Why Do Calgarians Choose UofA? - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

Hemmer · 06-10-2008, 10:02 AM

Sorry if this thread has been done before.

Being a former UofA grad, I know that it is a great school and growing up in Edm, it was the obvious post secondary choice for me. However, I would like to know why many Calgarians choose UofA too? Does the UofA offer courses that UofC doesn't? Is it quality of education? Change of scenery? And for those who have moved to Edm to make UofA their second home, what have you liked and disliked about your experience?

BlackArcher101 · 06-10-2008, 10:07 AM

Recognition and stature. There's a belief that a degree from the UofA will mean more to an employer than one from the UofC.

troutman · 06-10-2008, 10:08 AM

Why go to EDM when you can go to UBC?

Matata · 06-10-2008, 10:10 AM

The UofC is low ranked nationaly. I know from my degree that the engineering department is one of the best in the country (almost unavoidable as calgary has the most engineers per capita in Canada, possibly north america) and the Huskayne school of business gets mad funding, I also hear that alot of Canadas most prominant conservatives are part of the political sciences department. I'm sure I missed some things, but the UofC has a pretty short list of things going for it.

edit: Theres alot of money to be made in Calgary, getting your degree at the UofC also shows commitment to the city, making you more employable in one of the countries wealthiest cities.

RinkRat13 · 06-10-2008, 10:11 AM

I am from Calgary and I went to both schools and must say that U of A is a far superior institution. It offered better and different programs and seemed to be better run when I was there.
I can honestly say that I enjoyed my time at U of A, where as U of C was just an okay experience.
I suppose each university has its pros and cons.
I found the intramural program at U of A to be just AWESOME! I lived in Residence while at U of A and that was also a great experience, although the food was not always good.

troutman · 06-10-2008, 10:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RinkRat13

I have a BA in Native Studies with a Recreation minor from U of A and a BA in Archaeology from U of C.

Cool - I knew you were smarter than the rest of us.

FireFly · 06-10-2008, 10:15 AM

Some people just want to get away from their parents, too.

wpgflamesfan · 06-10-2008, 10:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BlackArcher101

Recognition and stature. There's a belief that a degree from the UofA will mean more to an employer than one from the UofC.

I think you hit the nail on the head right there.

For a bachelors degree people tend not to care where you went to school. It's when you do your masters/phd/etc that people start to really pay attention to the school you went to.

RinkRat13 · 06-10-2008, 10:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by troutman

Cool - I knew you were smarter than the rest of us.

But I am NOT the lawyer and softball guy.............

llama64 · 06-10-2008, 10:30 AM

Simple. UofC is for Business drones and engineers. They also have a decent Law program.

UofA is for everything else. The campus is nicer, the programs offered are more rich and varied. And the fine arts/"social sciences" arn't in danger of being sidelined in favor of more marketing programs. In terms of which is a better University, UofA is much nicer.

But honestly, if people are choosing specific schools under some pretense that employers are going to think one is better then another, they are only kidding themselves. Employers don't care what school you came from (if they are smart), only that you can do the job and fit in with the team.

Choose a school based on what you want. If you like Edmonton or the non profit oriented schools, head up to UofA. But if you're going out of town, might as well go out of province and look to UBC, UVic or even Queens/UofT.

peter12 · 06-10-2008, 10:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RinkRat13

I am from Calgary and I went to both schools and must say that U of A is a far superior institution. It offered better and different programs and seemed to be better run when I was there.
I can honestly say that I enjoyed my time at U of A, where as U of C was just an okay experience.
I suppose each university has its pros and cons.
I found the intramural program at U of A to be just AWESOME! I lived in Residence while at U of A and that was also a great experience, although the food was not always good.

I have a BA in Native Studies with a Recreation minor from U of A and a BA in Archaeology from U of C.

What a varied and superior program... I can honestly say that a derivation of that has to be offered at any school with a liberal arts program.

Da_Chief · 06-10-2008, 10:41 AM

Few factors

-U of A offers some programs U of C doesn't.
-Its much easier to get into some programs at U of A than in U of C(eg. Engineering).
-A seems to add seats in departments wheres C takes them out(unless Schulichs or Haskaynes come around).
-Like some mentioned, higher regards for U of A.
-Chance to get away.

I've seen the 2nd one used a lot. I've had friends and ppl i know who have transferred to U of A after a year at U of C, especially in engineering.

Myself, from Calgary. Going to U of C, taking engineering. Im fine with it.

Hemmer · 06-10-2008, 10:46 AM

I graduated from Business at UofA and they have a very good co-op program there. Anyone know how the UofC Co-op program is for Business? With all the headquarters in Calgary.. I'd imagine that co-op program is very successful?

ricoFlame · 06-10-2008, 10:48 AM

i didn't go to the u of a because i didn't want to go to edmonton. i'm sure it's great, but it's on the wrong side of red deer for me. strictly geography.

Tyler · 06-10-2008, 10:51 AM

I didn't want to go to U of C simply because I didn't want to spend another 4 years in Calgary living with my parents, going to school with all the same people from high school, and paying $8,000 a year to do it.

I was basically left with UBC and U of A, and there was no way I was going to willingly spend 4 years in Edmonton.

fatso · 06-10-2008, 10:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by peter12

What a varied and superior program... I can honestly say that a derivation of that has to be offered at any school with a liberal arts program.

nice low blow.

Actually I'm surprised it took more than 3 posts for someone to comment on another's educational choices and career potential. CP is turning out to be much more progressive than I thought!

Sainters7 · 06-10-2008, 10:54 AM

I'm at the UofA right now, I'm here because the Education program is supposed to be superior here than the one offered at the UofC. I love the UofA, great campus(and you'd be surprised about how many Flames jerseys you see around campus, especially during playoff time). In the last MacLean's university rankings magazine, they had UofA ranked over-all as the 3rd best university in the country.

FlamesAddiction · 06-10-2008, 10:56 AM

Maybe I'm way off here, but the impression I get of the UofA is that it is a generalist university. It's the jack of everything whereas the UofC is streamlined towards a few specific types of programs.

Sort of like the difference between SFU and UBC.

Buff · 06-10-2008, 11:05 AM

From a Lethbridge dwellers standpoint, I stayed in Lethbridge. My wife had to go to U of A though. It was either U of A or out of province.

peter12 · 06-10-2008, 11:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fatso

nice low blow.

Actually I'm surprised it took more than 3 posts for someone to comment on another's educational choices and career potential. CP is turning out to be much more progressive than I thought!

I don't care about what he took, nor was I making fun of the actual program. I was just saying that it's sort of a standard program you could take anywhere.