for tuition and roughly the same for room and board. Plus any international student who maintains at least a 3.0 GPA gets up to 3,000 Canadian dollars taken off the following year’s bill. So at that point you could be paying under $10,000 a year, all in, with an international experience to boot.</p>
<p>Most people in Canada probably haven’t even heard of that university. I did an immense amount of research before applying to university this year, and that school has virtually no reputation here.</p>
<p>University of British Columbia (Not sure what is specializes in but its good)
University of Toronto (all-rounded)
McGill University (sciences)
University of Western Ontario (commerce / arts)
Queen’s University (Commerce, but very good in the other fields as well)
University of Waterloo (Engineering, math, physics)
Dalhousie University (not sure)
University of Guelph (not sure)
Ottawa U (Biomedical Sciences - Only good program)
McMaster University (Sciences)</p>
<p>Hi everyone! =)
I’m currently in my 4th (senior) year at Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario (halfway between Toronto and McGill) and I really love it. One of the great things about Canadian universities (in my opinion) is that the level of education that you receive is pretty much the same across the board. We pretty much have small community colleges and large universities. Apart from the fact that some schools are more difficult to be accepted at, many of the programs are very similar. Some of the work and textbooks that I used in my first year were the exact same that they used at U of T and at the University of Western Ontario.</p>
<p>I agree that some schools seem impersonal and don’t have that tight-knit, American campus feel, but those are usually the schools in the city, like U of T and McGill. Schools like Queen’s, and Western, and Wilfrid Laurier University, which are located in smaller communities, have really great campus culture in my opinion.</p>
<p>Lastly, yes, the drinking age is younger here, but that just takes the “danger” out of it. After a while, it gets old, especially when the bouncer looks at your ID and just waves you in. There’s no thrill of doing something wrong, and being sneaky, etc. Of course some people take it too far, but generally most of us crazy Canucks don’t abuse it. And you have to go to a government store to purchase alcohol. It’s not just lying around the supermarket or the local Walgreen’s (haha).</p>
<p>I would be happy to answer any questions anyone has about Canadian Universities. Most of my friends from home (Toronto) are scattered all over the country for school, so I know a good deal of information about most Canadian schools. That, and we don’t have nearly as many as there are in the US! I’ll be applying for a visa soon, as I am waiting to hear from Arizona State University, Boston Conservatory, the University of Montana, and Oklahoma City University for Fall 2010 for my Masters. If anyone could give me some info on any of those programs, or the process of applying for a visa, I would be very grateful! =)</p>
<p>katip, I’m not up on visas – my wife had one when she came to the US but we got married and she got a Green card many years ago. Are you looking for advice on music programs? If so, I suspect that there is a better forum on CC for those questions (I know there is a forum [Music</a> Major - College Confidential](<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/]Music”>Music Major - College Confidential Forums) though I’ve never frequented it).</p>
<p>shawbridge,</p>
<p>I guess I’m just looking for more inside scoop on the schools in general if anyone knows anything. Of course when you speak to people that go there, they just sing that specific school’s praises, but it would be nice to get an opinion from someone who isn’t affiliated with the institution.</p>
<p>I’ll help you.
University of British Columbia (All-around)
University of Toronto (all-around)
McGill University (sciences)
University of Western Ontario (PARTAY!!!)
Queen’s University (Commerce, MAYBE science)
University of Waterloo (Engineering, math, physics)
Dalhousie University (pretty all-around, I think…)
University of Guelph (agricultural studies, farm stuff. Not kidding. I hear their science is basically playing with manure)
Ottawa U (Biomed)
Carleton (Journalism, poli sci)
McMaster University (health sci and art sci are so far above every other program at Mac. I would rate these two programs one- and two- out of all of the universities’ science programs here)</p>
<p>Now for some stereotypes (sorry I can’t provide stereotypes about schools I don’t know about…)
U of T - ridiculously low GPAs. This may be due to the fact that they are not selective AT ALL and people go to U of T with high 70s and low 80s. You will have to work super hard once you get there. As in, you won’t have a life.
