Stressful decision — Page 2

Decisions are all relative and I remember what you're going through- it's so stressful and exciting at the same time! I don't know how difficult med school admissions are in Canada, but if you think you may want to attend med school, factor in the one that will most likely help you land that coveted med school spot.

Congrats on the acceptances and be confident that whichever university you select will be right place for you. Is there anyway you can contact current science students at each place to discuss their experiences? What about spend a night on campus at each place to get a real feel for the university? You may have already done this, but I'm just trying to throw some ideas out there.

Best of luck and again, congrats!

I couldn't decide between two schools, either by liking them or by money. I chose the one that wasn't in Missouri.

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Funny I should come upon this thread, as I'm currently sitting in my dorm room at U of T, preparing for my final undergraduate exam. I remember having to make a similar decision four years ago, so maybe I can be of help. First, though, some questions you should think about:

Question 1: why is Queens your first choice? I just find it odd. Queens is a fine school, but very WASPy and with a heavy Old-Money mentality (everyone will want to know what private school you went to). Do you really want to be stuck in Kingston for four years with spoiled white-washed kids with rich daddies? If you're from a mid-to-lower income family or belong to an ethnic minority, you may feel out of place at Queens.

Question 2: Are any of the scholarships renewable for future years? It makes a big difference of Western has offered you a one-time entrance scholarship of $10000 versus a scholarship that is renewable for each of your four years.

Question 3: What are you studying, and do you plan on pursuing graduate studies afterward? U of T, for all its might and reputation, is really a much better graduate school, and (depending on which department) they don't favour UT undergraduate applicants anymore than other schools. And the UofT undergraduate program is TOUGH (believe me!) and competitive, so why not breeze through an easier school and then apply to U of T for grad work?

Question 4: Where do you currently live, and where do you want to live? This should have a much bigger influence on your decision than you think. If you're commuting, your life won't change too much. If you're moving away to go to school, though, which school you choose will affect how you will live in four years: do you want to be in the centre of a vibrant city (U of T), or a quiet college town (Western)?

Question 5: Are you eligible for OSAP (Ontario's government loan program for students, for you Americans out there)? If you are, then scholarships probably aren't as important right now, because OSAP will just grant you more funding (consequently, if you get a big scholarship, OSAP will decrease your funding). However, if you're not eligible for OSAP, then of course scholarships will play a more important role in your decision since they'll be your main source for paying your tuition in August/September each year.

By the way, which college at U of T did you apply to?

If you have any more questions, feel free to post here or PM me. I know that academia looks very different on the inside than from the high-school-graduate perspective, so I can give you more information on how students actually feel at each of those four universities.

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U Toronto is an excellent school

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anyone?? anyone??

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