USA or Canada?

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by CityPolice

Can you explain to me why because you dont say im going to university you say im going to college.

It's just a difference between American and British English. There is a bigger difference between colleges and universities in most English-speaking countries other than the U.S. English Canadians also say "university" rather than college, whereas college in the U.S. refers to Harvard, Yale, Michigan St., Rutgers, etc., all of which are universities.

[minibrings]

And in the 2008 version (I could not find the link) the three Uni's I attended in the US and Australia are on the top 100 list! Yay!

[joedrsaved]

Originally Posted by Miranda Roldan

Hi,

I would like to know some opinions about which country is beter for living, Im really confused because I love Canada, I have been there some times and I asked for the permanent residence one year and a half ago, and at the same time I am living in the United States 8 months ago and I met a very nice person who ask me to get married... and I dont know if this country is that nice as Canada, talking about the people and the oportunities to get a good job.

At least both of them are nice and clean... big and rich

Miranda

I would recommend Canada, though I'm a life long citizen of the USA, as were many ancestors before me. The USA will not be able to maintain a strategic edge and will eventually find itself opposed by major military forces. What is approaching is not nice. Leave while you still can. I plan to as soon as I can.

[Robynator]

Originally Posted by CityPolice

Can you explain to me why because you dont say im going to university you say im going to college.

People from the USA say "I'm going to college". People from the rest of the world say "I'm going to university". I don't know why or how this started, but it's just a cultural phenomenon.

As Acajack mentioned, college does have a different meaning from university - at least outside of the USA, even though both offer post-secondary education, even if there is some overlap. And most people (outside of the USA)... if they're going to get their degree at a university, whether it be Harvard, or the University of Toronto, or University of Edinburgh, etc, they would say, "I'm going to university". In Australia and in the UK, they even tend to shorten it and say "I'm going to uni" although you wouldn't hear "uni" in Canada.

A college, to me at least, generally refers to a smaller school, like a regional college - a school that might offer some undergraduate (Bachelors) degrees, but they also offer certifications (for specific trades and skills), one year or two year diplomas and such. They would not offer Masters degrees or Doctorals, for example. You would not pursue a law degree in a college, but if you wanted to work as a medical clinic assistant, or a welder, or a certified auto mechanic, you would probably go to a college to take the applicable course.

[beadlet]

well being a canadian citizen, born and raised, and did all my schooling there, but now married and living in the states. I can say that in most respects alot of things are the same. Some people posted that schooling is better/safer in canada, depends on where you study as well, but I do agree with that. The reason alot of things might seem so different is the immigration laws between the countries. There are a differences, and then there are similarities, but I would still say I prefer canada better, but I think only cuz all my family is up there.

[ionlife]

Originally Posted by Robynator

People from the USA say "I'm going to college". People from the rest of the world say "I'm going to university". I don't know why or how this started, but it's just a cultural phenomenon.

As Acajack mentioned, college does have a different meaning from university - at least outside of the USA, even though both offer post-secondary education, even if there is some overlap. And most people (outside of the USA)... if they're going to get their degree at a university, whether it be Harvard, or the University of Toronto, or University of Edinburgh, etc, they would say, "I'm going to university". In Australia and in the UK, they even tend to shorten it and say "I'm going to uni" although you wouldn't hear "uni" in Canada.

A college, to me at least, generally refers to a smaller school, like a regional college - a school that might offer some undergraduate (Bachelors) degrees, but they also offer certifications (for specific trades and skills), one year or two year diplomas and such. They would not offer Masters degrees or Doctorals, for example. You would not pursue a law degree in a college, but if you wanted to work as a medical clinic assistant, or a welder, or a certified auto mechanic, you would probably go to a college to take the applicable course.

I guess that's why my canuck friend gave me the evil eye and a comedown when I spoke of college vs. university in my USA terms... sheesh... whatever...

[ionlife]

Originally Posted by joedrsaved

I would recommend Canada, though I'm a life long citizen of the USA, as were many ancestors before me. The USA will not be able to maintain a strategic edge and will eventually find itself opposed by major military forces. What is approaching is not nice. Leave while you still can. I plan to as soon as I can.

What? You afraid of the uh? economic meltdown? uh? oh... global meltdown that includes Canada? Oh uh? the military forces of Canadian flying Geese and 3 canoes?

I am so not convinced...

[LeafsFan85]

Originally Posted by dramamama

What? You afraid of the uh? economic meltdown? uh? oh... global meltdown that includes Canada? Oh uh? the military forces of Canadian flying Geese and 3 canoes?

I am so not convinced...

They also trained to shoot while travelling fullspeed on dog sled

[Chicago60614]

They're just such LARGE areas, and have so many people, it's hard to make a black and white statement. I love Canada, and I love the United States. There are plenty of places in each country I would LOVE to live, and plenty of places in each country I would NEVER live.

I love the US, but it sure has its issues if you aren't one of the groups that benifits the most. A majority of people in the US live fairly good lives, low crime, jobs, they have fun. Then you have the 20% at the bottom who people in other industrialized countries look and are baffled.. It is bad that we let those less fortunate go for the added benifit of the top 80%, but I guess that's just how we evolved. "No government intervention".


People always bring up the crime in the US, but it's actually very very much segregated to certain regions and certain inner-cities.

Chicago has more murders than any city other than New York and maybe Los Angeles. Around 500 murders a year. This seems insane to most people, for a city of 3 million people. What people don't tend to point out is that while there are 500 murders very confined to areas of the City of Chicago, there are another 3 million people living in northern suburban areas that see around 50 murders per year.

Inner city: 16/100,000
Outter burbs: 1.6/100,000

Those stats were from 3 years ago, but still, there are PLENTY of safe areas in the United States.

I grew up in a state with 3 million people, and averaged around 35 murders a year for the entire state. That's not too bad. Even the Des Moines metro last year had 5 murders for 550,000 people.

It just depends on where you look in the US and you'll find vastly different living conditions. I could never live down south, but I like the Midwest. The west and east are ok, I just feel more at home here in Chicago.

[Acajack]

Excellent post all round.

I knew about this already, but when you consider this statement...

Chicago has more murders than any city other than New York and maybe Los Angeles. Around 500 murders a year. This seems insane to most people, for a city of 3 million people. What people don't tend to point out is that while there are 500 murders very confined to areas of the City of Chicago, there are another 3 million people living in northern suburban areas that see around 50 murders per year.

Inner city: 16/100,000
Outter burbs: 1.6/100,000

.. it really underlines how there are many, many safe areas, but also just how scary certain other areas can be if all those murders aren’t spread out evenly but rather concentrated in a few pockets of the city. Yikes.