Queen’s - rich, snobby, white kids go there.
Western - PARTAY ALL DAY AND NIGHT, you don’t go to Western if you’re not blonde and wearing Lulu Lemon
Guelph - honestly, Guelph doesn’t have the best reputation… I don’t even know how you guys know about it. Definitely 2nd tier.
Ottawa - again; second-rate even here.
York - STRIKE, York Sci sounds okay, but also is 2nd tier.
McMaster - border between 1st and 2nd tier. Again, though; health sci at Mac is probably the most coveted program in Canada. With that being said, I think overall, McMaster is the most selective (87%+ for life sci is matched only by Queen’s, 90%+, realistically 95%+ for health sci is almost unheard of. I think they also have the best kin program - cutoff 86% ish?).
Waterloo - everyone is Asian and male.</p>
<p>My sister did her undergrad at Guelph and is now at Columbia medical…I’m just saying it’s not all that bad.</p>
<p>Thanks for this thread!!! I have four children with Canadian citizenship status who reside in the U.S. We are not pursuing private colleges - going for either state/city schools close to home or Canada. </p>
<p>Our oldest are twin juniors at a highly competitive public high school on the east coast. They are both accomplished strings players (violin, cello); one plays piano as well. Raised and confirmed in the Episcopal church with a great music instructor/choir director who is now teaching them music theory.</p>
<p>One D wants to pursue a degree in fine arts and I see her likely becoming a teacher.</p>
<p>The other has a passion for Asian pop culture, is taking Chinese next year, and learning Japanese with Rosetta Stone. Not clear where this child is headed, but definitely wants to live abroad. </p>
<p>Both have years of French language though not fluent.</p>
<p>These are shy girls, diligent but not brilliant students and not great test takers which concerns me with regard to the Canada uni system. Any good schools to recommend? I saw that Queens is a good in-between school (neither very big nor small). Interestingly they really want an urban experience, though there are some schools I want them to look at that aren’t located in urban centers.</p>
<p>Here is my list:</p>
<p>U of Montreal
Concordia
Trent
U of T
Queens
Western Ontario
Mount Allison (I want one of them to apply, at least)</p>
<p>Have I missed anything?</p>
<p>amory,</p>
<p>U of Montreal is a French school. If your kids don’t speak French fluently, it’s not the place for them.</p>
<p>Concordia is the other English school in Montreal. McGill is the first. </p>
<p>Trent is in Peterborough, a small Ontario city. It’s one of the easiest schools to get into.</p>
<p>U of T is a large university that is widely thought to be the best in Canada, although it’s true that you can get a good education at any of Canada’s accredited universities. For U of T, coming from the U.S., your Ds will need good SAT scores and good GPAs.</p>
<p>Queen’s is a very good school, located in a small city roughly halfway between Toronto and Montreal. (keep location in mind re: transportation to and from home)</p>
<p>Western is in London Ontario, which is about two hours west of Toronto. Also a good, well-respected school. </p>
<p>Mt. A is a very small school in New Brunswick. That would be a very different experience than any of the others.</p>
<p>SAT scores and GPA are going to likely be the determining factor in their admissions journey for Canadian schools. Have you visited any of these schools? If they want a true urban experience, most of those on your list will not fit the bill.</p>
<p>I should also mention that if your D wants to be a teacher, the process is different in Canada than in the U.S. The student completes an undergrad degree then does a one year grad program at a Teacher’s College.</p>
<p>For Ontario schools, have a look at the OUAC website, which is the group that handles everything in the admissions/application process.</p>
<p>amory, let me second alwaysamom’s comments.</p>
<p>We looked at Canadian schools as the kids are dual citizens and ShawD is relatively comfortable with French (though not bilingual). We visited Dalhousie, Acadia, Mount Allison, Queens, McGill, King’s, and someplace else, I think. ShawD attended a summer science program at Mount Allison, which she loved. I thought it was a terrific option. She was pretty much told she’d get into all of the schools except McGill based on grades and scores, so she only applied to Queens and Mount A. When she went up to visit Mount A after being accepted, she was struck by the fact that it was very isolated and that there were very few Jews (which is important to her). She loved Queens and decided to go there. Queens is much larger 14K kids instead of 2300 (I think that’s the number, but again, don’t trust my memory). </p>
