I want to study in Canada but...

Student Lounge International Students
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<p>Hi... I hope this is the correct section for me to post this in... but here goes. I actually have 2 problems that I need help with...</p>

<p>So for problem #1: I've been wanting to go to Canada and study abroad for quite a while but I have only recently introduced this idea to my family around 2 months ago and it seems like they have taken this as some sort of shock, well in this case... only my Mom has.</p>

<p>So I have never been the kind of person to leave my household for any reason... My entire life I have been a really at home person, never really had any friends to hang out with after class or anything and I really never liked doing much outside until College came around and I finally got my license. My Mom knows that I have always told her where I was and I was never really that far away from her ever.</p>

<p>A couple of weeks ago, I took a 3 day trip to Toronto to go visit Waterloo as it is my top choice in my plan to study abroad. She let me go as long as I gave her calls to know how I was doing and such. I plan on going back for Spring break to visit the city more and go see U of T and check the campus out. However, I got into a minor argument with my Mom today about my ideas of studying abroad. She tries to make arguments about how its really cold in Canada, how she thinks I'll get used by others for their gain, how there is never any type of mention about Canadian Universities being any good when it comes to discussions or media, or how I would probably not take care of myself the way I should if I were to get sick. </p>

<p>As for problem #2: I'm currently studying at a Community College here in Los Angeles. I've been doing research about what requirements I need to be able to study at either Waterloo or U of T however the information I find is never really clear. I've been in this college for nearly 2 years now and I was originally working towards my General Ed in case I decided to just go to UC Irvine, Berkeley or any other out of state University after CC.</p>

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

<h1>1: How do I convince my Mom to let me go? I know that its a bit of a shock for her to think that her son is leaving to a place 2,000 miles away from home. I believe that she thinks I'll fall in love out there and forget about her, along with dangers that I'm exposed too (which I think I'm exposed to here anyways...), and also the fact that she probably doesn't think a Canadian University doesn't really count in the states. Is there anything I can show her that it isn't such a terrible idea to study abroad?</h1>

<h1>2: Is there any website such as ASSIST.org or any general information to the requirements of the 2 universities I want to go to? I'm also scheduled for a counselor appointment this Monday about my plans.</h1>

<p>Sorry if this post was really long... I'm just very confused as to what I should do and I'm in need of some help.</p>

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<p>Canadian Universities are in general not bad. However, depending on which you choose to apply to, the environment may be different. For example, Waterloo has a much larger Asian community than other schools such as Queen’s. It is also located in a somewhat desolate place so there won’t be as much night life as Toronto. With Canadian universities, it’s not really about the university AS A WHOLE that is considered good. The universities will generally all have 1 or 2 specific programs that are recognized internationally like Waterloo’s Computer Engineering (I think? It’s one of those.) and McMaster Health Sciences. You have to look at it with a smaller microscope than you would look at any US university. </p>

<p>I will come right out and tell you now that Canadian Universities are DIFFICULT. Not to get in, but to get out. Graduating can be so difficult when you are in one of the best programs of the university. Every year, they accept LOADS of students, and as you progress through your four years at least half will be weeded out of the program every year! I would definitely be careful. If you are attending a community college right now, I would really reassess what kind of competition you are able to withstand, because you may be in there with some of the strongest students in academics. Canadian universities hardly care about extra-curricular activities so a lot of the students will be hardcore. I’m not saying that there won’t be the few slackers, but then again, if you slack, you’re out right?</p>

<p>I mean if your program is not in the Sciences or Engineering then it really shouldn’t be a problem, but I would still understand more about the level of competition in the program that you are applying for! Definitely, let your mom know if your program is ranked very high at this university! It’s very different from US schools where it’s hard to get in, but you get in because the school knows that you are a good fit. Canadian unis only really look at your grades and judge based on some cut off average for that program. You see what I mean?</p>

<p>The cold is the same as any other of the East Coast states in the U.S. Just bring a jacket and some warm linens! Definitely come to the campuses during Spring Break too. A lot of the schools have open houses during these days and you can find this information on their website. You may also contact their admissions offices or drop by I guess whenever since they should be open all the time right now.</p>

<p>Hope this was helpful? Good luck!</p>

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<p>Your mother is being totally silly.</p>

<p>The border with Canada is essentially an artificial political border.</p>

<p>For some kids in America, going to school in Canada is actually closer than going to New York or California or Florida.</p>

<p>And McGill and Toronto are ranked in the top 25 of world universities. Go on the internet and show her the world rankings of universities.</p>

<p>Plus, they actually cost less than US private colleges.</p>

<p>Further, I understand that they don’t care about ECs that much, so if your ECs are not that great, you won’t be hurt in Canada. </p>

