By Chloe Li

U-ni-ver-si-ty.

That little, five-syllable word is enough make nearly all of us at NT feel something. Whether that feeling is anxiety, excitement, or fear, it is undeniable that “university” is a loaded word. It comes attached to the prospect of moving one step closer to the “real world”. It comes with the thrill of independence and fantasies of buying first cars, of late night parties, and of the beginning of our adult lives.

But when we attach a name to the word “university,” its meaning shifts a little. Attach any name—University of Toronto, McGill University, University of British Columbia—to “university,” and, instantly, we are reminded that we have to pick, or be picked by, a university. Sometime between Grade 9 and Graduation, we scamper to the guidance office, stare at pamphlets plastered with over-happy college kids, and arbitrate amongst the bevy of universities in Canada. Eventually, we settle on one.

But how can we make the best choice when our selection pool is limited? Our selection pool is limited by the borders of our country, perhaps even the borders of our province. It seems that the majority of NT students only consider Ontarian or Canadian universities when deciding where they willgo . It seems that at NT we are almost unaware that there is a world of university options beyond the borders of the True North Strong and Free.

While it is true that Canadian universities are excellent, it is also true that many of the best universities in the world can be found in the international sphere. Names like Harvard University and Yale University spring instantly to mind, but names like the University of Pennsylvania, Manchester University, and even the University of Hong Kong should be familiar to us. Yet they aren’t.

Why not? Why not travel across the world to go to university? Why not pack up all of your things and move not just down the street, but a few thousand miles away, across a continent, even across an ocean? “It’s too far,” says Zhenzhu Pohl, a Grade 11 student, “I don’t know if I’ll be comfortable.” But the independence we’re all seeking can hardly be obtained when we’re comfortably living a short hour away from Mommy and Daddy.

That independence, however, can definitely be obtained in another country. There are endless choices for Canadian students seeking an international post-secondary education. The world, as they say, is in the palm of our hands—the United States, the United Kingdom, Europe, and Asia all have incredible opportunities for Canadian students, no matter what your interests are.

The first and most obvious international destination for Canadian students, of course, is the United States. With names like Harvard, Yale, Princeton and Brown, how could we not think of our southern neighbour when considering university? Home to the renowned  Ivy League Universities, in addition to prestigious institutions like Johns Hopkins University, the University of Chicago, Tufts University, and Duke University, the United States is an enticing post-NTCI destination. “I didn’t think it was worth the stress applying,” says Jenny Peng, a Grade 12 student at NT. And while the admissions process into American schools is gruelling, requiring the completion of standardized exams, impeccable academic records and stellar extra-curricular activities, it is most definitely worthwhile. Private American universities receive unequalled endowments from the American government and offer unparalleled resources for students; Harvard has received nearly $40 billion dollars in aid annually, the average student at Brown University receives $34, 550 in financial aid, and Harvard University even offers an entire legal team for the needs of students who want to start international charities. In addition, a wide variety of majors are available at American universities, likely including everything you could study in Canadian universities and more, from Classics to biophysics to political philosophy. And though the chances of getting into an Ivy League are low, it is not impossible to get there. In fact, a few NT students have headed south to schools like Dartmouth and Harvard.

Another fantastic international option for post-secondary education is the United Kingdom. With names like Oxford and Cambridge, top-notch schools like the University College London and Manchester University, as well the test of living an ocean apart from your family, going to university in the UK is both an exciting opportunity and rousing challenge. The admissions process is just as competitive as the American one. Though there are usually no extra examinations to be written, universities in the United Kingdom select students from within the European Union first, and internationally second; thus, those of us who don’t live in the EU must compete with more people for fewer spots. Though competition is fierce, there are many benefits to studying within the United Kingdom. For students thinking of a medical career, the eight-year-long process (frightening, I know) to obtain a Doctor of Medicine degree in Canada can be shortened to a much more palatable six years to obtain the equivalent Bachelor of Medicine at British and Irish universities. For students with literary or historical aspirations for the future, there are few universities in the world that can rival the literature and history programs offered by Cambridge University, the alma mater of Christopher Marlowe, Lord Byron, Sylvia Plath and A.A. Milne.  And best of all, most UK universities require an Ontario Secondary School Diploma and an average of above 80% across six Grade 12 University Level courses of their applicants; these are the same requirements as many Canadian universities.

And as for students thinking of studying languages in the future, why not trek to Europe to study a language in its native country? Study French at the Sorbonne University in Paris, France and you’ll get to explore the Latin Quarter or stroll along the Champs-Elysees on days off. Canadian applicants to the Sorbonne University of Paris are even exempt from taking the mandatory French proficiency test because French is an official language in Canada.  For business-minded students, pursue a degree in business or economics at the prestigious School of Business of the University of Hong Kong, where you can gain business perspective and make contacts within the fastest-growing economy in the entire world. Canadian applicants to the University of Hong Kong need only a Ontario Secondary School Diploma and an average of 70% or above across six Grade 12 University Level courses—again, the same requirements as many Canadian universities.

As Canadian high school students, we have a remarkable number of options available to us to continue our educations. They need not be restricted by the tight confinements of our country’s borders. Expand your list of prospective universities past Canadian borders; you’ll thank yourself for it.