Anyone want to offer suggestions on Canadian college search

[cally]

I've done some googling and found many sites that basically list the colleges and universites. You then have to click a link to find out about the college. I've found some US sites that you answer a questionaire about what you are looking for and they give you a list of colleges that meet this criteria. Is there anything like that for Canadian schools? If it matters, this is for my daughter who is a US citizen.

[Abelman]

1. me too

I want to go to grad school in Canada, but I know nothing of the schools there.

[TahitiNut]

2. I've heard good things about McGill and Waterloo.

:shrug:

[shirlden]

12. Have a friend with two kids

in McGill. From Columbus, Oh (bring on the recount). They really like the school and are doing very well there.

:bounce:

[achtung_circus]

3. Start here

<http://www.macleans.ca/universities/index.jsp>

[cally]

4. Thanks...that helps..nt

[Mark D]

5. Will do some checking 4U...

I have a SIL going to school in B.C. She might be able to provide some resources.

[rockymountaindem]

6. I go to the University of Toronto.

Is this a way for your daughter to flee America? I only ask because some people have accused me of that, and it's not the case. I fully intend to go home to America for grad school and to live the rest of my life.

Here are my reasons for selecting U of T:

No core classes. You take only the classes you want or those you need to get your degree. This means no Poli Sci students are required to take chemistry, and no engineering students are required to take history. It's just better for everyone that way.

It's a huge university. The range of courses and programs is endless. The catalog looks like a phone book from a small city. Furthermore, a lot of top professors and researchers really want to work here, so you get lots of great profs from all over the world. My econ prof this year is from Kenya, my French prof is from Russia and my poli sci prof is American.

The campus is awesome. There just aren't enough good things I can say about it. Although, I suppose if you're looking for a rural setting this isn't the place for you. It's right in downtown Toronto, and we can take full advantage of the city (well, at least the stuff we can afford :) ). Toronto is a fantastic place, and they say it's the most multicultural city in the world. Transportation is a breeze, and since a lot of students live nearby it's easy to make friends who will invite you over for the weekend and such.

Low(er) cost. Well, it's not as low now that the dollar has hit the skids, but tuition is about half of an Ivy League university, and about the same as a state university. The cost of living is also pretty low here, even without the exchange rate.

So your search is over! Come to the University of Toronto!

[cally]

7. I don't see it as primarily a desire to leave the country

but to experience a different country. I'll have her check into the University of Toronto. She wants an urban/semi-urban school which has lots of options. She is interested in science, Journalism, Drama, and Myths and Folklore. She needs a big school to figure it out.

[rockymountaindem]

9. Experiencing another country was another thing with me.

I forgot to mention that. I thought it would be very nice to go to another country without going to out of my comfort zone to someplace where I didn't know the language or really wouldn't fit in the culture. Canada is the best of both worlds.

I also thought that with my focus on history and international relations it would be interesting to get a non-American perspective. Especially if I hope to work in the State Dept. and represent America abroad, it's good to know beforehand how we're viewed overseas. It's been a very eye-opening experience, and I'm very happy with my decision.

If you ever decide to come up here for a tour post again and hopefully I'll see it and I can let you know where to look etc.

Good luck with your search!

[cally]

10. Thanks...this decision will be made within weeks

Drives me crazy but that is how my daughter does things. She has US schools to apply to but also wants to apply to Canadian schools. I think she would prefer going to Canada.

[u4ic]

14. I highly recommend

that if she wants to pursue Drama, that she have other options - another degree, trade, etc to fall back on. Also, it is much different than high school drama, if she was involved with that. Much more intensive and disciplined - and of course, highly unlikely that she'd ever make a living at it.

I'm a former actor, and most of my friends are still in the theatre community - and the ones hitting late 30's who didn't have anything else to fall back on are kicking themselves now, as most took low paying and flexible work to support their 'habit', and are barely earning enough to keep themselves AND work in theatre is sparse. There is of course more work in the States, but also more actors. The figure is in the 90% range, those that don't work. I'm not trying to dissuade her, just so she knows what she's getting in to, if acting is her decision!

The U of Alberta, in Edmonton, is another wonderful university. Here is their website: http://www.ualberta.ca/ It costs much less to live in Edmonton (population, with burbs, about 1 million)than in other large centres. There's a right wing idiot running the province, but Edmonton is pretty liberal anyway.

I've known a few who've went to the University of Victoria and been very happy with their choice: http://www.uvic.ca/

Good luck to her.

[achtung_circus]

8. I like U of T (class of '78)

so I'm somewhat biased. If you want U of T and a semi-rural setting there is a campus in Missisauga.

[Darth_Kitten]

11. check out University of Winnipeg

great undergraduate program, so I've heard. Never went, just heard good things. :)

[cally]

13. One kick for the day crowd

:kick: Thanks for all the advice so far.