<p>Recently, my daughter received some information from a Canadian University–The University of Guelph.
Should I encourage her to look at Canadian Universities or should I just tell her to stay home?
How is the financial aid for American students who want to study in Canada?</p>
<p>Any American parent who has children attending Canadian Universities? Any advise? </p>
<p>jenrik</p>
<p>There is very little financial aid for anyone at Canadian universities, at least need-based. There are, however, a number of merit-based entrance scholarships available at most Canadian universities.</p>
<p>On another note, Guelph isn’t a particularly good Canadian university. Look at University of Toronto (especially for engineering or science), Queen’s, McGill, Waterloo (for engineering) or UBC.</p>
<p>Canadian universities have the advantage of being much cheaper than American universities, so depending on your family’s financial situation, the fact that they don’t offer financial aid may not be a problem.</p>
<p>The dollar is very weak right now. Canadian universities aren’t the deal they used to be.</p>
<p>Well, McGill tuition is now $14,700 Canadian dollars for international students in the arts and sciences (it’s $1,768 for Quebec students and $5,140 for other Canadians). That’s significantly cheaper than American universities, no matter how you look at it.</p>
<p>[McGill</a> -Tuition and Fees](<a href=“http://www.mcgill.ca/student-accounts/fees/tuition/undergradfees/artsedu/]McGill”>http://www.mcgill.ca/student-accounts/fees/tuition/undergradfees/artsedu/)</p>
<p>Significantly cheaper than private U.S. universities, without financial aid.</p>
<p>S is finishing his first semester at McGill. Corranged is quite right about tuition - it’s still quite a deal, although not as much of a deal as when he was admitted last March. The University is entirely English-speaking while Montreal is Francophone. Definitely a university for the independent-minded. Professors have a reputation for putting off undergrads but that truly not been my S’s experience. Reportedly a grade-deflation kind of place. No housing offered after freshman year. Apts. are plentiful and fairly cheap. Drinking age is 18 which has certainly added to an interesting night life. His curriculum has been challenging and he’s a bright kid. I hear the engineering major is truly difficult.
PS The application is a breeze - submit scores and GPA only. No essays, recs, ECs!</p>
<p>Financially, she would have to rely on loans and scholarships. I can’t afford to totally support her with tuition, room and board etc. I can give her some help, but not that much.
She wants to study animal science.
BTW, how is McGill for financial aid for Americans? Is the tuition $14,000/year?
I am a resident of Illinois at the in-state tuition for the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign is close to $24,000 a year!<br>
Would it be worth her while to study in Montreal? How are they towards Americans?</p>
<p>Actually, the tuition is on a per credit basis. We paid ~$6200CAN for one semester and ~$800CAN/month for R and B. I believe some Americans can get fin aid but I think you need really good scores and some demonstrated need. S was 2100+ and was offered nothing.
“Would it be worth her while to study in Montreal?” Well, S loves it but I don’t know about animal science.
“How are they towards Americans?” Not an issue at all. He has friends from Pakistan, China, Vancouver, Africa and…Rhode Island!
Check out the Mcgill thread…</p>
<p>I have several friends at McGill (one is a Canadian citizen who lived in the US). The educational system is different than most US schools, so spend some time researching those differences. Canadian universities, particularly McGill and the U. of Toronto, are very much worth consideration if your daughter is open to large schools. The schools are all very international; being American shouldn’t be an issue at all besides the fact that she will want to learn some French for McGill in Montreal and she will want to feel familiar with the differences in educational philosophy.</p>
<p>jenrik, if your D is interested in Animal Sciences, then Guelph would be a good choice because it is known for that program (in addition to others). There is also a veterinary school there and their program, and affiliated animal health services, are renowned in the province. </p>
<p>While U of T (where I have a D) and McGill are also excellent schools, they aren’t going to be what she wants for the area that interests her. There are many Americans at both U of T and McGill, as well as at every other Ontario university, including Guelph. Being American is not an issue, other than you’ll pay higher tuition! 
By the way, knowledge of French, while beneficial for someone living in Montreal, is far from essential. You can get along just fine without it.</p>
<p>Last 10 days for our DS at U of T. He is spoiled at Toronto. Abundance of inexpensive restaurants, open produce stands, and only blocks away from campus. Easy transportation access. Very international as said above. Very urban. Theaters, festivals, and big lake. Big city, big enrollment.</p>
<p>thisoldman: U of T is a great school, some horror stories about class size notwithstanding. And, biased as I may be on this issue, Toronto is a great city, and the area where UofT’s St. George’s campus is is especially fun.</p>
<p>jenrik2714: Guelph is actually a very good school for animal science. I have a friend in their veterinary program there, and she’s having a great time.</p>
<p>Montreal is an amazing, amazing city. I love it there. The nightlife is superb, the city never really sleeps, and the cultural opportunities are also good. She shouldn’t feel any sense of hostility as an American in Montreal - some areas of Quebec can be bad for that, but Montreal is very anglicized. For that same reason, she won’t really need to learn French. If she were in, for example, Quebec City, it might be a different story, but Montreal doesn’t require French.</p>
<p>If you have any other questions, PM me - I’m pretty familiar with most Canadian schools, and if I’m not I can just ask friends who are (I have friends at almost every university in Canada, since most grads from my high school stay in Canada for university).</p>
<p>BTW - If she has any AP scores of 4 or 5, credits are awarded. S walked in with 21 credits and may finish in 3yrs - certainly less tuition dollars that way!</p>
<p>This thread and the identical thread in the Parents’ Forum ought to be combined.</p>
<p>To my post there, I will add: Daughter’s friend at McGill has not had any problem knowing absolutely no French (although she’s picked up some).</p>