nugget

It sounds like both schools have advantages and disadvantages, but I would go with school A, where you have more than one option for an advisor. You might not personally fit well with one of them, or they might not be able to take students on when you're ready, or they might leave entirely. If you have multiple options from the start, you're more likely to find someone that you can work with long term.

Even if you want a research career, TA experience is good to have. Perhaps not having to TA, or having a low workload is good, but the opportunity to teach or TA if I wanted to is something that I would require in a program, just for job prospects.

I would do it ASAP without spending all this time thinking about form. The clock is ticking and you could lose your opportunity. With any luck, they haven't contacted the person on the waitlist yet, or that person will decline and the spot may go back to you.

Not in your field, but I think it means what kind of viewpoints, scholarly perspectives and opinions did you have before and how have they been shaped (changed in some way or strengthened) by classroom and scholarly interactions?
 
Basically, how has all that you've been learning in class influenced your thinking or changed you in any way in a professional sense (or if it even has at all)?

You still have a couple of days. If you must accept and then possibly rescind, wait as long as you can until accepting.

Just curious as to where you heard that OSAP won't fund 2 different programs during 2 different semesters? I checked their website and the processing time takes up to 8 weeks.
 
If OSAP gives money for Lakehead from May-August, I don't see why receiving money for another school from September-April should be an issue. But I don't work for OSAP, so the best people to ask would be them! 
 
If the money doesn't arrive by the tuition deadline because you couldn't apply for OSAP 8 weeks in advance, let your school know your situation and they should make a note on your account for the finance department so they know what's going on. I have done this at my school a couple of times and it was no problem. (My school was even nice enough to waive the late payment fee for me because, in my particular circumstances, the late payment was not my fault).   
 
You are also not responsible for paying back your loan until 6 months after ending your studies. So if you end up in a different program fulltime, you will be responsible for paying back all student loans 6 months after ending your fulltime studies. They will not expect you to pay it back if you are in school fulltime studying something else, as long as they are aware of the situation and all required documentation is submitted. 
 
I know people who completed a masters degree in August then moved on to do a PhD at another school the following September and they did not owe money for the masters until 6 months after completing their PhD. (So they began to make payments 4.5-5.5 years after completing their masters). It's not an uncommon situation. As long as the proper documentation is submitted to OSAP to prove you are a fulltime student, then it's fine.

Just curious as to where you heard that OSAP won't fund 2 different programs during 2 different semesters? I checked their website and the processing time takes up to 8 weeks.
 
If OSAP gives money for Lakehead from May-August, I don't see why receiving money for another school from September-April should be an issue. But I don't work for OSAP, so the best people to ask would be them! 
 
If the money doesn't arrive by the tuition deadline because you couldn't apply for OSAP 8 weeks in advance, let your school know your situation and they should make a note on your account for the finance department so they know what's going on. I have done this at my school a couple of times and it was no problem. (My school was even nice enough to waive the late payment fee for me because, in my particular circumstances, the late payment was not my fault).   
 
You are also not responsible for paying back your loan until 6 months after ending your studies. So if you end up in a different program fulltime, you will be responsible for paying back all student loans 6 months after ending your fulltime studies. They will not expect you to pay it back if you are in school fulltime studying something else, as long as they are aware of the situation and all required documentation is submitted. 
 
I know people who completed a masters degree in August then moved on to do a PhD at another school the following September and they did not owe money for the masters until 6 months after completing their PhD. (So they began to make payments 4.5-5.5 years after completing their masters). It's not an uncommon situation. As long as the proper documentation is submitted to OSAP to prove you are a fulltime student, then it's fine.

We are not all privileged to be able to afford school without financial assistance. Bursaries can be extremely beneficial for some people and can greatly ease the financial burden. As well, some programs like business and engineering pay their students to complete practicums and most masters programs with a thesis provide funding so many students can attend school debt-free. So I do not think it is unreasonable to hope that an MSW program would provide some financial assistance.
 
