UVic vs. UBC

[something]

I am considering both schools for the next step in my long and hopefully appropriate academic career.

I am quite split, however, on which to choose. I find myself leaning to Victoria since I don't see myself having another reason to live there again (and would love to spend a few years there). UBC, as I understand, however, would offer a more reputable education. Also, it will be closer to Calgary and would make coming home a lot easier (especially for flights).

Any input on living expenses? I would be looking for roommate type accommodation off-campus (though close). Does anyone have any input on their experiences in either city? Long or short term?

I appreciate any and all advice/input!

[hmmhmmcamo]

What are you studying?

[Senator Clay Davis]

I lived in Vic and I'll say its an awesome place to live. It's an interesting dichotomy of a town, with lots of young people for schools and lots of old people for retirement. Victoria is great because its such a condensed city you can literally walk everywhere, and bike is probably the fastest way to get around the city. The transit systems in both are strong so thats no concern. Everything is a bit more expensive in Vic because it has to be transported to the Island via ferry. Vic is also more of a tourist town than Vancouver (lots of cruise dockings). If you're going to be roomating it, I was able to for around $550 a month all included, so its reasonable. But as you mentioned UBC is considered a more elite school than UVic, but UVic is still a good school.

[Winsor_Pilates]

Bus access to UBC is very easy; you could live in some great areas of Van, or even DT and have no problem getting to UBC by bus.

I never went to UBC, but imagine it would have been pretty awesome.

[d_phaneuf]

Both have great campuses, like others have said the transit to UBC is very easy from almost anywhere in around Vancouver (don't know about Uvic as much)

Prices can be similar because you can live so many different places in Vancouver with the transit being straight to UBC in most cases

UBC may be a bit more reputable but Uvic is still a very good school

you would have a great time and get a good education wherever you choose

[blankall]

I have degrees from both. They both have their strengths. Depends on what you want to study and how old you are.

[sun]

I can't speak of the quality of education of either school, but I know I loved UVic's campus when I visited there. UBC, not so much - it's enormous. UVic seems like a really tight knit kinda place where everyone knows your name. Like Cheers.

[d_phaneuf]

one other thing to note, a lot of people at UBC are from Vancouver and are going there all ready having a group of friends so it may be a little less outwardly social in 1st year than Uvic where most are transplants from different areas

[rubecube]

Originally Posted by diane_phaneuf

one other thing to note, a lot of people at UBC are from Vancouver and are going there all ready having a group of friends so it may be a little less outwardly social in 1st year than Uvic where most are transplants from different areas

This is true, but islanders are also a lot more cliquey than Vancouverites and harder to make friends with.

[troutman]

I had that choice. UBC was the time of my life.

[flylock shox]

Go to UVic.

Smalltown schools are way better because fewer people are from there so you'll meet more people more easily.

Also, UVic has a 2 to 1 guy to girl ratio, which is good. I am predicating this of course on the stereotype that you are a heterosexual male. Or a lesbian.

Also, UBC is lame and has no culture. It's a commuter campus.

Plus it rains more in Vancouver.

[Tinordi]

UBC is a commuter campus? Maybe, but there's thousands of students that live in Res at UBC. Lots of stuff to do there on campus.

[troutman]

Originally Posted by Tinordi

UBC is a commuter campus? Maybe, but there's thousands of students that live in Res at UBC. Lots of stuff to do there on campus.

When I was there in the early 1990s, Kitsilano was full of houses rented out by UBC students.

My house (over 3 years) had students from PEI, Que, AB, Japan, Australia, Northern BC, NZ, UK, Ireland.

[something]

What are you studying?

I have a degree, considering what I want to do going forward. In this case, I am considering doing a new undergraduate degree in Environmental Sciences. I think both campuses would be excellent, though perhaps UBC is a step above UVic in this regard.

Originally Posted by flylock shox

Go to UVic.

Smalltown schools are way better because fewer people are from there so you'll meet more people more easily.

Also, UVic has a 2 to 1 guy to girl ratio, which is good. I am predicating this of course on the stereotype that you are a heterosexual male. Or a lesbian.

Also, UBC is lame and has no culture. It's a commuter campus.

Plus it rains more in Vancouver.

And what if I am a heterosexual lesbian!? Such a discriminatory post...

