I'm applying to university next year, and I'm looking for input from basically any quarter on which schools are best, because I find that the more data I have, the sounder decision I can make. I live in Canada, and I'm pretty happy with that state of affairs, so international school is really not my cup of tea. I'm planning to go into theatre production, and currently my top three are
1) Dalhousie
2) Guelph and
3) U of T[oronto]
Anyone know anything about those schools? Or, alternatively, know another school I should look into?
Well, if you're deciding between Nova Scotia and Ontario, I think we all know which one is the sane choice.
No, but seriously, tour those three schools. Research their theater production programs, talk to people, also get a feel for how easy it would be to transfer into another program should you be interested/should you lose interest in theater production. And beyond academics, look at where you'll be. Remember you'll be living in this place, so get a sense of your surroundings.
I can't emphasize enough how important touring a college is. You know whether or not you'll mesh in a given environment, and that's the crucial element there.
McGill is supposed to be an excellent school. The only problem is that I loathe Montreal. I'm not really sure why; most of the people I know who are familiar with it count it as one of their favourite cities. It just rubs me the wrong way.
I don't know anything about the University of Guelph, or Dalhousie - they weren't really good options for me when I was choosing.
U of T is big, and much more than any other university, it is primarily a research institution. It has smart profs, but they're not necessarily going to pay much attention to you. U of T will give you a good education in almost any field, but they won't pay much attention to you either. Being in downtown Toronto is a bonus; I just moved from Toronto to Waterloo to go to U of W, and smaller cities are not as nice. Residences are pretty good - trinity smells a little old, but university college is supposed to have quite nice residences.
For theatre production, the other two universities you should make sure to check out are York and Ryerson. I know Ryerson is supposed to have a very good films studies program, and York I think has some ok dramatic arts stuff - not really sure how good their programs are, as I was more interested in math programs so I didin't check out either school. York does have a strike going on right now though.
McGill is supposed to be an excellent school. The only problem is that I loathe Montreal. I'm not really sure why; most of the people I know who are familiar with it count it as one of their favourite cities. It just rubs me the wrong way.
Montreal is great outside of the wacky politics and anti-human-rights laws created by the pointless seperatist parties. It really is still a great city.
McGill is supposed to be an excellent school. The only problem is that I loathe Montreal. I'm not really sure why; most of the people I know who are familiar with it count it as one of their favourite cities. It just rubs me the wrong way.
There's plenty of spots on Sainte Catherine street if you want to be rubbed the right way...
This is the city with the best gaming community in the north east that's not called New York. And, per capita, we have more gamers than even New York.
If you have a choice between Toronto and Montreal, the choice is simple. Montreal has a better nightlife, and a better artistic scene. Plus, french girls are sexy.
McGill is supposed to be an excellent school. The only problem is that I loathe Montreal. I'm not really sure why; most of the people I know who are familiar with it count it as one of their favourite cities. It just rubs me the wrong way.
Montreal is the only place in Canada I've visited, and I have to admit, I didn't care for it, either. Mostly because I'm monolingual and Quebec is the only place in Canada where bilingual laws don't apply. Plus I had a bad experience at a French restaurant, so whatever.
Anyway, I agree with Highroller's advice: if you have a chance to tour any of the schools, do so.
Geez, it's almost like if you visit a foreign country people might be offended that you don't at least try to learn a couple of phrases in the local language instead of acting like a douchebag colonialist.
Geez, it's almost like if you visit a foreign country people might be offended that you don't at least try to learn a couple of phrases in the local language instead of acting like a douchebag colonialist.
I do know some French phrases, enough to get around, and I'll have you know I was careful not to offend anyone while I was there. I'm just saying, I don't get why the rest of the country has to accomodate Francophones but Quebec doesn't have to accomodate Anglophones.
There's plenty of spots on Sainte Catherine street if you want to be rubbed the right way...
This is the city with the best gaming community in the north east that's not called New York. And, per capita, we have more gamers than even New York.
If you have a choice between Toronto and Montreal, the choice is simple. Montreal has a better nightlife, and a better artistic scene. Plus, french girls are sexy.
I don't deny that Montreal is objectively a pretty great city. It's just not for me. As I said, I'm not sure why I dislike ir, but I do. My sister lives there, she loves it; my father, grandmother, aunts all lived there for years. But I don't like it.
Also, I'm predominantly a theatre nerd, not a gamer, which points more to Toronto. And I'm gay, so the relative charms of french girls are imaterial (though there is something sexy about a french guy, so I grant you that point).
@ Blarg: Thanks for the advice! I looked at Ryerson, and while they have a decent amount of performance-based theatre programs, their production department didn't impress me overmuch. But I'll check out York, for sure.
