UofT vs. UC Berkeley vs. McGill?

College Search & Selection
1

<p>Hi! I'm a Canadian citizen living in the US, and am planning to go to one of the universities above for either Marketing/Business or Psychology/Sociology. I will shoot for top universities such as Stanford or UChicago, but honestly, I don't think I'm exceptional enough to get in. I'm thinking of having UofT as my safety (68% acceptance rate), but I'm not sure how the university will compare to what is basically its US equivalent, UC Berkeley. I'm aware that UofT is one of the best research universities out there. Here are my questions:</p>

<ol>
<li>Is UC Berkeley worth the 50k+ tuition (as opposed to UofT's 10-20k?)</li>
<li>Is there much of a difference between UofT and McGill?</li>
<li>How do the schools compare in terms of 1)cost of living, 2)campus housing, 3)reputation/prestige and 4)employment opportunities after graduation?</li>
</ol>

<p>Thanks for answering.</p>

2

<p>UofT is University of Toronto?</p>

<p>Do you have any residency in the US, or would you be seen as an international student at US universities?</p>

3

<p>I wouldn’t pay 50k for UCB when UToronto and McGill are both exceptional schools available for 10-25k~(?)</p>

4

<ol>
<li>Nope, unless you’re some kind of debt masochist.</li>
<li>UofT has a better business program, generally. If you’re leaning more toward that, I’d go Toronto.</li>
<li>McGill is the “Harvard of Canada”. UofT is less well known by the general public but a highly respectable institution where it matters. Toronto is definitely more expensive than Montreal–housing espec. I can’t comment on housing availability or employ opp. aside from it being good, probably. </li>
</ol>

<p>Both Us are two of Canada’s best.</p>

5

<p>I live in California, but I’m considered an out-of-state student, since I only have the TD visa.</p>

6

<p>@minorca Thank you! UCB is definitely out of the equation now.</p>

7

<p>I hear Rotman at Uof T is excellent. Queens Commerce (Ivey School of Business) is supposedly one of the best business programs in Canada. </p>

<p>UCB is really not worth it, in my opinion.</p>

8

<p>If your visa status prevents you from gaining California residency, go to Toronto or McGill.</p>

<p>If you do get California residency, the comparison would be closer, but Toronto or McGill would still likely have a considerable advantage in cost and therefore value.</p>

9

<p>Berkeley is a great school as we all know, but remember that some of the reputation is attached to the grad school. The price differential is just not worth it. Issues with impacted majors and large classes with possible difficulty of getting in classes you need. My daughter turned down Berkeley, yeah it happens. (She didn’t know at the time she was going to be a CS major.)</p>

<p>Cost of living in the Bay Area is high, but the Bay Area is a fantastic and exciting place to live with nice weather. Most only live in dorms freshman year, though I think you are guaranteed 2 years if you like. There are many houses and apartments nearby for rental and you can get listings and info from Calrentals. No idea about Canada.</p>