Hi, I’m an international student looking to major in Economics and maths/finance. I’ve been accepted to Colby College with a very generous financial aid package and Tufts University with financial aid that’s not as good but still payable without taking out loans, but it would be kinda tight. However, my parents are prepared to make the investment if tufts is more “prestigious” but since I will definitely go to grad school, I feel like I should save up. Do you think the benefits arising from the added prestige/rankings are worth spending double the amount I would spend at Colby? Would tufts give me higher chances at top grad schools? I got into kenyon college w great aid too so if it is better than nescac in any sense, I would love to hear your takes.
I’ve also been accepted at McGill University, UToronto and UBC. only McGill’s financial aid is comparable to the ones I’ve received at US colleges so once again, is U of T’s amazing ranking worth 60k a year?
I’m also confused about how to compare US liberal arts colleges with Top Canadian unis. The latter fare really well on the QS rankings and other world rankings, while the former are unheard of outside the US. I just don’t know how much importance I should be giving to these rankings. If you were to choose between NESCAC and McGill in terms of internships, study abroad opportunities, research, reputation and placement into grad schools (preferably in the US), which would you choose?
Sorry this is so long, but May 1 is coming closer and I’m getting nowhere nearer to a decision ??
I am not sure you could get a more divergent undergraduate experience than McGill and Colby. McGill is massive, urban and requires tremendous self sufficiency. Colby is small, rural and there is a lot of student support. Tufts is more like Colby, but nestled near the city. All are excellent and would help get you where you want to go. As an international student, it might make sense to put a deposit on both a Canadian and US school. It is very uncertain whether countries will allow international students to travel in the fall. Congratulations on 3 excellent options.
In comparing your U.S. choices, undergraduate-focused Colby places fairly highly in its category with respect to faculty publishing in economics, with Tufts settling in a bit more deeply among its peers:
If you would like to attend a flat-out beautiful college with a solid economics department and top-notch programs in English literature, history, government and fine arts, consider Kenyon.
With all due caveats regarding the present global situation, I would start with whether you want to attend college in the U.S. or in Canada because, as others have posted, the experiences are really different. Canadian universities are really sparsely funded compared to even the poorest NESCAC college. There aren’t enough dormitories to house everyone on a typical Canadian campus; you’re expected to live like a grad student pretty much from the moment you arrive on campus. And, forget about school spirit; it’s literally a foreign concept in Canada.
OTOH, Colby may not be your cup of tea either. Maybe, you’ve had enough of the boarding school experience; maybe, you don’t have a desire to be coddled. Lots of Americans choose large, impersonal, state colleges in order to save money. Just make sure you’re not being penny-wise and pound foolish.
Frankly, if you want to pursue grad school in the United States, I would choose an American undergrad college, if for no other reason than to gain access to their career centers which naturally are going to be focused on that and on job openings in the U.S… NESCAC colleges have more than enough name recognition where it counts: among American grad schools and employers.
@circuitrider yes that is what I’ve been reading but I honestly can’t decide if I prefer the large urban impersonal vibe or the small rural supportive vibe. I love certain aspects of both, and I wish I could visit and spend a night to see which fits me better but
Really? Would funding and supportive career centers be more important than global name recognition and ranking?
Colby has a very good economics department with opportunities for undergraduate research. You will get to know your profs who can support you if you are applying to grad school. Excellent career services. It will be the most nurturing of your choices in part because it is rather isolated, smaller, and has a strong sense of community.
Some students do not want that. Tufts and McGill will give you more anonymity and ready access to as city.
If the money is significantly different and you are waffling, I might just let that decide.
I would say, yes, but with a huge caveat: No amount of good counseling or number of enrichments can overcome a bad fit. If you’re alone in your room on weekends, drinking instead of having fun with your friends, it can have a definite effect on your grades and overall success in college.
World-type rankings, while potentially useful in homogeneous comparisons (university to university), under-regard, for methodological reasons, smaller colleges that emphasize undergraduate education. Since you will be pursuing an undergraduate education, international rankings may be counterproductive if not considered within the context of their purpose. For an illustration as to how students select colleges in the U.S., compare the standardized scoring profiles of some top liberal arts colleges to those of, for example, the University of Michigan.
Where are you more likely to be able to work after graduating? Very few US banks sponsor internationals for work visas anymore, so I would say you have much better prospects of working in finance in Toronto. A Canadian school is far superior for that.
OP: Are you willing to list each school along with the annual COA (cost of attendance) for each school ?
Do you plan to work in Canada, the USA, or elsewhere after graduation ?
Colby College & Kenyon College are situated in rural or semi-rural areas, while your other options are in or near major cities (Montreal, Toronto, Boston, & Vancouver). Are you willing to spend 4 academic years in a rural location ?
Finance is a great major–especially when paired with economics or accounting. Do all of your options offer a finance major ?
@Publisher sure, here’s a list of my COA for each:
Colby: 10k USD excluding work study
Kenyon: 14k USD
Tufts:23k USD
McGill: 20k - 25k CAD (not v sure about the housing and meal plan costs, thus the margin)
UBC: around 60k CAD
UToronto: 60k - 70 k CAD
While I have lived in an urban area my entire life, it’s not exactly a bustling metro so I don’t think I’d go crazy in a rural area. A big city does sound fun, but I can also see the appeal of small college towns. So I’m basically making my choice based on the academic factors and not on personal preference because I honestly don’t know what I prefer
Your LAC choices differ in this respect. Waterville resides about 1.6 miles from the edge of Colby’s main campus. Gambier — which is tiny, but interesting — forms the center of Kenyon’s campus, with Middle Path extending through it.
Best value is Colby. That’s an amazing deal for a great college experience and a top-notch economics department.
Yes career center (and alumni network) will matter more than “name recognition” because for internships you’ll need a career center&alumni network enthusiastic about undergrads (including internationals) and 2) you’re planning on grad school anyway and Colby is very well-known among grad schools.
That is a great deal for Colby. My son goes there and loves it. He spent a gap year in a big city in Europe before Colby. Message me if you want to talk to him.
Colby is your cheapest option, and a well-regarded school in the Northeastern US. As you note, however, it does not have the international prestige of UBC, nor the international exposure of the large Canadian schools, all of which have large foreign student representation. Vancouver, Toronto and Montreal are all exciting cities with a very high quality of life and many opportunities. You can get a good education at any of your options.
