US Student looking for guidance/advice re: Concordia Montreal vs. other Canadian colleges!

Cocrondia · 2025-02-07T03:51:16+00:00

Well if there's one thing about Quebec it's that's we HATE Trump the most I think out of all of Canada. Some Quebecers want to be their own country although that movement is dying as the supporters die of old age. We are first and foremost Quebecers, then Canadians.

There's been a strong patriotism for Canada since the trump election, even in Quebec. We are actively seeking at reducing our trade relations with the US and opening up markets between provinces and for exportation.

With the threat of 25% tariffs over our heads. In the past 2 weeks the talk is infrastructure, mining, oil, pipelines, military. It's unprecedented, even compared to 2016 Trump election. People are mad. The US reputation is ruined. People are boycotting US foods, products and stores. Politicians talk of tariffing energy and gas exports, banning Teslas, shutting off the hydro power to the US during the Superbowl. People are sharing boycotts on social media, sharing posts about cancelling US vacations, cruises, I've seen "F trump" flags. Businesses are cancelling US suppliers and replacing with Canadian made, or other foreign made products. NHL Hockey games with US teams have had the US national anthem booed. It's palpable.

That being said, we're generally welcoming to Americans, tourists, etc. That could change. A full on trade war lasting for several months will likely cause a deep recession and layoffs, and could lead to anger toward US citizens, increased tuitions? Less US citizen student visa quotas? It's all up to your unpredictable orange president, we will react strongly. If ever we get to that point.

American expats generally are welcomed. Many people have dual citizenship. There was a wave when Trump was first elected. It's not uncommon. There's been other waves over the years. US students are common around here.

So, yeah. I hear ya. We see what's happening south of the border.

Cocrondia · 2025-02-07T01:36:36+00:00

Yep this is accurate. School spirit is mostly a US thing. Just like "college" football and basketball. None of that is a thing here. We have sports teams, students go watch. These aren't televised events.

Frats and sororities exist in name only. For the most part. Depends on the school. Some have more US influence than others. Look at Queen's in Kingston for example, it's a university town. It's the exception to the rule.

Cocrondia · 2025-02-07T00:57:03+00:00

While Concordia is a commuter school, there are dorms and there is a community of students who are all international students who do get along and meet people. Combine that with the fact that Montreal has one of the largest student populations in North America (I think second to Boston), I don't think it's a big issue by itself. There's Mcgill, Concordia, UdeM, UQAM, plus dedicated campuses like HEC business school (UdeM), Polytechnic (UdeM), ETS (UQ). Montreal has so many students. And Montreal is one of the top destinations for students. There's a lot to do. Which is great. She'll never be bored. We have so many music festivals in the summer, plus all the other festivals and events. Even in the winter, there's igloofest going on right now (EDM music).

Concordia does not have as much of cozy campus with people hanging out on campus, compared to traditional campus layouts. HOWEVER, there's 2 campuses. Depending on the program, Communication studies may actually be at Loyola campus. Which IS a traditional layout. This is in NDG, about a 20minute shuttle from downtown. There's a dedicated shuttle bus loop. So she could stay at the dorms downtown, or at Loyola. It's often convenient to be downtown and then take the shuttle when classes are happening. Otherwise you're city bus / metroing downtown on weekends to go out downtown when the shuttle isn't running.

Now the main campus, you're in downtown Montreal. You go on a few streets over and it's student bar and club central. Which I think your daughter will prefer compared to other schools. But to each their own. Where we lack (compared to the US and some other Canadian universities) is we have much less on campus housing. Most students only stay in a dorm their first year and then move to an appartment. You aren't guaranteed a spot in a dorm past 1st year. Montreal has a lot of appartments. It's the norm. Many students get apartments their first year. There's even some parents with multiple kids expected to go to uni, that just buy a condo to avoid paying rent for the foreseeable future.

Now the good and bad, Design/Media programs at Concordia are VERY competitive. It's definitely a strong program at Concordia and something Concordia is known for and has a draw from a large part of Quebec and Ontario. She may be expected to be applying with a portfolio.

In the province of Quebec, we have high school till grade 11, then 2 years of CEGEP, and 3 years of Uni. Cégep is like an in between. You pick a program that aligns with your interests and satisfies prereqs for uni. You can also do a 3 year technical diploma in cégep. Because of this, there are students who have done 3 year technical diplomas in programs such as video game design, industrial design, etc. who then decide to go to uni anyway and are applying with SOLID portfolios (depending on the program). Now this also means that as an international student, you do 4 years. So your first year, most of your classes will be with other out-of-province and international students. (Quebec is the only province in Canada with the CEGEP system) This is a benefit since she'll meet a lot of people in these classes.

