CHANGING CAREERS and COUNTRIES

[faith08]

Hello all, I am canadian and will changing careers and moving out of the usa to study in canada. Thing is I am not sure what schools in canada are the good schools. I will be doing the 2 year program and I know UofT, UBC, a university in alberta and mcmaster university offer programs for people with bachelor degrees in different fields. Any idea if these schools are good schools, how easy or difficult it is to get financial aid and is it better to rent or stay in the dorms.

thank you kindly

[NotReady4PrimeTime, RN]

I can't speak tot he programs themselves, but I can tell you that the rental market in Edmonton is as tight as a frog's butt. The vacancy rate is in the low single digits and the rents have skyrocketed. One bedroom apartments in scuzzy neighbourhoods are renting for over $1000 a month not including utilities. Something for you to consider. I'm not sure what Toronto, Hamilton or Vancouver are doing as far as rentals go, hopefully someone else will chime in.

[faith08]

Thank you, that definately helps

[lalaxton]

Rents in Hamilton are considerably more reasonable than in Toronto.

[S.T.A.C.E.Y, LPN]

U of T itself is a good school, but what I have heard (not from any personal experience) is that they focus less on clinical bedside nursing, and more on preparing nurses for administrative and managerial type roles.

McMaster is a great school, from everyone I've heard. Hamilton has alot cheaper rent, but the city definitely has some rough & sketchy parts.

[faith08]

Thank you, do you know if it is a good idea to try and live in the dorms either in u of t or mcmaster? Thankyou kindly

[S.T.A.C.E.Y, LPN]

Personally, I think its always a better idea to live in the dorms. You're closer to classes, less travel time, less things to worry about, and easier to socialize and meet people.

I would definitely say dorms......especially if you dont know the city well.

[noworries]

You shouldn't worry too much about which schools to go to and where to live yet.. just apply to all of them and see which ones you get into first because they are all pretty competitive schools that you have listed there..

In Vancouver, Rent is anywhere from 800-1000+/month (depending on area.. usually its cheaper further away from UBC). The program itself is pretty good from what I hear (the accelerated program anyway). You start in clinicals in your 3rd week and its 2x's/week every week for 10-12 weeks I believe. And it will be like that until you graduate 2 years later. I believe there is one consolidated practice experience at the end of the 2 years but I'm not too sure on that.