Thoughts on Canadian Colleges

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:part of a bigger trend

Link? I looked up enrollment statistics at UBC where my kids are legacies (not that anyone in Canada cares) and while there is a very slight increase in students from the United States over the last 5 years there are still not many US students in Vancouver, about 1,000 total. There are huge increases though in the number of students coming from China and India.

https://opair.ok.ubc.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/39/2019/03/2018-19-Enrolment-Report.pdf

[Anonymous]

My brother says he feels guilty living here and taking advantage of the resident tuition there but it us completely allowed. My nephew just got on Canadian health insurance there too which is saving them even more.

[Anonymous]

Univ of Toronto is great if your dc is well organized as the city offers lots of distractions and temptations. The university has a lot to offer for motivated students.

Waterloo is CS and engineering focused, but has strict limitation for a non-CS student who wants to take a few CS courses.

[Anonymous]

Canada has smaller schools too - St FX, Acadia, Mount Allison are some options if you're looking for a smaller LAC type experience. Obviously less well known outside of Canada, but could be a great experience for the right kid.

[Anonymous]

Also have to add as a Canadian, there is a distiction between college and university. In general, universities are where you get a degree, college is more like trade school or community college (although some colleges have started to four year degrees as well).

All of the good schools in Canada are publicly funded. There are a few religious private universities, and private career colleges, but all of the schools being discussed here are public universities.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Also have to add as a Canadian, there is a distiction between college and university. In general, universities are where you get a degree, college is more like trade school or community college (although some colleges have started to four year degrees as well).

All of the good schools in Canada are publicly funded. There are a few religious private universities, and private career colleges, but all of the schools being discussed here are public universities.

What are your thoughts on York? I know Osgood Hall has a good rep for Law, but otherwise?

[Anonymous]

Any thoughts on UVic..west coast.

[Anonymous]

I'm in Los Angeles, but my next door neighbor (who died last year) was a retired prof at UVic. These folks have been my neighbors for years and I've heard so many great things about that school. I'd explore it!

[Anonymous]

Canadian peeps, I recommend getting the paperwork in order for your kids. It takes time - it probably took us about 6 months total, which included me failing to fill out a few fields (so they had to send it back, etc). I wouldn’t delay, esp for juniors.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Also have to add as a Canadian, there is a distiction between college and university. In general, universities are where you get a degree, college is more like trade school or community college (although some colleges have started to four year degrees as well).

All of the good schools in Canada are publicly funded. There are a few religious private universities, and private career colleges, but all of the schools being discussed here are public universities.

What are your thoughts on York? I know Osgood Hall has a good rep for Law, but otherwise?

York Univ. is a good school, the business school is very strong.

[Anonymous]

All the public universities in Canada are similar to the US flagship state universities in terms of academics and student qualities.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Canadian peeps, I recommend getting the paperwork in order for your kids. It takes time - it probably took us about 6 months total, which included me failing to fill out a few fields (so they had to send it back, etc). I wouldn’t delay, esp for juniors.

Op here, thanks. Yep, preparing the paperwork now understanding the wait time, etc. DD may not even consider Canada but would like her to have the option.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:All the public universities in Canada are similar to the US flagship state universities in terms of academics and student qualities.

University of Toronto is high on world rankings, like UCLA and UC Berkeley. It ranks higher than the other US state flagships.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kid is enjoying U of T. In non-covid times, the college system reduces the size - she made more friends there than in all of high school.

I would def like to hear more about UT - is it massive and impersonal? I've heard that the grading is difficult, students leave, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid is enjoying U of T. In non-covid times, the college system reduces the size - she made more friends there than in all of high school.

I would def like to hear more about UT - is it massive and impersonal? I've heard that the grading is difficult, students leave, etc.

The grading is hard. If you're kid is used to easy A's, it could be challenging. The residential college system helps make the size more manageable. Lots of international students, and a good orientation program.

They don't hold the students' hands like a lot of US colleges.

My kid got t be a lot more independent a lot more quickly than her older sibling who went to a US college.