I’m an international student applying for computer engineering. I got accepted into McGill, Purdue and UCSD.
I’m a resident of Montreal, so fees for McGill will be drastically less than for any American University. I will need to take a loan of about $150,000-$200,000 (over 4 years) if I go to Purdue or UCSD, whereas, I will be able to pay for McGill on my own. Is going to Purdue or UCSD worth taking such a huge loan? Or would McGill be better financially?
Thanks in advance! 
I suggest you stick to McGill. I just don’t see a significant advantage career wise with those other universities, and then on top of that the price difference makes McGill the better choice. And you’d be stuck paying for American schools with a low Canadian dollar. If you want to go to an American uni, see if you can get a full ride for grad school. Save your money. These days McGill is more prestigious than the other two anyway.
I’d go with McGill. Not sure I agree with ivyleaguer about prestige, but that doesn’t really matter for engineering.
Absolutely no need to go into such a big debt to go to Purdue or UCSD instead of McGill. Plus, McGill arguably has a stronger reputation worldwide over Purdue and on par with UCSD.
Congrats!
CONGRATULATIONS on getting into McGill!!
With such an admission in your pocket, why would you think of spending gadzillions of dollars to go to universities that arguably no better? If it’s for the sun, make a deal with your parents that you’ll get to spend a semester abroad in an area that’s warm and sunny (McGill has lots of possibilities) and that you’ll get to go on Spring Break in other warm and sunny places. That will still be cheaper than attending college in California.
@ivyleaguer @simba9 @insanedreamer @MYOS1634
Also, what about UIUC or UCLA vs McGill?
There’s school that’s worth $150,000-$200,000 of debt. This would take DECADES to pay off.
Keep the money and go to McGill.
Purdue’s engineering program is extremely well-respected around the world. I would put UIUC up there, too. However, none of your alternatives would be worth the extra money. I don’t even think MIT would be worth it. McGill is a great school. I would put its engineering program on par with the top half of the Big 10. Keep the money.
I wouldn’t take UIUC or UCLA over McGill at that level of debt.
I meant there’s no school that’s worth it, sorry.
Go to McGill. Spend spring break in LA ;-). Much cheaper.
Ok thank you everyone!
McGill! of course!! there’s NO school in this world is worth 200K more than McGill.
Avoid a loan, especially one of such a monstrous size as $150000 to $200000! That’s like carrying around a second mortgage! McGill, no question, its reputation is as good as either of those US schools you listed and it wont leave you in debt for 20 years.
Living abroad in California for 4 years probably would be a blast, but it isn’t worth crippling your finances for decades after you graduate.
No university is EVER worth 200K of debt!
Attend McGill, then live in California on someone else’s dime (ie., employer :D)
^^^^pretty much my thoughts. Better to be a well off new graduate moving to California then an impoverished new graduate already in California.
Heh. IN isn’t exactly warm and sunny.
But anyway, as mentioned before, you can do study-abroad if you really want to experience college elsewhere.
McGill is the easy choice here.