I did a lot of volunteering when I was getting my bachelors in engineering at U of C (Pre-Schulich) and got to visit a lot of other campuses over the years.
I'd have to say that a big part of the ("universal") appeal for a school like U of A is its age - the University is pretty much as old as Alberta... which is pretty damn cool. I think that people just
feel smarter when they are learning in a 100 year old historic building. Compare that to the admittedly pretty dumpy buildings at the Calgary Campus, and it is no contest. Honestly, I got the same great vibe at other campuses like U of S, Queens, Dalhousie, and so on.
Plus, the U of C was the "Calgary Campus" of the U of A for years, too, so when you're going to the U of C, you
kind of are going to the U of A!
Wait until Mount Royal College becomes a full fledged University for forty years and then ask the question why people go to U of C instead of Mount Royal University...
I honestly think that a lot of tangible and intangible qualities get developed with age for a school, U of C is still pretty young in the grand scheme of things. I am pretty proud of my alma matter and what it has been able to grow to in a short amount of time. I did enjoy the fact that students can play a very active role in making the community better if they choose to. For example, a friend of mine started the Engineering Endowment Fund as an undergrad which has grown to over a million dollars in principle sum and has paid for hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of lab equipment in its short lifespan.
I honestly do not know much about the U of A, but I know that people who went there loved it. I'm pretty sure that the U of A has it in their mandate to be recognized in the top 10 schools
worldwide within the next 10 years, and I would have to say that they are positioned well to make a run at it.
Any U of S alumni out there? Out of all the schools to visit, that was always the most fun.