But I presume you mean that UVic is a 2 to 1 girl to guy ratio, otherwise it would not be favourable for me, a heterosexual male.

Also, for those who mentioned residence. This is practically out of the question for me. I am not interested in bunking with 17 and 18 year olds in my ripe age of 25.

[Tinordi]

Originally Posted by troutman

When I was there in the early 1990s, Kitsilano was full of houses rented out by UBC students.

My house (over 3 years) had students from PEI, Que, AB, Japan, Australia, Northern BC, NZ, UK, Ireland.

Exactly. Even if you don't live on campus most students from my experience live in Kits or Vancouver proper and are 15 to 45 mins away on the bus.

The pot is better on the island.

[Coach]

I spent my first year (2007) in university at UVic and girlfriend at the time was going to UBC at the same time so I spent a lot of time at both places.

I have to lean to UVic. The difference in reputable education is going to be very minor (depending on your program). Once you get into the work force where you got your degree is not going to matter compared to your personal skills and work ethic.

UVic is quite a bit smaller and if you're living in residence getting to class is a breeze (my furthest class was on the other end of campus and was a 10 min walk from my dorm). UBC is MASSIVE. It's pretty much its own city. Walking from one end to the other is not going to be fun (ie, you can't wake up 10 min before class and still make it on time). But they do have busses and shuttles that go around campus. Also UBC has Rec Beach, which is a nude beach. Although like most nude beaches, the people who are nude are generally those who probably shouldnt be. UVic is only a few minute walk from the beach too (you can actually see Washington State from the cove).

It definitely doesn't rain as much in Vic as it does in Van. I found the weather to generally be quite a bit nicer in Vic (I was wearing shorts until I went home for Christmas). And it seemed to be raining almost everytime I went to Van. I don't think there's any difference between flying from Van to Calgary or Vic to Calgary except that there may be more flights out of Van.

I loved going to UVic and would recommend it over UBC if your program isnt specific to UBC. If you want to go to Van for the weekend for concerts or hockey or something, the transportation from UVic to the ferry is very good, and if you have the patience the public transit system between the two cities is MILES ahead of anything here.

PS: Watch out for Canucks fans. I had a mild dislike for that team before moving there. Now, after moving back, there is nothing I loathe more.

[Kybosh]

Doesn't UVic have a pretty well known environmental science department?

[blankall]

Originally Posted by something

I have a degree, considering what I want to do going forward. In this case, I am considering doing a new undergraduate degree in Environmental Sciences. I think both campuses would be excellent, though perhaps UBC is a step above UVic in this regard.





And what if I am a heterosexual lesbian!? Such a discriminatory post...

But I presume you mean that UVic is a 2 to 1 girl to guy ratio, otherwise it would not be favourable for me, a heterosexual male.

Also, for those who mentioned residence. This is practically out of the question for me. I am not interested in bunking with 17 and 18 year olds in my ripe age of 25.

You already have a degree and are 25. UVic may not be the place for you. As other's have mentioned it's smaller and has much more of a sense of community. However, there are very few older students there. In fact, it's almost exclusively students aged 17-22. It was wonderful for me when I was 17-22. However, I hung out with people I'd met in residence, and, looking back on it, we were quite clique. People that age just aren't as open to meeting new people, in general.

As for residence, UVic does offer something called Cluster Housing. You have to be a bit older to get in, and people here are mostly in their early 20s.

UBC is much larger, however, the student body is much more varried. There are people there of all age ranges.

Another quick question: why are you doing a second undergrad degree? You'd be much better off if you managed to get into a master's program in Environmental Science.

After finishing my first degree, which was in Biology, I thought I needed more undergrad too. So I signed up for a commerce undergrad at UofT. Just prior to starting, I realized I was being idiotic, as there was no reason to start over. My goals would be better achieved by either entering Law School or an MBA program. There was no reason to get another undergrad. Undergrad degrees are getting more and more useless, why would I want two? I had already paid and been acccepted for the school, so I wrote my LSAT, went to one semester of undergrad, and then quit for law school.

Although being able to drop out of school, for whatever reason, felt great, it really was a waste of time and effort.

Enough rambling... my advice is get into a two year master's program that is specialised for an actual career in Environmental Science. You'll be much futher ahead than if you get another bachelor degree.

[Rathji]

AFAIK you can get pot and good looting/riot disguises at either school, so you should be good choosing either.