Boo! I really want to go to college in Canada, it's much cheaper and I really would so love to go there. I just have many questions as to how? Can I still get scholarships? Still get loans? I have a bird. A parrot to be exact, without a doubt he is coming with me wherever I go, could I take him? Would I find a job in Canada as an American undergrad/grad could I rent a place? Live? Do I need to know French? Would my degree be useful? 16 yo girl from usa. Is life better there? Thank you -canada
I am the resident Canadian of AAB! Here to answer any and all questions about Canada! Okay so first of all, you can still get scholarships!
Here’s an excerpt from Scholarships Canada:
I have lived in Canada for three years and am in the process of applying for citizenship, but have not received it yet. Should I be considering international or Canadian citizen scholarships?
Consider both. There is over $71M worth of scholarships that do not require a specific type of citizenship. Unless the scholarship administrator specifically states that their scholarship is only open to Canadian citizens, you can apply to either.
You just have to do some research on the specific scholarships that you are looking at. As your guidance counsellors, usually they can help!
As for bringing your bird, here are the laws for importing/travelling with your bird into Canada from the US. Essentially, these are the main rules:
It is possible to import personally-owned pet birds under the following conditions:
the birds must accompany the owner or be in the possession of an immediate family member at the time of entry into Canada;
the birds must be found to be healthy when inspected at the port of entry;
the owner must sign a declaration stating that the birds have been in his/her possession for the 90 day period preceding the date of importation and have not been in contact with any other birds during that time;
the owner must sign a declaration stating that the birds are the owner’s personal pets and are not being imported for the purpose of re-sale; and
the owner or any member of the family must not have imported birds into Canada under the pet bird provision during the preceding 90 day period.
(although it’d be smart to read it all through very thoroughly so you’re aware of everything)
As for getting an apartment and working, you have to apply for a visa first. Otherwise, you will technically be an illegal immigrant, and therefore can be deported. Here’s an article covering everything. It’s actually from the point of view from an american student who went to college in Canada! It’s super informative! Again, speak to your school guidance counsellor for more information!
I can’t tell you whether life is better here. Everyone has their preferences. I’ve lived in Canada all my life, and only visited the US a few times. I personally love Canada. Most people are really accepting and polite (aha, the stereotype is true). We’ve got loads of great things! (Like milk bags and healthcare lol). But we’ve also got our hardships too. Every place has it’s pros and cons, but those are subjective. My advice is to visit where you’re planning to go to school before moving there. It’ll help to give you an idea of what your life will be like. You absolutely don’t need to know French. It’s great if you do, but absolutely not necessary. Some places require a little more French knowledge than others. If you’re looking to move to a city in Quebec (schools like McGill or Concordia are in Montreal) then it may be smart to have some knowledge. But if you’re looking at Ontario (schools like University of Toronto or McMaster), it’s really not as important. Do your research! I hope this helps, maybe I’ll see you around in a few years :)