<p>Hi Guys,</p>
<p>I got offers both from NU and UofT, for For Master's in Civil and Structural engineering. I am quite confused about choosing the right one!
Any suggestions are welcomed!</p>
<p>How are the cities like, I've heard toronto is a great place to live in, but what about Evanston? and NU campus?</p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>UToronto and NU are entirely different schools. UT is a large public research university whereas NU is a private university. The problem with a lot of these 30,000+ undergrad schools is their poor undergraduate experience. That's why I'm ultimately enrolling at USC even though I have an offer from UToronto as well.</p>
<p>Are you a Canadian citizen or US citizen? If you go to school where you are not a citizen it does complicate things a bit.</p>
<p>I am a British national, currently studying in the UK, I'll be graduating in July. So, I don't know much about living in the US or Canada :)</p>
<p>@zdmw93
I have been accepted for graduate course at UToronto and NU. So, what do you think about their grad schools?</p>
<p>I went to University of Toronto and studied arts and science. Undergraduate programs are outstanding, the facilities are very cutting edge and you have a lot of TA's to help out, plus free writing labs, and centers for extra help. That said, it is a challenging school. Toronto is an absolutely amazing place to live. The campus is right next to Yorkville, famous for celebrity visits like the Rolling Stones and the Film Festival in September. You often find movies being filmed around campus. Once when my daughter was small, I was out taking her for a walk through a park, and this guy came up and commented on her Davy Crockett hat. I looked up in shock to see it was Geddy Lee from Rush who lives in the area and I had their picture taken together. You have Chinatown a few blocks to the south of campus. Little Italy a couple blocks away. Lots of nightlife and very cool places to hang out, like The Madison. The subway stop is on campus which can take you north to nice shopping malls, or south into the heart of downtown. There are even some fraternities and sororities there. UofT is ranked extremely high worldwide and can open doors that many other schools can not. I loved it there! If you have any questions about U of T, please feel free to PM me. <spiel out="">.</spiel></p>
<p>UToronto is significantly cheaper, so I suppose that's a better option for you. UT's grad experience is generally perceived as better than their undergrad experience.</p>
<p>Toronto and Chicago are both major cities with crappy winter (probably a bit more snowy in Toronto); I wouldn't let that as deciding factor. Think about which country you may want to live and get the first job. It's difficult to find a job in the US from UT or find a job in Canada from Northwestern. Also, do you have any idea about the strength of each program? NU has probably the best transportation research center in the nation. I don't know much about UToronto.</p>
<p>I am OK with the money matters, it's just that I am looking for a difference which can make me decide where I want to go?</p>
<p>One question, How would you compare the job prospects between US and Canada?
Would it be easier to get a job in the US, if I graduate from Northwestern or a job in Canada, with a degree from Toronto?</p>
<p>I don't exactly know how good the program strength is, but whatever research I have done so far, 'Engineering' generally at both schools is praised, i haven't specifically found anything on 'Structural Engineering'</p>
<p>I don't know anything about the Canadian job market. I heard its economy is doing better than the US lately. Even within the US, it depends on which area you get into. Structural engineering is a subfield of Civil. With the real estate market being soft, I'd imagine the job market is tough for structural engineers right now.</p>
<p>Right now the Canadian job market is much stronger than the US market, but that has not always been the case. There are quite a lot of opportunities across Canada, especially Western Canada in Alberta and also a lot in Ontario near Toronto and Ottawa. I have a friend in that discipline. He gets a lot of offers from those areas and has a hard time the last few years in the USA getting work. He is Canadian and has said that he sometimes has the feeling he doesn't get jobs because he is an outsider in a tough economy and that there is a bit of protectionism (understandably, of course). When you apply for a job in Canada, it is illegal for them to ask anything about background, on the application or in person to ensure equality for all - including legal immigrants.</p>
<p>It wouldn't surprise me at all if it's tougher or much tougher to get jobs in the US. Also, Canadian immigration process is much simpler and easier; the immigration agency there is also much more competent than USCIS (formerly INS). You may want to take that into consideration cos those idiots can make your life miserable. Mine was delayed for two years!</p>
<p>To be fair, the job market was a lot better 10 yrs ago in the US than Canada, so it could change back if the economy rebounds. I love being in the US, but it is very, very tough to get a job right now, even with the highest credentials and degrees. I know Northwestern is also an amazing school, so whichever you pick, you will get a fantastic education. Good luck!</p>
<p>Thanks for the advices. I know the recession has messed up the job market. I am sticking to Northwestern and hoping that things get better with time.</p>