Anonymous
Post 01/25/2026 13:57     Subject: Canadian colleges question
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:For an undergraduate-focused experience that might be similar to, say, that of a NESCAC such as Williams or Hamilton, look into Mount Allison and Acadia.


Completely disagree. Mount A is an 89% acceptance rate. Not an academic match to Williams or Hamilton. Stay away from the Maritime university in Canada. sub-par.

For perspective, Acadia's acceptance rate (49%) appears to be lower than that of McGill (56%).

Acadia University (AU) - The Princeton Review College Rankings & Reviews https://share.google/wcbeKe7DoJRGE2aca
Anonymous
Post 01/24/2026 20:54     Subject: Canadian colleges question
Canada has less stringent admission requirements for many programs but then expects the students to show they can make it. Lots of students drop out or redo first year or take a gap year or change programs or move to colleges after their 1st or 2nd year because staying in the program is hard.

Lots of team sports but sports and athletes aren't revered.
Anonymous
Post 01/24/2026 18:02     Subject: Canadian colleges question
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:For an undergraduate-focused experience that might be similar to, say, that of a NESCAC such as Williams or Hamilton, look into Mount Allison and Acadia.


Completely disagree. Mount A is an 89% acceptance rate. Not an academic match to Williams or Hamilton. Stay away from the Maritime university in Canada. sub-par.

These Canadian schools were mentioned mostly for their emphases on undergraduate education, rather than for a strict academic equivalence to Williams or Hamilton. Nonetheless, Mount Allison's admission statistics can be challenging to verify, and might be better understood in a Canadian context in any case. McGill, for example, reportedly accepts 56% of its applicants.

McGill University (McGill) - The Princeton Review College Rankings & Reviews https://www.princetonreview.com/college/mcgill-university-1023286
Anonymous
Post 01/24/2026 17:16     Subject: Canadian colleges question
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:The kind of student that does well at U of T or McGill is the kind of student that does well at Michigan or UCLA. They'll need to be self-starters, have some initiative, be able to make the most of things, and so on. There isn't a lot of hand holding, but all the opportunities are there for students that are grounded and motivated.


I disagree with this statement unless you are talking purely academically…but many kids switch colleges for non-academic reasons.

I think the successful kids at Canadian colleges go into the entire experience with eyes wide open. They understand there will be no real team sports to watch…that like 40% of all students still live at home and commute…that college life will be very different vs attending Michigan and UCLA, etc.

My son’s best friend has a Canadian parent and attends McGill (for very little $$$s…which is why he is there). He likes Montreal and found some friends, but he wishes he could have attended UVA or any number of state flagships for all the non-academic things that US schools offer. It is what it is and he doesn’t dwell on it…the $30k+ per year savings was too much to ignore.


There are team sports.

My daughter will be attending Bishops University in Sherbrooke in the fall. The admission counselor has been great with helping her through the application process. She’s already chatted with current students.



They are worse than D3 sports teams (which also have almost no students going to games)…don’t go to Canadian colleges if you want a rah rah sports experience.

Anonymous
Post 01/24/2026 17:12     Subject: Canadian colleges question
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:The kind of student that does well at U of T or McGill is the kind of student that does well at Michigan or UCLA. They'll need to be self-starters, have some initiative, be able to make the most of things, and so on. There isn't a lot of hand holding, but all the opportunities are there for students that are grounded and motivated.


I disagree with this statement unless you are talking purely academically…but many kids switch colleges for non-academic reasons.

I think the successful kids at Canadian colleges go into the entire experience with eyes wide open. They understand there will be no real team sports to watch…that like 40% of all students still live at home and commute…that college life will be very different vs attending Michigan and UCLA, etc.

My son’s best friend has a Canadian parent and attends McGill (for very little $$$s…which is why he is there). He likes Montreal and found some friends, but he wishes he could have attended UVA or any number of state flagships for all the non-academic things that US schools offer. It is what it is and he doesn’t dwell on it…the $30k+ per year savings was too much to ignore.


There are team sports.

My daughter will be attending Bishops University in Sherbrooke in the fall. The admission counselor has been great with helping her through the application process. She’s already chatted with current students.