<p>Plus, Toronto and Montreal are safe cities. Your mother is acting like you are proposing to study in Iraq or Afghanistan. They are far more safer than USC, for example.</p>

<p>As for cold weather, Boston and New Haven and Chicago are cold too, but if you told her you got into Harvard or Yale or University of Chicago, would she really tell you not to go because it is cold?. Or far away?</p>

<p>I hate to say this, but I think you need to go far away to school, and establish your own life. Let me also recommend the UK for you, if you are truly interested in studying abroad----especially St Andrews and Edinburgh. I don’t consider going to school in Canada “studying abroad”. </p>

<p>Now THAT will really get her going !!! Once she hears you are considering the Uk, then Canada won’t seem so bad !!! </p>

<p>Show her photos of Montreal and Toronto. That should make her feel somewhat better.</p>

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<p>Perhaps she can visit Toronto with you during spring break. It’s a beautiful, safe city. In fact, probably safer than every city in California so she needn’t worry about that. :)</p>

<p>Canadian universities are very good. All are publicly funded. As mentioned above, be prepared to work hard if you’re attending a competitive program, or a school like U of T where the competition is stiff. </p>

<p>One thing you will have to keep in mind is that if you’ve been studying at a CC, you will likely have to apply as a transfer student and you probably will not get credit for most of those courses. </p>

<p>I agree with the sentiment that it sounds like a good idea for you to get away and establish some independence. It’s time.</p>

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<p>As an engineering student at uoft there is no competition we all help each other out…however the same cant be said for life science or commerce </p>

<h1>1</h1>

<p>a) Toronto isnt cold we have a lot of people from the middle east and there doing fine
b) As already mentioned if your living in the states you might as well be living here this is especially true of toronto
c) A large portion of the students here are from other countries.</p>

<h1>2</h1>

<p>[eINFO</a> Applicants Outside Ontario](<a href=“Welcome to eINFO”>Welcome to eINFO) </p>

<p>they have some links for admissions but try contacting the universities admissions …goodluck</p>

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<p>regularguy, sorry if you misunderstood. When I said a competitive program, I wasn’t referring to competition among students. I was referring to the difficulty attributed to attaining a high gpa.</p>

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<p>^^Yeah im not going to disagree with that :p…sorry my bad</p>

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<p>Western Econ/Ivey student here.</p>

<p>She tries to make arguments about how its really cold in Canada</p>

<p>Uh… it is 20 something degrees here right now (in Celsius) so thats 68F. Canada is colder on average but it should not deter you from the university. If several African and Asian students have no problem with the weather, why would you?</p>

<p>how she thinks I’ll get used by others for their gain</p>

<p>LOLL REALLY? I joined this forum just so I could answer this. Canadian universites are FAR MORE FRIENDLIER THAN AMERICAN UNIVERSITIES ON AVERAGE. WAY MORE FRIENDLIER. Our American students keep on complementing how friendly we are (Canadians are more friendly on average). Our programs which are “competitive” and where people “use others” are still much more friendlier than the average American program. </p>

<p>how there is never any type of mention about Canadian Universities being any good when it comes to discussions or media</p>

<p>People need to correctly understand the difference between undergraduate and graduate. I will not talk about graduate level and just focus on the undergraduate level. On the undergraduate level Canada has WAY better universities on average. Our worst universities are far better than America’s worst universities. However, our best universities (for undergrad) are not close to America’s best universities. You can compare Canada’s top universities (or programs for universities, i.e. Western, Queens, York for business, Mac and McGill for science, UT and Waterloo for Engineering) to around a top American public universitiy, such as UMichigan. There is plenty of talk for Canadian universities. She needs to do her research. </p>

<p>or how I would probably not take care of myself the way I should if I were to get sick.
People get sick. Its life. People are here to take care of you. Friends, staff, etc. I wouldn’t worry about this. She’s being way too overprotective.</p>

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<p>While you have always been happy to stay at home and close to home, until now, that doesn’t mean that there won’t come a time that you need to move on. It sounds like you could be nearly ready to go out on your own and going away to college is a great way of making that happen.</p>

<p>It is nice that you are so close to your mom but every kid needs to break away at some point. If you have already been going to a community college for 2 years, you are certainly old enough to be able to handle going away to school on your own.</p>

<p>Your biggest help in winning the argument and convincing your mom that it will be a good choice is research. I would not argue the point any more with her until you have done thorough research and can answer all of her questions and ease all of her worries. She likely has some valid points about you not going and you will want to find out for yourself all of the pluses and minuses. </p>

<p>Going away to college doesn’t mean that you will be gone forever. If you can show your mom how much it means to you by responsibly researching the issue i am sure that will help with convincing her that it is a valid choice as well as a good idea.</p>