Head to Head: The United States vs. Canada

 
The United States may be the most popular destination for international students in the world, but what about its Northern neighbour? Evidence suggests Canada is an increasingly attractive option for students from all over the world. In this blog post, we compare the two major North American university destinations, the United States and Canada, to see how they fare when placed head-to-head.

                                                               

 

Canada and International Students

International students in Canada will find loads of good company. Canada is the seventh most popular destination for international students, with approximately sixty percent of its overseas students coming from China, India, Korea, Saudi Arabia and France. The Canadian government also launched a plan as of January 2014 to double its population of international students by 2022; while countries like the UK and the UK are ambivalent about internationals, then, it’s quite clear that Canada is embracing them!

Career Prospects For All Students

In Canada, international students are allowed to work part-time through a study permit and full time during their holidays. They can also apply for a work permit to stay in Canada for three years after graduation. In the U.S., international students are able to work part-time on the campus of their university, and are issued a visa that is valid up until sixty days after graduation. The U.S. is considerably more restrictive when it comes to employment options for international students, so it’s important for students to consider how important working during university, and staying after graduation, is for them, when they choose where to apply.

Tuition

The cost of studying in Canada is, on average, quite a bit cheaper than the cost of studying in the U.S. While a Canadian undergraduate education will typically cost you about $15,000 to $18,300 per year, studying in the U.S. is, on average, $36,564. If cost is a factor, then, it might be wise to consider Canada.

The Applications Process

Another major difference between Canada and the U.S. is that Canadian universities typically do not use the Common Application, the system used by many U.S. universities, or any general application system for that matter. Students applying to university in Canada will typically apply to the individual university, rather than using a generic form. For this reason, it’s particularly important for advisors to be aware of the individual deadlines and requirements of different universities, as they tend to vary more than those of U.S. universities.

Finding Your Best-Fit Location

Deciding which -- and how many -- universities is a considerable task, which is made even more difficult when multiple destinations are involved. As Robert Waite recently argued eloquently in The Huffington Post, the best answer to whether or not a student should apply to universities in a particular location is probably it depends. However, if armed with the right information and tools, we will all be more likely to make the best decisions for our students.
Topics: Studying in the U.S., International Education, University Admissions, US university application, Common App preparation, applying to university in the u.s., American universities, head to head, Canada, USA

Written by Bridge-U

Letting go: tips for parents of new college students

After 18 years of parenting, it can be hard to let go. Here is a sneak peek at the challenges of the transition ahead and advice to prepare right now.

The emotional roller coaster

Recognize this is a time of ambivalence for all parents.

The excitement and joy about opportunities awaiting your child are mixed with the waves of nostalgia and a sense of loss. Talk with other parents who are going through the same thing.

Recognize your child’s conflicting emotions.

Your child, like you, is being pulled between past, present and future … one day exclaiming “leave me alone; I’m 18 years old. I’m independent” and the next complaining “you’re never around when I need you.” Your child’s ups and downs are a sign of the ambivalence of this transitional time.

Take comfort in the knowledge that part of you is going with your child.

The foundation you have provided over the past 18 years will accompany your child across the miles and throughout the years.

Don’t tell your child “These are the best years of your life.”

No one is happy all the time between the ages of 18 and 22, and when a student is homesick or overtired from studying all night, it’s not reassuring to have parents imply that this is as good as it gets!

Enjoy this time of celebration.

Try not to focus so much on the upcoming departure that you might miss the full impact of the senior year festivities and the joy of summer days ahead.

The summer before

Be prepared to see less of your child this summer.

The closer it gets to departure time, the less you can expect to see of your child. He will likely be spending every waking hour with friends. Allow them this special time together.

Make a financial plan and discuss expectations with your child.

Develop a tentative budget and be clear about who will pay for what. For example, some parents pay for books and supplies, while their child is responsible for incidental expenses such as snacks, movies, and CDs. Other students are responsible for earning a percentage of their tuition. Teach your child about responsible use of credit and debit cards.

Discuss academic goals and expectation ahead of time.

Remember, many freshmen do not do as well academically first semester as they did in high school, and many change their minds about their proposed course of study. Ask them what they hope to accomplish academically during their first year. It is important for them to take ownership of their education. Grades are not the only indication of learning.

Communication: Keeping in touch

Talk to your child about how you’ll keep in touch.

Do you want a planned time to talk or do you want to be more spontaneous? A cell phone can be a wonderful way to keep in touch, or it can be, as one student described, an “electronic leash.” Encourage your child to use it with discretion and not just to fill in the spaces. E-mail and instant messaging are also wonderful ways to keep in touch. Just don’t count on a reply to every message.

Be a coach rather than trying to solve your child’s problems yourself.