In your MSW program, there will be lots of discussions and readings related to social location and privilege. After some deep reflection on your own social location and the social benefits and privileges it affords you, as well as reflection and analysis on others with different social locations from you (as MSW programs typically encourage students to do), your perspective on the importance of some people receiving funding in order to be able to attend school could change over time. Some food for thought.

We are not all privileged to be able to afford school without financial assistance. Bursaries can be extremely beneficial for some people and can greatly ease the financial burden. As well, some programs like business and engineering pay their students to complete practicums and most masters programs with a thesis provide funding so many students can attend school debt-free. So I do not think it is unreasonable to hope that an MSW program would provide some financial assistance.
 
In your MSW program, there will be lots of discussions and readings related to social location and privilege. After some deep reflection on your own social location and the social benefits and privileges it affords you, as well as reflection and analysis on others with different social locations from you (as MSW programs typically encourage students to do), your perspective on the importance of some people receiving funding in order to be able to attend school could change over time. Some food for thought.

We are not all privileged to be able to afford school without financial assistance. Bursaries can be extremely beneficial for some people and can greatly ease the financial burden. As well, some programs like business and engineering pay their students to complete practicums and most masters programs with a thesis provide funding so many students can attend school debt-free. So I do not think it is unreasonable to hope that an MSW program would provide some financial assistance.
 
In your MSW program, there will be lots of discussions and readings related to social location and privilege. After some deep reflection on your own social location and the social benefits and privileges it affords you, as well as reflection and analysis on others with different social locations from you (as MSW programs typically encourage students to do), your perspective on the importance of some people receiving funding in order to be able to attend school could change over time. Some food for thought.

We are not all privileged to be able to afford school without financial assistance. Bursaries can be extremely beneficial for some people and can greatly ease the financial burden. As well, some programs like business and engineering pay their students to complete practicums and most masters programs with a thesis provide funding so many students can attend school debt-free. So I do not think it is unreasonable to hope that an MSW program would provide some financial assistance.
 
In your MSW program, there will be lots of discussions and readings related to social location and privilege. After some deep reflection on your own social location and the social benefits and privileges it affords you, as well as reflection and analysis on others with different social locations from you (as MSW programs typically encourage students to do), your perspective on the importance of some people receiving funding in order to be able to attend school could change over time. Some food for thought.

We are not all privileged to be able to afford school without financial assistance. Bursaries can be extremely beneficial for some people and can greatly ease the financial burden. As well, some programs like business and engineering pay their students to complete practicums and most masters programs with a thesis provide funding so many students can attend school debt-free. So I do not think it is unreasonable to hope that an MSW program would provide some financial assistance.
 
In your MSW program, there will be lots of discussions and readings related to social location and privilege. After some deep reflection on your own social location and the social benefits and privileges it affords you, as well as reflection and analysis on others with different social locations from you (as MSW programs typically encourage students to do), your perspective on the importance of some people receiving funding in order to be able to attend school could change over time. Some food for thought.

Isn't the opportunity to be a social worker the greatest incentive of all

If you're getting mixed opinions from your profs you may just have to go with your gut on this one. Where do you see yourself being the happiest and which school will best prepare you for your particular career goals? How much debt are you comfortable carrying?
 
It sounds like there is no real "best answer" to your options because all options are good ones. So you can't go wrong no matter what you pick. If more than one school (within your budget) will equally help you reach your career goals, then pick the school/location you will be happiest at. ie: location, proximity to family/friends, climate, city life/amenities, access to nature, etc 
 
(Personally, I would pick a high ranking program with funding over a high ranking program without funding. I think it will look better on your resume to have a nice scholarship rather than no scholarship at all, imo. But you need to do what is right for you. I'd also find out if the extra $12,00 for a TA position at UBC is a sure thing before making your decision).

Hi Daniii,
 
I think it's a good idea to have someone look for a place for you. I'm sure you could find something in August if you waited until then, but the best places will be taken and you'd be picking from the leftovers (like places that are overpriced or not conveniently located).
 
