<p>We are starting to look at universities for D 2.
Have no idea what her grades will be like senior year- she is currently a junior, attending a top urban public school, with about a 3.60 GPA unweighted, with one APUSH class- she also took APEH last year and a marine bio class that should have been AP ( some students take several more).</p>
<p>Since British Columbia is so close, we are starting to look at some schools there. I have heard a lot of great things about UBC in Vancouver, but that was from people who have no problem ( or not as much as we would anyway) paying for international tuition.
She also didn't care for Vancouver, which I couldn't understand since it seems just the kind of place she would like ( beautiful, cosmpolitian , pretty urban)</p>
<p>( I am also going to suggest Western Washington University- but I am holding back, since I think if I stress it too early, she will be turned off- she is a little tricky to deal with, very head strong)</p>
<p>I was wondering however, if anyone knew anything about Simon Fraser University in Burnaby. The average GPA seems well within her range- and I noticed that they also seem to have school based merit aid even for international students. Has anybody dealt with applying or even attending a Canadian school?</p>
<p>My son may apply to McGill and maybe Toronto this year. Both of them make it relatively easy for Americans to apply. I don't know about UBC or Simon Fraser, though.</p>
<p>A couple general points:</p>
<p>(1) My older child's best friend chose McGill over an Ivy (plus scholarship money), largely on economic grounds. Even without a scholarship, McGill is costing her over $50,000 less than the Ivy would have. (Even so, and even though she likes it a lot, I am not sure she would make the same choice again.)</p>
<p>(2) Most of the Canadian universities seem to operate on a model that has kids in nothing but huge lecture classes for their first couple of years. That can be very offputting for US kids. Some of them (e.g., Toronto), also have a model that basically looks to winnow out 25-30% of the entering class.</p>
<p>(3) I think UBC is in a pretty remote part of Vancouver. I tried to visit it a few years ago when I was there, and it would have been at least a 90-minute trip each way on public transportation.</p>
<p>(4) Both of my Canadian nieces looked at UBC, but neither was impressed by it academically.</p>
<p>thanks for the thoughts JHS
I think one of the attractions for D is the upcoming Vancouver Olympics- that is a huge pull for her- although I don't think she would admit it.
UBC does seem a pain to get too, and I hear they have two terms- winter 1 and winter 2. She doesn't mind cold, but since she wants to major in marine bio, that makes for some pretty cold studies.</p>
<p>LOL, where did you hear that Vancouver is only winter? Have you ever actually visited Vancouver, or even British Columbia? (Hint: there are rainforests within minutes of Vancouver.) </p>
<p>We just went to Vancouver for spring break- thats why I know she doesnt care for it.
Im not sure why-
I was also quoting the father of a student at UBC- I know he was probably exagerating, but it does get pretty cold off the water.
I live in Seattle I know how cold Puget Sound is year round, I don't imagine the strait is any warmer ;)</p>