<p>I'm torn between these two. Waterloo has an amazing Co-Op program, backed by a strong Math and CS department but it may be a tad bit expensive for my parents.
Minn is quite a bit cheaper, and they gave me a place in their Honors program. As far as I've heard Minn's CS program is also one of their strengths.
I just can't make up my mind :P</p>
<p>Any help would be appreciated.</p>
<p>Bump.</p>
<p>TENTENTEN.</p>
<p>Both of these are excellent institutions. If you want to save a bit of money, go with the cheaper one. Run your numbers here: [FinAid</a> | Calculators | Award Letter Comparison Tool](<a href=“Your Guide for College Financial Aid - Finaid”>Award Letter Requirements - Finaid)</p>
<p>Are you Canadian or a US citizen? Job placement will be trickier if you graduate from the institution in the other country, so ask the Career Center at each campus how they handle it.</p>
<p>Even if you’re an American citizen, Waterloo offers need and merit based scholarships. Did you look into that??
I personally think you should go to Waterloo because as you mentioned, its co-op programs are great. A lot of my friends are going to Waterloo because of its co-op programs and they loved the campus. But, if you think you can’t afford it, then you should go to Minnesota.</p>
<p>I’m an International (Pakistani to be specific). I have a cousin at Waterloo too (also an International) and she got a Co-Op job, she says its hard to get jobs in her dept. but she still got one.</p>
<p>I was all sent on Waterloo, to be honest, until Minn dropped the Honors bomb. Now, It’s tough to decide.</p>
<p>Blooby -</p>
<p>Can you get a job in Pakistan with a degree from U MN? It is very hard for international applicants to find work visa sponsors in the US. It usually is easier to get work permits in Canada. In your case Waterloo might make more sense even if it is a bit more expensive.</p>
<p>These are excellent, excellent schools. I am somewhat biased towards Minnesota, but Waterloo is undeniably a top-notch CS department.</p>
<p>There are some very compelling reasons to go to Minnesota, but I don’t think the Honors program is necessarily one of them. It’s certainly nice, but I don’t think that should be a major factor in your choice.</p>
<p>Because you are an international, immigration opportunities are probably something to consider. Obviously you can go back home to Pakistan, but after graduation it can be very difficult to get a job and visa here in the US. I believe it is easier in Canada. That would be a good reason to look at Waterloo unless you a) want to return to Pakistan and b) think the UMN degree would work for you there.</p>
<p>How much strain would it put on your family to pay for Waterloo?</p>
<p>The strain would depend on how much I earn in their Co-Op programs. The CS and Software Eng. departments have 90%+ placement rates so I’m fairly optimistic about getting a job. If I end up earning 50k+ in my 6 Co-Op terms, then Waterloo can work out smoothly, but chance and I haven’t been the best of friends soooo…</p>
<p>Anyhoo, I do want to return to my home country after I graduate. As far as the degree is concerned, It should work out. Two of my uncles graduated from Arizona State and are working fine in the private sector.</p>
<p>Oh, just remembered, which one would be better for grad school. I know you need research experience for that and I believe research would be better found at UMN.</p>
<p>Thanks for all your help guys. :D</p>
<p>Both are great departments with top researchers. I don’t think grad schools would hesitate to make a good offer to a student graduating from either program based on which school they attended. It’s more about what you do at this point.</p>
<p>I will be enrolling at UMN next fall, so if you have any questions I’d be happy to answer them.</p>
<p>I still don’t know what you mean by “smoothly” regarding your family finances. In a worst-case scenario in which you bring in little coop income, how difficult would Waterloo be?</p>
<p>The savings my Mum and dad have can pay for tuition at UMN for the first 3 years. While at Waterloo it could pay tuition for 1.5. If, for example, I am unable to bring in the Coop income needed to sufficiently pay for the expenses, the parents would probably have to sell some property or take out a loan, which would, on a scale of 1-10 measuring financial strain be a 6.
That isn’t too much but considering our Country isn’t in the best of conditions economically, politically and pretty much fundamentally, I’d rather not have then go through that burden.</p>
<p>Considering what everyone is saying, I have to admit, Waterloo may be a better option, which is still better despite the increased financial burden. I talked to some veryy highly qualified people about colleges, heck, I talked to the an HR manager from Standard Charted, he said that he would definately, without a doubt prefer a Loo major. He says the Honors part looks cool, and thats about it. Waterloo will start you up, and you’ll be in a generally better place.
And once you’re there, you can look for more scholarship opportunities. Finding a Co-op shouldn’t be a problem considering your ECs, grades and whatever else matter.</p>
<p>As much as I WANT you to come to the US, the reality is that Loo would be more benefitial for you, and you children, and the wife’s, future. 
Appologies for changing sides, the latin just got to me. Pretty Prety Shiny Shiny.</p>
<p>Noimagination: You said there are better reasons for attending UMN, can you tell me those :D</p>
<p>
While the Kitchener-Waterloo area has experienced a high-tech boom recently, it is not a major urban area by any stretch of the imagination. On the other hand, UMN is located in the heart of the Twin Cities metro area with > 3 million people, all major professional sports teams (though most aren’t great right now), and home to 19 Fortune 500 companies.</p>
<p>While Waterloo is more residential than most Canadian universities and Minnesota does have a large number of commuters, there isn’t a single institution in Canada that can compare to the strong school spirit and sports culture of a Big Ten university in the States. If that kind of atmosphere appeals to you, I’d recommend Minnesota.</p>
<p>Waterloo is very focused on engineering, math, and CS. As both the state flagship and land-grant institution, Minnesota has a greater breadth of strong programs.</p>
<p>I’m sure a list of advantages could be made for Waterloo as well. I have no experience with Pakistan and cannot say whether intemister’s statements about reputation there are relevant. I’m not sure how much a CS graduate should really care about his source in the financial industry’s opinion. But that’s my sell for Minnesota. Take it for what it is worth.</p>
<p>Any others?
Still can’t decide. :P</p>
<p>Some other things to consider. Waterloo has a reputation, to Canadians at least, as a very serious academically oriented place, without a lot of school spirit (which means a dearth of parties, fraternities, sports). That could be a plus or negative, depending upon the person.</p>
<p>The town surrounding Waterloo is very nice, very affordable. Most of the coops however are across Ontario and Canada, not within the town itself.</p>
<p>I’m sure opportunities for research are the same at both.</p>
<p>Waterloo is a place where I think a real tech/mathy person will be surrounded by other real tech/mathy people, which can be great for fit (or a downside if you want to be a big fish in a small pond or look for more diversity…I think too fewer female students at Waterloo than UMN by quite a margin.</p>
<p>Waterloo student body is far less white and say ‘3rd generation Canadian’, with lots of international students, and first gen students whose families hail from China, Taiwan, Korea and India.</p>