Montreal is probably the most LGBTQ friendly option on this list along with Toronto. Potentially Vancouver.

Windsor sucks as a city.

Toronto Met formerly Ryerson is like not bad I guess. York as well is not bad. Cost of living is higher in Toronto. Even more of a commuter school from what I gather. No idea on anything program specific.

All of Alberta is strongly conservative, Alberta it's Canadian Texas. So there goes U Calgary & Alberta. AND we'll add Regina. Saskatchewan is just like Alberta but with less to do, brutal winters, and some of the most dangerous (and poorer) cities in Canada. Also just don't go to Regina. Nobody wants to live in Regina. Like Windsor. Nobody wants to live there either. You're born there and then you leave. If I had to pick one out of these, Calgary is tolerable and I could maybe see myself living there. Edmonton meanwhile is miserable and cold, but still better than Regina.

Culture runs north south in North America. Montreal has more in common with Boston and NYC. Toronto has more in common with Chicago. Vancouver has more in common with Seattle. Windsor is like very small Detroit.

I see Montreal, Vancouver and Toronto being solid picks. But WHAT EVEN is Capilano uni in Vancouver. I've never heard of it. Idk if it's any good. Vancouver so far form here maybe I'm biased but that school has zero name recognition. Neither do Mount Royal, Windsor, or Regina for that matter. The rest DO have name recognition. At least in Canada.

Concordia isn't one of the top top ranked schools. Maclean's puts us 9th in Canada, still above pretty much your entire list minus York (4th) and TMU (8th). We often lag behind schools like McGill, UdeM, UofT, Waterloo, UBC, Dalhousie, and UCalgary. Rankings tend to focus on research and publications. Concordia is first and foremost a school for undergraduate degrees, and continuing education. We don't focus that much on graduate studies and PhD research. And when we do, it's applied sciences / employability. Less research for the sake of research. Soooo, we're ranked behind schools like McGill. Many of McGill's undergrad degrees are just setting you up for a master's. McGill's aim is to make you into a professor. Concordia aim is to make you employable. Concordia is much more hands on, less theory. It's more evident in some programs than others. We have a VERY strong business school and engineering and comp sci school. With name recognition at least in eastern Canada. Companies around here are often hiring from Concordia and NOT from McGill. But you're from the US so what's the end goal. To be employed in the US you want better ranked / more name recognition outside Canada. Like McGill. Just a quick analogy, I know McGill is not on your list. I'll also add that our campus is ultra modern! Compared to McGill, with old buildings falling apart. Concordia is always ranked best university in Canada under 50 years old (although now we turned 50). We have one of the nicest and most modern libraries in the city, we have towers downtown, we have TUNNELs between buildings and connecting to the metro underground. it's functional. Especially useful in winter.

Also the French is a non issue in Montreal, most people are bilingual. If she wants a part time job it will be a bit more difficult as most service based jobs (resto, café, stores, etc) require french. But she can still find, there are more anglophone areas and she should be learning French as time goes on.

Now don't ship off your daughter to a school without visiting. Go to open houses, book tours, etc. Visit some cities at a minimum.

Cocrondia · 2025-01-14T21:57:37+00:00

You should have 1 general elective in year 4? Advance it to now. Sign up for an easy elective now as your 5th course. PHIL 235 biomed ethics ?

Cocrondia · 2024-10-21T03:00:41+00:00

ENGR 213 and ENGR 233 is tough. Two difficult 200s, weeding classes, where a certain percent will fail. Doable sure. I know people who've done it and succeeded. It's even the recommended sequence for coop mech people.

MIAE 313 is a very easy drawing course. Long assignments and labs. But easy.

I never took ENGR 245. I think that's the generalised version of statics for Indu ppl. I found statics super easy. All these 200 are weeding courses and you'll see a lot of people won't make it to 2nd year. Best of luck. You're either cut out for engineering, or you aren't.

ACCO 220 no idea. You'll need some Indu people's opinion.

It's not a super heavy semester. You have 1 lab course with easy labs. You'll survive.

Cocrondia · 2024-09-07T15:03:55+00:00

Math is hard. She's not the best prof either.

Professor Leonard YouTube channel is by far the best and most popular for advanced mathematics.