Will you have a car during your program? If not, I'd try to get a place off of a number 7 bus route because this bus line runs the latest and has the most frequent bus service. It's up to you whether or not you want to live in Kitchener or Waterloo. Some things to consider.... the FSW library hours are terrible so if you like to get your work done in a library it would make more sense to live near the main campus and study there. There also isn't a gym at the Kitchener campus, medical clinic or other useful departments like career services, counselling, accessible learning services, etc. but you can find all of these things at the main campus. You need to be at the Kitchener campus 3 days a week the first semester but after that you'll only need to be there once a week. But rent might be a bit cheaper in Kitchener because most students need to live in Waterloo and the demand is higher. Some things to consider...
 
There are a lot of working class families in Kitchener and european immigrants and this city has more character (like older buildings, etc). If you're there at night, the downtown core looks kind of seedy in certain places but it's actually not dangerous. Just use common sense and you should be fine. Waterloo, on the other hand, is more modern looking and has a higher student, professor and working professional population. If you live close to a university you might find it odd to only see 18-24 year olds at first. During the first few weeks I wondered where all the families were hiding or if there were any at all. haha But it just depends what part of Waterloo you are in and how close you are to a university. Sometimes bus rides can get noisy and rowdy in Waterloo and some students can act immaturely on the bus or in restaurants, but you will get used to it.
 
If you live walking distance of the main campus there is a Foot Patrol service made up of volunteers who will walk you home at night if you wish. They can also pick you up at home if you need to go to the main campus in the evening. This service is not available at the Kitchener campus. 
 
Best of luck on your move! I think you will enjoy the KW area. It's a great place to live. People are very friendly here and you will immediately notice a difference if you are used to living in a larger city such as Toronto. As a student you will also get a free bus pass, which is a nice bonus! If you have access to a car there are many great internship placements to choose from in Kitchener, Waterloo, Cambridge, Guelph, Woodstock, Hamilton, Mississauga, Toronto, London, etc. If you don't have a car, be prepared to be flexible and take whatever is available. With a broad range of interests and no preconceived notions about where you would like to be placed, you will not be disappointed. Congrats and enjoy the program!

Hi Horizonmind,
 
In response to your question about the McGill program, I will tell you what I know.
 
I know someone who was admitted to the qualifying year and attended from 2011-2012. At the time, the McGill website said that anyone with a B+ average or higher will be recommended for admission into the 1 yr MSW program. In her cohort, 50 people meet that requirement, plus an unknown number of applicants outside of her cohort. She was one of the lucky few that was admitted to the MSW in 2012, but many of her classmates were angry and disappointed because they did not get in. They thought the website was misleading as it suggested they would likely get in if their GPA was a B+ or higher. At that point, their only was to option were to apply again to the MSW (or, I'm pretty sure, to complete another year of coursework and get a BSW).
 
I never applied to this school because after one year of BSW courses, you will not end up with a BSW and there is no guarantee of admission into the MSW program. I only applied to Lakehead's BSW program (2 years ago) because it is short and you will end up with a BSW, which will allow you to work in the field as an RSW and also apply to advanced standing MSW programs afterwards. 
 
Perhaps things have changed now, but I think this is worth looking into before deciding. Some people have personal reasons for wanting to live in Montreal so it makes sense to study there. Some who want to go to McGill are determined to do whatever it takes to stand out from the rest so that they will get accepted in the MSW program and it works out for some people. However, I am not much of a risk taker (especially when so much money and time in school are involved) so I never applied. On the other hand, tuition is extremely cheap, especially if you are Quebec resident. So this is another strong point about McGill, along with strong university rankings and recognition in the US.

I am not in your field so I cannot comment on the career benefits of each program. But from a financial point of view, if you do not want to use your own savings or take out a loan to pay for food and rent, UofT and Queens are the only options that give you enough to live off of on a decent student budget. Vancouver is one of the most expensive places to live in Canada and $13,000 is quite tight. Oxford will put you into a lot of debt, but that goes without saying.
 
Based on all the info you've shared here, I would be inclined to lean towards UofT (assuming you did not do your bachelors at UofT, since planning to get a bachelor's, master's and PhD all from the same school university isn't advisable, unless your field is different). Good luck with your choice!