<p>She applied in Science to study biology and is bright but not academic. In her first week, she met someone who’d been admitted to study nursing and decided to see if she could switch as the drop-add period was still open. She got an unclear no and then a clear no – it was a different faculty and so she would have to reapply. She was going to do so but went for a visit to a local hospital at home shadowing a nurse who suggested applying to three local schools. ShawD applied to one after calling them and they admitted her for the second semester – not need to wait until next year – and their program is for a five year nurse practitioner degree, which is really good. So, although ShawD loved Queens socially – she made lots of friends and loved the school – it didn’t work for her give the change of plans. Also, the intro science courses she was taking were quite large, but other courses were not. </p>
<p>I really liked Mount A. The feeling is really nice and from what I could tell, the professors really care about educating undergraduates. An alum who is a colleague told me that they want to be the Amherst of Canada. At the alum’s suggestion, the president invited her to his house when she was there. But, it is truly in the middle of no place. It’s near the tip of the bay of Fundy.</p>
<p>Queens in contrast is in a nice, small city, or college town. I suspect hte same would be true of Western. Small city, not really an urban experience. Someone can comment on that. Western has a reputation as a party school. Don’t know if the reputation is deserved.</p>
<p>We have a friend whose kid is at Concordia and is finding it somewhat inflexible. She’s fully bilingual (French/US citizen) and due to her French citizenship can attend for virtually nothing. </p>
<p>U of T is massive. From what I hear, they do a lot of weeding out in the first couple of years. Not fun for someone who doesn’t like tests, I’d guess. </p>
<p>On your list, U of T and Concordia are urban; the others not so much.</p>
<p>Each of my 3 kids chose a different university in Ontario; Western, Brock and Guelph. All, I believe, got a good education and I am a firm believer in the “you get what you put into it” train of thought. Partying went on at each and despite Western’s reputation as a party school, each of the 3 kids felt their experiences at to the extent of partying in their respective colleges was the same. I think the education is good across the board and more weight should be given to program offerings and location/size of town.</p>
<p>Can anyone tell me why an American student would want to go to a Canadian university? Is it the low tuition?</p>
<p>I guess some Americans don’t have such a negative opinion of Canada as you do.</p>
<p>Hi, I don’t know how much anyone can help be, but I’ll hope.
I (as this thread pretty much specifies) am an American student looking to college in Canada, specifically U Lethbridge for French/German. I was wondering if anyone could tell me a bit about ULeth as I don’t know that I’ll be able to visit (airfare for one person, round-trip is a little over 1000 USD if we don’t take a 4 hr layover in Houston, which makes no sense as I live in Maryland).
I’m also hoping for inside into how US applicants are judged (in general) by Canadian colleges.</p>
<p>Can I ask why? Not that you can’t get a good education at Lethbridge, but it seems like a fairly strange choice.</p>
<p>I don’t know much about the school, but the city of Lethbridge is on the edge of the Albertan Badlands region. The climate is dry, with warmer winters than much of Canada thanks to strong chinook winds. The city is located on a river surrounded by prairie and of course the vast Albertan sky.</p>
<p>Your application will be judge mostly on the basis of your marks and test scores.</p>
<p>Ah, my choice of Lethbridge. Honestly, I don’t really know why. I think part of my reasoning was that it is small, another is likely because my mother kept putting out a bunch of big name schools (Toronto, McGill), which terrify me to no end. Could you define ‘warm’ (metric is good, metric is great)? I don’t really mind odd locations, my ‘town’ has 2000 people spread over around 13 square kilometers, I live next to field, across from a field, in front of a wood, and next to people who spend most of he year not home.</p>
<p>Marks and test scores are good, extra curricular activities are a bit of a problem for me (transportation).</p>