Anonymous wrote:Canadian and UK schools really aren't that cheap if you're not a resident once you go through all the processes. Add in additional transportation costs and they are not. And they are not across the board stronger than US schools by any means. We looked into Canadian options and found every possibility to cost more.

Anonymous wrote:I don't know all the details for how Canadian universities operate but I do know a few things about UK universities.

1. There is a lot of drinking. Probably even more drinking that at comparable US universities.

2. There is plenty of drugs for people who want to abuse drugs.

3. #1 and #2 are also irrelevant if you don't drink or do drugs, just like they are irrelevant in the US for kids who don't drink or do drugs. Find like minded friends and you're set.

4. UK universities are not as well-funded as their US peers. You won't find the same depth of resources. This is largely irrelevant for most students but it is still a difference.

5. UK instruction style is different from US instruction style. You are likely to get a more in depth exposure in your degree and it will be a more intense experience while also requiring more independence. Fewer graded coursework during the term, most of your grade depends on the final exam and maybe a paper. The ability to blow off studies till the finals and then blow the final is there. US instruction tends to have a bit more structure with more graded obligations during the academic term.

6. You study your degree. That's it. If you are studying history, you study history. You don't really have many options to explore other courses or disciplines. US universities offer much greater flexibility, including changing majors and taking classes outside your majors. Great for the student who only wants to study history, but less so if he gets burned out after a year or two and wants to study something else.

7. UK academic departments are increasingly just as politicised as American academic departments. This was less the case 10 years ago, but there are still some exceptions.

8. Your typical "good" UK university and good American state university are going to be broadly similar enough, 3 years versus four years and very little flexibility to change majors/course of study.

9. Class snobbery is largely irrelevant in UK universities. People who care about class are not going to be your friends anyway. They exist in a world unto themselves (don't start dreaming that you'll be hanging out with the son of a duke). This is not different from the rich kids at the Ivies from elite families. Your classmates and friends will be nice ordinary kids from nice ordinary families.

10. Just be careful at how it translates into ease of post-graduation employment back in the US.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:it is way less expensive, undergrad education is at least as good, there is less drugs and drinking, and they will benefit from an international experience.
Is it just because they do not have good football teams?

My DC is at school in the UK - the bit about the drinking is decidedly not the case. I was hopeful that kids wouldn't binge because the drinking age is 18. However, they binge before going out to the club (called pres) because it's cheaper. Drugs don't seem to be prevalent in DC's social circle.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:University of Toronto tuition fees:

Domestic:
Bachelors APPLIED SCIENCE & ENGINEERING $14,180

International:
Bachelors APPLIED SCIENCE & ENGINEERING ~ $61,000

Is this accurate?
Are there scholarships?

Anonymous wrote:University of Toronto tuition fees:

Domestic:
Bachelors APPLIED SCIENCE & ENGINEERING $14,180

International:
Bachelors APPLIED SCIENCE & ENGINEERING ~ $61,000

Anonymous wrote:Europe or Canada is our plan unless the kids get into some amazing school like MIT here that is clearly worth the money. It is quite a relief to have these options.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Or son applied and was accepted at a very very good university in the UK but has refused to go. He’s now been accepted early at Chicago. The cost difference, while we’re prepared, is eye watering especially as he got into such a good university in the UK and I reaaalllly wanted him to go for other reasons too-to broaden his horizons, make him that much more independent, and just live a different kind of life with different kids of people for a while.
Ah well.

My DD is really interested in attending UCL, can you share your son’s application process? Maybe his stats?

Anonymous wrote:Or son applied and was accepted at a very very good university in the UK but has refused to go. He’s now been accepted early at Chicago. The cost difference, while we’re prepared, is eye watering especially as he got into such a good university in the UK and I reaaalllly wanted him to go for other reasons too-to broaden his horizons, make him that much more independent, and just live a different kind of life with different kids of people for a while.
Ah well.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You really think there is less drinking and drugs... yea, ok.

My DH is from the UK. There is drinking, of course, but there is no greek life, so it's a bit different.

We are looking at UK unis. The only reason I wouldn't do it is the distance, and there is literally only one way to get there.. airplane. DC likes the idea that there is no concept of "general education" there.

My niece and nephew both belong to “drinking clubs” at their uni. I would say there is drinking.

Tons of drinking in British culture.

As stated a few times now, there is drinking, of course, but not the greek life, so it's a different type of culture surrounding drinking. And yes, I'm fully aware of the British drinking culture, having a DH who is British and who went to uni there.

Ask the people of Crete and Ibiza about British drinking culture. They have to clean up the puke of lots of sunburned UK students all the time.