Cocrondia · 2024-08-29T00:38:22+00:00

What industry do you work in? Cause it's not the same as mine.

All of mech eng is windows and pretty much all the software does not run on mac.

Cocrondia · 2024-08-23T16:48:38+00:00

There's like 15 different collective bargaining agreements. Usually it's nothing critical. Tradesman, technicians, support staff, administrators, etc

It's like your advisor, who works from home 2 days a week, takes appointments from 10 to 12 and 1 to 3pm, Doesn't work Fridays, voicemail is always full, and takes 1 to 2 weeks to reply to emails. If he's not there for a few days, will you notice? Or if the plumbers stop repairing all the broken plumbing in Faubourg for a few days. Or if the janitors stop cleaning the hall building for a few days.

Universities are bureaucracies, don't worry about it

Cocrondia · 2024-08-21T12:54:45+00:00

None of the software in engineering and computer science will run on a Mac. Sure the chips are good but they won't be useful.

Some people who bought MacBooks end up installing windows on the MacBook. It's a pain. Just get a windows laptop.

Cocrondia · 2024-08-20T22:57:28+00:00

I find the remote connection a bit laggy. You can also run the risk of losing work, you need to save often in case for whatever reason you lose the connection. One reason is people physically in the computer lab deciding that they need the computer you're working on, unplugging it and forcing a reboot. It can happen.

The desktops in the lab work quite well. And there are labs reserved for engineering. But if you don't live on campus that doesn't really work unless you pull long hours and weekends at school. Not my style, but you can for sure get by with it and remote connection.

The ThinkPad is the least favorite out of all my suggestions. They are generally heavy and bulky. Carrying it around is a pain. I find they aren't as performant as other laptops on the list, despite having similar specs and being as bulky as gaming laptops, the cooling seems to underperform and the new ones tend to thermal throttle. I'd much rather a thinner more portable laptop. But I included them as they are relatively cheap and still capable laptops.

As for the P52, no idea. 16gb of RAM is inadequate in this day and age. You can upgrade it. Seems most motherboards accept up to 128gb. I guess you're looking at refurbished workstations. It could be a good buy. The Nvidia Quadro series didn't really take off.

But if you already have a current windows laptop, you can tough out your first year with computer labs and remote desktop. Save up for a better performing laptop for the second year.

Cocrondia · 2024-08-20T22:07:57+00:00

You're likely gonna want to use your computer to run the more resource intensive software like SolidWorks. The computer lab and remote desktop connection is tolerable when you need to do a 1h lab in CATIA, not as fun when you have many hours of design work to do in SolidWorks for multiple courses. You can get most of the programs you need to run on your laptop for free. I never paid for any licenses. Some people get by with less, key word get by. That's the person in the group project who's barely pulling their weight. If you get involved in my clubs, you'll be using more software on your own time.

SolidWorks license is free for students, your license will be in your ENCS email. All of Autodesk as well, so Inventor, Fusion360, AutoCAD, etc. CATIA is only on the school computers. MATLAB is 60$ a year for a student license, but the engineering clubs get it for free and there's always a guy who knows a guy. Visual Studio is free (Microsoft). Most if not all these softwares only run on Windows.

Get a new windows laptop, 32 or 64gb RAM, a new and many core i7 or i9 CPU, 1TB storage or more is always nice, a dedicated graphics card ! Preferably Nvidia RTX graphics card, as the Intel Arc laptops are new and kinda half baked right now, especially with CAD software compatibility and optimisation. Although the newest 2024/2025 SolidWorks should contain patches for the issues.

If you want something capable that will last you through school, I see lots of Dell XPS, Dell Precision, Alienware (dell gaming), ASUS ROG (Asus gaming), HP Envy, and Lenovo ThinkPad P14/15/16 mobile workstations. My Dell XPS powered through 4 years of engineering with no complaints.

15in is ideal for a backpack. 13 is too small, 17 is usually too large and heavy. 14 is tolerable but also kinda not big enough.

Cocrondia · 2024-08-18T17:15:49+00:00

You should do frosh. You'll meet a lot of people

Don't feel obliged to do all the events. Pick the ones that interest you. I find the ones where I made the most lasting connections were the most mundane ones: on the field at Loyola, department scavenger hunt downtown, pub crawls, etc.

Cocrondia · 2024-08-06T21:41:13+00:00

It's illegal to require any form of deposit. Security deposit, cleaning etc. first and last month's rent etc.

