# Choosing a college... **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [April 19, 2003, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/choosing-a-college/169722 "2003-04-19T23:37:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Palve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a698b9/32.png) [@Palve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Palve)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2003, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/choosing-a-college/169722/1 "2003-04-19T23:37:15Z")
Well, I’ve turned in all my applications and gotten back all my results. To put it short, I now have about a week to choose between the University at Buffalo and McGill University in Montreal. Both my parents want me to go to UB because of the safer atmosphere, but I’m not so sure about where I want to go. I’ve made two visits to each one and I’m still undecided. Any input would be greatly appreciated. ---
**Author:** ![Doomtrain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/0ea827/32.png) [@Doomtrain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doomtrain)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2003, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/choosing-a-college/169722/2 "2003-04-20T00:02:56Z")
Buffalo is safer than Canada? ---
**Author:** ![Palve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a698b9/32.png) [@Palve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Palve)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2003, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/choosing-a-college/169722/3 "2003-04-20T00:06:31Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by GMRyujin \* > \*\*Buffalo is safer than Canada? \*\* Well, UB is in a suburb of Buffalo that apparently won something for being a really safe community and my parents say Montreal has a biker gang problem, although I must admit I never really looked into it. ---
**Author:** ![discoman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a6a055/32.png) [@discoman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/discoman)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2003, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/choosing-a-college/169722/4 "2003-04-20T00:11:50Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by GMRyujin \* > \*\*Buffalo is safer than Canada? \*\* Well, according to Michael Moore in Bowling for Columbine, No. But then again, that’s hollywood for you… Palve, what are you planning on studying? ---
**Author:** ![Palve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a698b9/32.png) [@Palve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Palve)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2003, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/choosing-a-college/169722/5 "2003-04-20T00:23:18Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by discoman \* > \*\*Well, according to Michael Moore in Bowling for Columbine, No. But then again, that’s hollywood for you… > > Palve, what are you planning on studying? \*\* Linguistics. I like languages and the study of languages, which was one of my reasons for choosing to apply to McGill, since Montreal is a multilingual environment and I could learn to speak French in a French-speaking environment. But the Buffalo linguistics program is respectable and in some respects probably better than McGill’s. However, I’ve only visited with a representative of the linguistics department for each university once so that’s just a speculation. ---
**Author:** ![DAVEW0071](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e19b73/32.png) [@DAVEW0071](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DAVEW0071)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2003, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/choosing-a-college/169722/6 "2003-04-20T00:57:30Z")
Colleges usually have pretty good security, so I don’t know how much of a problem biker gangs would be. My daughter intends to study at NYU, in the heart of bad ol’ New York City, but we’re confident that it’s a safe place for her. Good luck choosing a college. ---
**Author:** ![Fretful\_Porpentine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fretful_porpentine/32/2873_2.png) [@Fretful\_Porpentine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fretful_Porpentine)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2003, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/choosing-a-college/169722/7 "2003-04-20T01:01:53Z")
> [@](#): > > I like languages and the study of languages, which was one of my reasons for choosing to apply to McGill, since Montreal is a multilingual environment and I could learn to speak French in a French-speaking environment. But the Buffalo linguistics program is respectable and in some respects probably better than McGill’s. Ooh, in that case I think there’s no contest. Studying a language in a classroom just doesn’t compare to _living_ somewhere you’re immersed in it. ---
**Author:** ![Doomtrain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/0ea827/32.png) [@Doomtrain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doomtrain)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2003, 5:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/choosing-a-college/169722/8 "2003-04-20T05:15:49Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Palve \* > \*\*Well, UB is in a suburb of Buffalo that apparently won something for being a really safe community and my parents say Montreal has a biker gang problem, although I must admit I never really looked into it. \*\* A French Canadian biker gang? That’s such a funny idea, I think you should go there. ---
**Author:** ![detop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bcef8e/32.png) [@detop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/detop)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2003, 7:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/choosing-a-college/169722/9 "2003-04-20T07:24:14Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Palve \* > \*\*\my parents say Montreal has a biker gang problem, although I must admit I never really looked into it. \*\* Actually, regarding biker violence, things have pretty much settled down here. The Hell’s Angels have been pretty much dismantled (most of their leaders are in jasil or awaiting trial) and the Bandidos are next on the list. > [@](#): > > _Originally posted by GMRyujin_ > **A French Canadian biker gang? That’s such a funny idea, I think you should go there.** Don’t laugh at our bikers, they have been repeatedly identified as the most vicious Hell’s Angels chapters. ---
**Author:** ![detop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bcef8e/32.png) [@detop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/detop)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2003, 7:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/choosing-a-college/169722/10 "2003-04-20T07:24:50Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Palve \* > \*\*\my parents say Montreal has a biker gang problem, although I must admit I never really looked into it. \*\* Actually, regarding biker violence, things have pretty much settled down here. The Hell’s Angels have been pretty much dismantled (most of their leaders are in jail or awaiting trial) and the Bandidos are next on the list. > [@](#): > > _Originally posted by GMRyujin_ > **A French Canadian biker gang? That’s such a funny idea, I think you should go there.** Don’t laugh at our bikers, they have been repeatedly identified as the most vicious Hell’s Angels chapters. ---
**Author:** ![detop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bcef8e/32.png) [@detop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/detop)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2003, 7:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/choosing-a-college/169722/11 "2003-04-20T07:34:26Z")
Sorry about the double post ---
**Author:** ![Doomtrain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/0ea827/32.png) [@Doomtrain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doomtrain)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2003, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/choosing-a-college/169722/12 "2003-04-20T14:10:13Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by detop \* > \*\* > Don’t laugh at our bikers, they have been repeatedly identified as the most vicious Hell’s Angels chapters. \*\* When Canadians go bad, they must really go bad.