You’re likely to hear more than your share of problems. College students usually call their parents for reassurance when things aren’t going well, and call their friends with the latest exciting news. When you get those late night phone calls, and you will, you can encourage your child to use the appropriate campus resources — to go to the health service or career center, to talk to an advisor, dean, a counselor or tutor. Read resource information sent to you by the college so you can be an informed coach for your child.

Be an anchor.

Keep your child informed about changes at home. College students want their parents to accept all the changes they are making but want everything at home to stay the same. So it’s important to keep them informed about changes at home, whether it’s moving a younger sibling into their room, or, on a more serious note, about illness in the family or the death of a pet. They need this from you in order to feel secure and maintain a sense of trust.

Acknowledge that college today is different.

Although century-old buildings look untouched by time, college life today is very different from the campus scene 25 or 30 years ago. For those of you who went to college, think twice before beginning a sentence with “When I was in college…”

Ask about courses rather than focusing on grades.

Invite your child to share with you the discovery of new ideas, academic interests and intellectual passions.

Send care packages.

Early in the year, sharing popcorn or chocolate chip cookies is a wonderful way for a student to meet floor mates. Photographs are personal reminders of home. Holiday decorations, baskets of treats at exam time, and even everyday necessities like shampoo and quarters for the washing machine are reminders that say, “I’m thinking of you.”

When students come back home

Renegotiate expectations.

Your child has been making decisions on how she will spend her time for many months. You, however, may have strong feelings of your own when she comes in late at night, sleeps late in the morning or arrives late for dinner. Most students respond well if parents treat them with respect. For example, a parent might say, “I know you’re used to being out until all hours of the night at school, but I can’t sleep when I wake up at 2 in the morning and you’re not here. Let’s talk about how we’re going to handle this so that we’ll both feel good about it.” It takes flexibility and communication to find a common ground.

Understand that the college years are a time for exploration.

Your son or daughter may come home with a new look; someone else’s clothes; or new politics, philosophies, or eating habits. Most of these changes are not permanent. Take a step back, have a sense of humor, and pick your battles.

Don’t overschedule.

Tell your child ahead of time about family plans, especially over the holidays, so that he or she can make plans accordingly.

Throughout the college years

Expect change.

Students will change the way they think and way they look. Many will change their majors and career goals. They need you to stick with them, have patience when they are uncertain and support them as they chart the course of their own lives.

College students care more about what you think than they are likely to let you know.

They quote you, talk about you and look to you for encouragement. As they journey toward adulthood and independence, sometimes they want your advice and sometimes they just want you to listen. And as one of them put it, “We just won’t tell you which time is which.”

Welcome to the delights and dilemmas of being a parent of a college student.

Shared from: http://www.greatschools.org

About Brock University in Canada ( Visit on April 4, 2016)

Why Brock?

We nurture both sides of the brain

Our unique philosophy takes students beyond the pursuit of academic excellence.

Brock is a place where left-brain and right-brain thinking come together. Students develop rational/analytical thinking in concert with their emotional/creative sides. We view community involvement as crucial to developing intelligent, well-rounded members of society.

Campus to career path

More than 85 per cent of recent university graduates report working at jobs requiring skills they acquired at university.

Three years after graduation, the employment rate for university graduates is 91 per cent, and the median bachelor degree holder earns 33 per cent more than the median college graduate.

At Brock, our cross-disciplinary and interdisciplinary programs offer multi-faceted degrees that help students build careers and get jobs. 

Brock's rigorous undergraduate, graduate and doctoral programs include experiential learning opportunities and one of Canada’s largest co-op programs.

We’re growing

Through much of the past 15 years, Brock has been one of Ontario's fastest-growing universities, both in students and modern infrastructure. 

More than $300 million in construction has been committed or commissioned to expand the campus. In recent years we've constructed:

• the $120-million Cairns Family Health and Bioscience Research Complex, a state-of-the-art facility where students and professors explore new frontiers in green science and health & wellness
• in downtown St. Catharines, the spectacular new home of the Marilyn I. Walker School of Fine and Performing Arts
• new student residence spaces 
• the Jack and Nora Walker Canadian Centre for Lifespan Development Research, a facility unique in Canada
• a new International Centre
   

We’re green

Situated in the heart of Ontario's Niagara region, just 60 minutes from Toronto, Brock's campus has a beautiful natural setting along the brow of the Niagara Escarpment, which is a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve.

We have the numbers to back it up

Consider the following:

• When students from across our seven faculties gave their ratings to the Globe and Mail Canadian University Report, Brock was one of Canada’s top medium-size institutions in terms of quality of education, quality of teaching and most satisfied students.
• With more than 18,000 students and nearly 600 faculty, we’re small enough to be intimate, big enough to be world-class and in demand among international students.

We care

Brock provides opportunities for social and academic growth that don’t exist at larger universities, like access to professors. Our emphasis on moderate class sizes in seminar settings makes more students full participants in the learning experience.

Brock University is a special place that’s worth a visit.