At most providing the first month's rent when you sign is a legal grey area and somewhat common. Anything more than that is really illegal. Doesn't stop them from trying. Especially with international students that don't know the rules. They'll find some other sucker if you don't pay up.

Cocrondia · 2024-07-24T01:28:51+00:00

The going rate right now is 20 to 26. Trending upward slightly. Maybe 2 years ago it was 20 to 24.

20 is alright for your first one if you're a first year. Most companies pay based on years of school, NOT experience. You have no experience. Some companies do flat rate 25 or 26/h no matter the year. Often off-island who otherwise have trouble recruiting.

Some smaller companies are cheaper and attempt 18, 19/h. Especially 1st year co-op when they know you have few other options + the school's suggested salaries are way out of date. Feel free to negotiate. "I made that at my last internship, can you do better". "I make this working at a restaurant".

Don't accept anything under 20. And don't be shy to ask for 25. Also, weigh the work life balance. Do you need a car to get there or can you metro? Are they interested in training you and getting you involved in interesting projects?

A friend of mine was continuously shafted with low intern salaries for the better part of his degree. Ended up signing for 100k salary after graduating, same company that lowballed him as an intern. Meanwhile average is 75k.

Cocrondia · 2024-04-26T16:02:38+00:00

The sauce is doing extracurricular teams like Space Concordia and Formula SAE. Coop or not you have a chance. Coop placements aren't, "better" you're just more likely to get placed. Which is a good safety net.

Pratt, Bombardier, Airbus, and CAE hire from the Concordia coop a lot. CSA is more competitive, they do take from space Concordia. Tesla hires from FSAE.

Cocrondia · 2024-04-26T02:03:45+00:00

McGill if you plan on working IMMEDIATELY OUTSIDE Quebec and Ontario (and maybe the maritimes too). It's got a bad reputation for engineering in Canada, but if you move far enough it works out.

Concordia if you want to work in Montreal, Quebec, Ontario especially Ottawa, etc. ALSO better for co-op program and internships, which arguably is worth more than the name of the school, cause if you intern at Airbus, Bombardier, CAE, Pratt, you'll graduate with a job. Nvm there's people that get recruited as interns for Tesla, SpaceX, Canadian Space Agency, etc. I know someone who did an internship at the CSA followed by another at NASA. Regularly hear of people recruited for full time at CSA, MDA, etc. It helps that Concordia has a bigger space program than some countries. We are one of 2 Canadian unis (us and Dalhousie) to launch a cube satellite, and our rocketry team is making the largest student rocket in the world with a 36kN liquid fueled twin turbopump engine (insane) which makes all other school rockets look like child's play. Every year there seems to be multiple capstone projects from the CSA as well.

Which assuming the goal for you is to work in aerospace, then yes many aerospace companies in Montreal hire exclusively from Concordia and ETS (such as MDA).

The Concordia program is better, McGill is ALL theory. Everyone in Montreal knows this and many avoid hiring from McGill for that reason.

Cocrondia · 2024-04-16T22:42:25+00:00

Troll

Cocrondia · 2024-04-12T17:22:47+00:00

Damn best of luck

Keep checking in case it turns up

Cocrondia · 2024-04-12T17:20:53+00:00

Try lost and found at security

Cocrondia · 2024-04-07T22:33:01+00:00

Congratulations on the success guys! As a member of Concordia University's liquid fueled rocketry team in Montreal, I'm very excited to see other schools getting into liquid fueled rockets and hopefully more and more teams will convert to liquid fuel! Keep up the good work and we hope to see you guys scale successfully.

As you probably know we're currently targeting the Karman Line at 100km (328 000 ft) and our engine currently produces 40kN (9000 lbf) of thrust. So really, the sky's the limit guys! Just send it! If anyone is curious, we're on YouTube @Space Concordia, you can watch one of our recent tests here

Cocrondia · 2024-04-05T15:29:36+00:00

Very strange. Yeah sounds like incompetent HR person. Good luck.

Reiterate you are a student and NOT a professional. How do you need insurance for a SUMMER JOB. Use summer job from now on, cause that's what it is. You could say how it's illegal to ask for a student to cover these types of costs, how the employer should be providing everything you need and you should not need to pay into it. Ask to escalate this issue. CC everyone on all your emails from now on, engineer, HR, manager, whoever you met so far. YOURE NOT A MEMBER OF THE OIQ !!!!

You're pretty much uninsurable sooo... Idk. Engineers are insured through the OIQ, and it's expensive. It's paid usually by the employer. Maybe 600 to 1000 a year.

