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Deciding on a University
Wezoin
Registered User regular
Registered User regular
So I'm in my final year of high school, and the acceptances are starting to come in. I've gotten one to the Kings University College at the University of Western Ontario. I visited the campus a while ago and it was by far my favorite one of the bunch. They also offer the greatest scholarships, and naturally the degree I'd receive is one from UWO (which is quite high prestige in Canada.) I've also applied for (and expect to receive) one from the main campus at UWO. The only thing that really worries me is that maybe the word college will degrade the value of my degree, or perhaps people simply look at university colleges as lesser than their main campus counterparts.
I'd bassically like to know what you guys think I should be looking for, as well as your opinion on university colleges.
I'd bassically like to know what you guys think I should be looking for, as well as your opinion on university colleges.
Wezoin on
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Well, colleges are more applied. They're more for "I want to be a _______________" prepare me to do that job. Whereas Universities deal more with theory and abstract ideas. They are generally seen as a higher level of education than a college, which is why I'm a little iffy about having the word college on a degree, despite it being a university degree.
UWO is not a hugely prestigious canadian university. you are thinking of ubc, mcgill, uoft, waterloo, queens. After those five i bet most people haven't heard of it. HOWEVER, where you get your undergrad really means jack all. Don't pick a university based on 'prestige' for your undergrad, pick it because of where you want to go.
I would be slightly worried about having a degree from a college or a university college than from a full university if you were going to go on into academia. Plus, not all colleges/university colleges offer every program, so after one or two years if you want to switch that could be a bit of a hassle if it requires transfering to a new campus.
HOWEVER, university colleges do have advantages (I did one year at one). class sizes are smaller and the profs there are generally there because they want to teach and they take a far greater interest in you. At a full university most profs couldn't care less unless you're in a specialized program that most of the profs 'baby' (like engineering physics, or maybe commerce).
Confused. I guess Canada is different.
I have no idea where mine is but... it says something like:
Bachelor of Science, Colorado State University, College of Business
If it's an undergrad degree I don't think it matters anyway.
In Canada school teaches you.
Wait... I'm guessing it's something like: Canadian College == Community College, Canadian University == College/University.
Replace "Canadian" with "Anywhere other than the US, so fuck all if I know"
Well here's the thing, I live in London, so UWO means I wouldn't have to bassically double my costs to get residence and all that. I suppose it all depends on what part of Canada you live in, but in London whenever anyone mentions the word Western they say it with a bit of snobbiness in their voice as if it's the most prestigious, and in terms of Academics the "Monday Report" had a big special on it being the most prestigious in Canada, so I just kinda accepted it as fact.
Also, by your academia comment, are you saying that Law schools and the such would favor a Western main campus degree over a Kings at Western degree?
Anyway, are there any employers around that could comment on whether or not they'd take a university college at par as a main campus university?
Western is a fine choice for your undergrad or diploma, by the way. Getting my comp sci degree at York did not hinder me in any way, and it isn't considered one of the top schools for computer science.
XXXXXX
Bachelor of Whatever
University of Western Ontario
(King's College)
The word college isn't going to hurt you at all. I went to a college (one of the ones at the University of Toronto) and it certainly hasn't hurt me -- nor any of my friends who have gone on to graduate studies, law school, med school, and so on.
I know a few people who went to Western (and even King's specifically) and they all had a great time. None of them has ever suffered, as far as I know, any disadvantage as a result.
Universities are made up of colleges. That's pretty much it.