The answer to this question will come down to personal preferences, as you've already alluded to. Will any of these options cause you to get into debt? If the answer is yes, I suggest doing the math for both places and figuring out how much debt exactly. If you do not feel comfortable with the numbers, eliminate one school based on the numbers. If debt is not an issue or if the debt load will end up being the same when you account for cost of living and funding amounts, then it really comes down to personal taste. It sounds like the excitement of New York is alluring to you, therefore I think this option is worth considering if it's financially viable. If it isn't, then you may do just fine at option 1. I'd recommend living close to a popular bus route with frequent buses and living walking distance to school, if at all possible, as transportation seems to be a concern.

Congrats on your acceptances! Your post mentions that your top choice is unknown, but what I am wondering is who does not know about this program? If it is ranked number 2, this would suggest that it is well known by people in your field and that is what matters the most. If your family and friends do not recognize the significance of this offer, I'd suggest educating them about it or not caring so much about what they think about your educational plans. If this program is highly regarded in your field and it will open the career doors you seek in the future, it sounds like a win-win situation to me.    

Congrats on your acceptances! Your post mentions that your top choice is unknown, but what I am wondering is who does not know about this program? If it is ranked number 2, this would suggest that it is well known by people in your field and that is what matters the most. If your family and friends do not recognize the significance of this offer, I'd suggest educating them about it or not caring so much about what they think about your educational plans. If this program is highly regarded in your field and it will open the career doors you seek in the future, it sounds like a win-win situation to me.    

Congrats on your acceptances! Your post mentions that your top choice is unknown, but what I am wondering is who does not know about this program? If it is ranked number 2, this would suggest that it is well known by people in your field and that is what matters the most. If your family and friends do not recognize the significance of this offer, I'd suggest educating them about it or not caring so much about what they think about your educational plans. If this program is highly regarded in your field and it will open the career doors you seek in the future, it sounds like a win-win situation to me.    

Congrats on your acceptances! Your post mentions that your top choice is unknown, but what I am wondering is who does not know about this program? If it is ranked number 2, this would suggest that it is well known by people in your field and that is what matters the most. If your family and friends do not recognize the significance of this offer, I'd suggest educating them about it or not caring so much about what they think about your educational plans. If this program is highly regarded in your field and it will open the career doors you seek in the future, it sounds like a win-win situation to me.    

Have you considered that not all Canadians are interested in living in the US? This could partially account for low numbers. Some people don't make all of their life decisions based on money and prestige and may favour others things like quality of life, free healthcare, and proximity to family and friends over status and $$$.   

I would go to McGill personally because of the reputation of the school, lower cost of living, and it's also a much safer city than NYC. Montreal is definitely cold though. I'd recommend living walking distance to campus and a metro station if you do not drive and getting a Canada Goose winter coat. They're pricey but will keep you toasty warm.

This doesn't seem to be an easy decision. The limited duration of McGill's funding is concerning; however, I'm not sure how far living off of $23,000 in NYC will get you. The financial gap between both offers might not be as great as you think as NYU is very expensive, however you are guaranteed 4 years funding at NYU and only 2yrs at McGill. Perhaps someone else can comment on living costs in NYC as a means of comparison.
 
As for Montreal, you could live on $1,000/mth if you're on a tight budget. Ex: renting a room in a shared apartment = $400-600/mth, a private bachelor apartment (called a 1 1/2) = $500-700/mth, public transportation approx $80/mth or cheaper if under 25yrs of age (or free if you live walking distance to campus), groceries (depends on what you eat, maybe $50-70/wk). Restaurants are cheap in Montreal. You can get dinner in a casual restaurant for $9-12 (ex: most asian restaurants, mexican, middle eastern - shawarma, rotisserie chicken restaurants, etc.)  Perhaps someone else here can provide a similar comparison for NYC. 
 
Also keep in mind health insurance costs in both countries.
 
Of course, you will need more money for emergencies, travel, trips back home for holidays, entertainment, etc. This outline was merely meant give you an idea of your basic living costs.