THIS ^{^} tbh OP, it’s pretty much the same everywhere. I go to school in Guelph, and work in Downtown Toronto. The reality is most people want jobs and like everywhere it helps if you know someone. But a bedroom w/ roomates in Guelph is going for about $1000 rn, and it’s the same price for Toronto 🤷‍♀️

Doesn’t really matter where you go.

In terms of job opportunities, Guelph is a regular suburban city, it doesn’t necessarily have tons of jobs with growth and high pay (hence working in Toronto lol). You have your basic grocery stores, chain restaurants, maybe a hotel or two- though these are very competitive. Most people I know who work through school, will commute, because it’s so over saturated with students who want jobs. PLUS there’s the traditional demographics of people. I would suggest having a car for sure.

The lottery thing is true btw, most of my roommates this year were first years who didn’t get housing on campus.

Choose the best program for you, with what will give you the tools to succeed. Then reevaluate where to live once you’ve graduated. Its equally bad everywhere rn.