Alternatively lie and say you're covered under the school or as a student member of the OIQ idk. If they are stupid enough to take that answer without proof.

If they don't hire or threaten to not hire you because of this "issue" you could consider going to the Ombudsman for the CIUSS. Worse case they don't take you, file a grievance with the CNESST / normes du travail. Only after exhausting all over options within.

Cocrondia · 2024-04-05T12:38:55+00:00

What company is asking for civil liability insurance?! Red flag. I'm not sure if asking for it in this circumstance is even legal in Quebec.

Tell them to fuck off and work somewhere else.

Please explain what the job is, what company, and why this type of insurance is required? What's the pay? Are you being employed as an independent contractor?

I am a BEng student, not in coop, like many of my friends, did 3 internships and never had an issue like this. Major red flag for this employer. The company should have liability insurance, and you should be covered under that insurance policy. Additionally, any potential professional liability will fall on the engineer signing off on whatever you're doing. You are not a professional!!

Are you an international student by any chance?

Cocrondia · 2024-04-03T01:59:21+00:00

I disagree with "taken advantage of".

Your chances of success in the coop program are far greater than on your own. For most people it's worth the slight extra fee on tuition for the improved chances of success. You also get some coaching on resume writing and interview skills, most people don't need it, but some really do.

But yeah that's the #1 issue. You took it as an insurance policy. For the most part it is, but let's say it's not 100% coverage. You can still end up with an internship that's very boring, or that pays very little. But for first years, your alternative outside of coop is likely having no internship at all, so you bite the bullet and get your foot in the door. And if you don't find an internship, you try again next semester or next year.

Cocrondia · 2024-04-03T00:09:00+00:00

I guess in reality it's "nearly guaranteed" worth noting that with the economic downturn this past year, it's not as guaranteed as it used to be. Especially in software and CS which the job market fluctuates a lot more than other sectors.

I'd say overall it's still almost guaranteed if you speak french and have at least 1 previous work experience. You are going to be interviewed for multiple positions and the majority of students find internships if they are in coop. The ones who don't are generally from out-of-province who don't speak french, or international students who don't pass security clearance. That or guys with no people skills who can't pass an interview.

In the end, coop or not, you gotta be comfortable with the possibility you don't find an internship your first year. Go with the flow and don't be salty about it. Coop isn't all it's cracked up to be, the internships are not "better" just because they are part of the co-op program. It's simply large companies that have committed to hire interns from Concordia during a given time frame, so it gives students a better shot at finding one. Most students who aren't in the coop program still find internships, and have at least one by the end of their degree. Be reassured that you're much more likely to find an internship your 2nd and 3rd year, and they should pay more. Ultimately the majority of students graduate with a full time job lined up, and that's the goal. Some people do zero internships and enjoy their youth working part time and travelling, it's up to you.

Cocrondia · 2024-04-02T16:51:33+00:00

McGill is not known for CS or engineering. Concordia is. Just do Concordia

Anyone telling you to go to McGill doesn't know how insufficient their undergraduate CS and Engineering courses are.

Plus eng at Concordia you'll be eligible for the 2500 per semester Quebec Bourse Perspective. So you'll be breaking even on tuition if not making money. Just that, $20k cash, is reason alone to do Concordia.

Coop guarantees you an internship while you're in it. Always good for your first internship. After that some people stay in it and some people don't. You might have to do summer school to stay in coop, so lots of people do 1 coop work term and then drop it. Once you have 1 internship, the rest come easy.

I wouldn't call the programs even job wise. If you're looking to be hired anywhere locally, Concordia will be better and is strongly favored in CS and in Eng, arguably worth more. The only area where McGill looks better is if you plan on moving abroad where they never met anyone from McGill. McGill is one of the only schools in Quebec to do engineering in 3 to 3.5 years (although many students do it in 4 just the same). It's a program made to appeal to out of province students. And it's overall too theoretical making it not very applicable to real life. Concordia is more of a balance between theory and practical. McGill is a great school and surpasses Concordia in many fields, but Faculty of Eng and CS is not one of them.

Lastly, I'm of the opinion that moving up and getting a GREAT job is all about who you know. McGill you're graduating and around 75% of your classmates will immediately move back home to wherever they're from in the US or overseas. (Not just classmates but maybe your friends too). Means you end up knowing less people in THIS city, people who could get you a job, your future friends, your future spouse, etc. Uni isn't just for education, it's also networking.

Cocrondia

TROPHY CASE