jeremymjr

naff: Everything else being constant (that is if school fees are not a concern), I would go overseas. UMich and UVa have good reputations, and generally Canadian education is good and affordable (comparatively). But if you want individual attention, don't go to a state college, where you have to be a go-getter and very motivated to take advantage of all the opportunities available. If you don't mind the prestige, choosing less well known but still excellent liberal arts colleges will get you very good financial aid/merit scholarships if you are a good student (and also for diversity reasons). My parents mind though, and being middle-class ie. no man's land, I don't qualify for financial aid yet am not rich enough to take the first plane overseas - so that's a consideration.

Were you aware that NUS is ranked above Princeton and Columbia in arts and social sciences in the THES? Do recruiters care? I don't think so. I agree that the "NUS is THE venerable institution" mentality is very prevalent, but these people aren't going to be your bosses. Don't bother.

McGill is termed the Harvard of Canada; pretty hard to get in.

scandal-less: I actually loved the individual attention I got at RJC, but perhaps that was because I was in an arts class. It wasn't like secondary school where the teachers didn't even know my name; my teachers were always available for individual consultations. Or alternatively, the reason why RJC seemed like a godsend to me was because of my horrible experience in secondary school. I swear never to step foot into RGS again for as long as I live. =p