10 Reasons to Consider a Canadian University
Ever consider attending a Canadian university? Maybe you should.
With college costs continuing to skyrocket in the US, Canadian universities are looking better and better.
Here are 10 reasons why you might consider heading North for college:
1. Public Canadian universities aren't experiencing the budget cutbacks as they are in the United States. With a stable economy, these schools are not increasing tuition in double digits.
2. Canada spends the most per capita on their higher-education system than any of the G8 countries.
3. Canadian universities can be more affordable than private or out-of-state public universities in the US. Here's an example that I got from an admission rep at the University of British Columbia:
The University of British Columbia in Vancouver charges $22,778 tuition for international students with in room/board and books costing about $13,500. Total: $36,278.
Compare that to nonresident tuition of $29,493 at the University of Colorado and room/board and book costs of about $12,541. Total: $42,034.
4. The higher-ed choices aren't as overwhelming up North. There are only about 95 public universities in Canada and just a handful of private universities.
5. When evaluating applicants, Canadian universities are typically only interested in senior and sometimes junior-year grades. This can be great news for teenagers who did badly in their first year or two of high school.
6. Applying to Canadian universities is far easier than in the United States. Often it takes about 20 minutes to complete an application. Imagine that!
7. Many Canadian schools accept transfer students, but they don't maintain official articulation agreements with community colleges.
8. Americans are eligible for merit scholarships at many Canadian universities. Americans can use federal student loans at Canadian schools.
9. With their study permits, Americans can work on campus during their first six months in Canada and then they are permitted to work anywhere.
10. While most of Canadian schools are large, I am incredibly intrigued by a four-year-old Canadian school, which happens to be the first secular liberal arts college in Canada. It's called Quest University and it's a beaut!
Lynn O'Shaughnessy is author of The College Solution, an Amazon bestseller, and she also writes her own college blog at The College Solution.
University of British Columbia image by dbaron. CC 2.0.