The french guys are nice too. Plus, you can still go on Sainte-Cath's to get rubbed the right way, you just go farther east than us breeders... around Beaudry/Papineau station.
But if you're gay, yeah, I'd strongly suggest Toronto over Nova Scotia.
Now I don't live in Canada or anything, but have you considered any Universities in Vancouver. Last I knew they had a big film production industry there, and while it is not quite the same as Theater production, quite a few of the skill sets to translate over.
Edit: yep a quick round of research confirmed what I have said and also turned up this: Studio 58
1) Dalhousie
2) Guelph and
3) U of T[oronto]
Anyone know anything about those schools? Or, alternatively, know another school I should look into?
Well, if you're deciding between Nova Scotia and Ontario, I think we all know which one is the sane choice.
No, but seriously, tour those three schools. Research their theater production programs, talk to people, also get a feel for how easy it would be to transfer into another program should you be interested/should you lose interest in theater production. And beyond academics, look at where you'll be. Remember you'll be living in this place, so get a sense of your surroundings.
I can't emphasize enough how important touring a college is. You know whether or not you'll mesh in a given environment, and that's the crucial element there.
I've heard a lot of good things about mcgill university, so I thought I would just poke your way
U of T is big, and much more than any other university, it is primarily a research institution. It has smart profs, but they're not necessarily going to pay much attention to you. U of T will give you a good education in almost any field, but they won't pay much attention to you either. Being in downtown Toronto is a bonus; I just moved from Toronto to Waterloo to go to U of W, and smaller cities are not as nice. Residences are pretty good - trinity smells a little old, but university college is supposed to have quite nice residences.
For theatre production, the other two universities you should make sure to check out are York and Ryerson. I know Ryerson is supposed to have a very good films studies program, and York I think has some ok dramatic arts stuff - not really sure how good their programs are, as I was more interested in math programs so I didin't check out either school. York does have a strike going on right now though.
Montreal is great outside of the wacky politics and anti-human-rights laws created by the pointless seperatist parties. It really is still a great city.
There's plenty of spots on Sainte Catherine street if you want to be rubbed the right way...
This is the city with the best gaming community in the north east that's not called New York. And, per capita, we have more gamers than even New York.
If you have a choice between Toronto and Montreal, the choice is simple. Montreal has a better nightlife, and a better artistic scene. Plus, french girls are sexy.
Netdecking is Rightdecking
My latest data-driven Magic the Gathering strategy article
(TLDR: Analysis of the Valakut matchups. UB rising in the rankings. Aggro correspondingly taking a dive.)
Montreal is the only place in Canada I've visited, and I have to admit, I didn't care for it, either. Mostly because I'm monolingual and Quebec is the only place in Canada where bilingual laws don't apply. Plus I had a bad experience at a French restaurant, so whatever.
Anyway, I agree with Highroller's advice: if you have a chance to tour any of the schools, do so.
Netdecking is Rightdecking
My latest data-driven Magic the Gathering strategy article
(TLDR: Analysis of the Valakut matchups. UB rising in the rankings. Aggro correspondingly taking a dive.)
I do know some French phrases, enough to get around, and I'll have you know I was careful not to offend anyone while I was there. I'm just saying, I don't get why the rest of the country has to accomodate Francophones but Quebec doesn't have to accomodate Anglophones.
I don't deny that Montreal is objectively a pretty great city. It's just not for me. As I said, I'm not sure why I dislike ir, but I do. My sister lives there, she loves it; my father, grandmother, aunts all lived there for years. But I don't like it.
Also, I'm predominantly a theatre nerd, not a gamer, which points more to Toronto. And I'm gay, so the relative charms of french girls are imaterial (though there is something sexy about a french guy, so I grant you that point).
@ Blarg: Thanks for the advice! I looked at Ryerson, and while they have a decent amount of performance-based theatre programs, their production department didn't impress me overmuch. But I'll check out York, for sure.
The french guys are nice too. Plus, you can still go on Sainte-Cath's to get rubbed the right way, you just go farther east than us breeders... around Beaudry/Papineau station.
But if you're gay, yeah, I'd strongly suggest Toronto over Nova Scotia.
I assume my fellow Quebecois won't like this analogy, but...
I wonder why able people have to accomodate the disabled and not vice-versa?
Netdecking is Rightdecking
My latest data-driven Magic the Gathering strategy article
(TLDR: Analysis of the Valakut matchups. UB rising in the rankings. Aggro correspondingly taking a dive.)
Edit: yep a quick round of research confirmed what I have said and also turned up this: Studio 58
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