Anonymous
Post 01/24/2026 16:55     Subject: Canadian colleges question
Anonymous wrote:For an undergraduate-focused experience that might be similar to, say, that of a NESCAC such as Williams or Hamilton, look into Mount Allison and Acadia.


Completely disagree. Mount A is an 89% acceptance rate. Not an academic match to Williams or Hamilton. Stay away from the Maritime university in Canada. sub-par.
Anonymous
Post 01/24/2026 16:29     Subject: Canadian colleges question
One of my relatives is an American student at UBC and loves it. He has an American girlfriend who also loves it. Both are in the sciences and plan to do the co-op program to get more research/work experience. He turned down NYU and Tufts to go there and no regrets. Much cheaper and great skiing nearby.
Anonymous
Post 01/24/2026 16:27     Subject: Canadian colleges question
Anonymous wrote:Lots of activities, clubs, and opportunities to socialize in Canada. No need for a fraternity or sorority, esp at universities with a residential college system.



…And with the lower drinking age, undergraduate students hang out in bars more than in the U.S.

Regarding changing majors, the main impediment is that Canadian universities typically require a larger % of a student’s undergraduate credits be in the major field than US colleges do. So you if you do switch majors, it would be best to do so early enough so that you can fulfill the new major’s requirements & still graduate on time.

-American with a degree from U of Toronto (where I had a very good time)
Anonymous
Post 01/24/2026 16:17     Subject: Canadian colleges question
Lots of activities, clubs, and opportunities to socialize in Canada. No need for a fraternity or sorority, esp at universities with a residential college system.

Anonymous
Post 01/24/2026 12:44     Subject: Canadian colleges question
For an undergraduate-focused experience that might be similar to, say, that of a NESCAC such as Williams or Hamilton, look into Mount Allison and Acadia.
Anonymous
Post 01/24/2026 11:46     Subject: Canadian colleges question
Canadian colleges are different from universities. You are talking about universities.

Some are commuter schools where most people live at home and commute to school for the day but there are also schools (in smaller cities) where almost all students are from out of town and they live on campus or very close to campus and it is much more of a campus experience.

Canadian universities do less hand holding but there are many academic and non academic supports for students. They aren't on their own. I have taught as an professor at two different Canadian universities (in Ontario) at various times. There aren't frats or sororities but there are lots of campus clubs and intramurals and ways to be involved on campus for students that want those experiences.
Anonymous
Post 01/24/2026 11:33     Subject: Canadian colleges question
Anonymous wrote:The kind of student that does well at U of T or McGill is the kind of student that does well at Michigan or UCLA. They'll need to be self-starters, have some initiative, be able to make the most of things, and so on. There isn't a lot of hand holding, but all the opportunities are there for students that are grounded and motivated.


I disagree with this statement unless you are talking purely academically…but many kids switch colleges for non-academic reasons.

I think the successful kids at Canadian colleges go into the entire experience with eyes wide open. They understand there will be no real team sports to watch…that like 40% of all students still live at home and commute…that college life will be very different vs attending Michigan and UCLA, etc.

My son’s best friend has a Canadian parent and attends McGill (for very little $$$s…which is why he is there). He likes Montreal and found some friends, but he wishes he could have attended UVA or any number of state flagships for all the non-academic things that US schools offer. It is what it is and he doesn’t dwell on it…the $30k+ per year savings was too much to ignore.
Anonymous
Post 01/24/2026 08:44     Subject: Canadian colleges question
The kind of student that does well at U of T or McGill is the kind of student that does well at Michigan or UCLA. They'll need to be self-starters, have some initiative, be able to make the most of things, and so on. There isn't a lot of hand holding, but all the opportunities are there for students that are grounded and motivated.
Anonymous
Post 01/24/2026 07:57     Subject: Canadian colleges question
It all depends on one's student. It is better for someone who is a strong self-starter who also is good at navigating bureaucracy solo and has no chronic health issues.
Anonymous
Post 01/24/2026 07:51     Subject: Canadian colleges question
Hi - question for parents of current or recently graduated American students at Canadian colleges or those that got in or considered going - thinking McGill or UBC or U of Toronto. We have heard that ‘there is no hand holding’, can’t change your major, not the same club choices or social aspect and that American kids have a hard time adjusting. How has your DC adjusted , what are the pros/cons of going to school in Canada? Thx!