Let’s talk about colleges, Canada, and poutine.
As a Washington State native, crossing the border to Canada has always been a bit of a non-event: passports are not stamped, there are no language challenges, and except for a change in currency – much prettier and 21stCentury than the drab US notes I might add – it feels the same. Yes, there are minor variations in the pronunciation of the words “about,” “water,” and “process,” but you would never know an international boundary had been crossed. I encounter many more language and cultural variations traveling from Seattle to Georgia than visiting our Canadian neighbors. So why is it so mysterious to consider attending a college in Canada?
I just toured the University of British Columbia. It sits on a gorgeous, large peninsula just on the edge of Vancouver B.C., a large and bustling city full of cultural and social activities. With over 44,000 undergraduate students, UBC is a large university by any measure. The campus is rarely quiet and between classes, it is a frenetic movement of people, bikes, skateboards, dogs, and demonstrators. I think I also saw a mime. But the campus, students and culture all feel just like being on campus at the University of Washington, University of Idaho, or the University of Oregon. There are lots of trees, green spaces, brick and concrete buildings, and many students pursuing their educational potential. But there is one major and pleasant difference: poutine. And no, the Disco Fries near Rutgers are not a substitute.
Canada has a number of other hidden college gems, at least they are to Americans who are overly obsessed with the US News and World Report Top 100 Colleges List. Unlike the United States, only ten percent of the colleges and universities are private, leaving ninety percent of their schools serving and funded by the public. Not only does this create a large system of rigorous higher education opportunities, it provides a chance for more students to attend because of a much more palatable (realistic?) price point. For example, the University of British Columbia is a notable bargain, as are the University of Toronto, McGill University and the University of Montreal, just to name a few. Add the current exchange rate and the bargain is compounded. Check them out; they are not mysterious. Just take it easy on the poutine.