# Going to university! in ontario... **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [June 2, 2003, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-to-university-in-ontario/179235 "2003-06-02T21:50:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![sstaurus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e4f/32.png) [@sstaurus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sstaurus)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2003, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-to-university-in-ontario/179235/1 "2003-06-02T21:50:44Z")
Hi! I’m going to university in the fall, and am going to buy a computer for in my res room. Can anyone from experience tell me if it’s better to get a laptop or a desktop computer? thanks!! Also, for anyone who happens to live in Ontario (yeah right) which is the best university of these three: Windsor, Brock or Ryerson? I’ve been accepted to all three and am looking for other opinions on those three. thanks again! ---
**Author:** ![SexyHamster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@SexyHamster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SexyHamster)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2003, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-to-university-in-ontario/179235/2 "2003-06-02T22:28:21Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by sstaurus \* > \*\*Hi! > > I’m going to university in the fall, and am going to buy a computer for in my res room. Can anyone from experience tell me if it’s better to get a laptop or a desktop computer? thanks!! > \*\* One downside to laptops at universities is that they’re easy for people to steal. I never leave mine alone, and hit it in my res room when I wasn’t there (usually someone will end up with a master key, eventually). On the plus side, if you end up sharing a residence room with someone, it can be awfully nice to get away and work somewhere else. I’ve completed a lot of assignments in coffee shops. > [@](#): > > \*\* > Also, for anyone who happens to live in Ontario (yeah right) which is the best university of these three: Windsor, Brock or Ryerson? I’ve been accepted to all three and am looking for other opinions on those three. > \*\* I’m not a real big fan of the city of Windsor. Too industrial for my tastes. That being said, I now live just north of Kitchener. I would recommend going to all the campus tours if you can make them. You really have no idea what you’re going to like without seeing the place first hand – it’s worth the effort. ---
**Author:** ![Horrifying\_Howler\_Monkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/df788c/32.png) [@Horrifying\_Howler\_Monkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horrifying_Howler_Monkey)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2003, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-to-university-in-ontario/179235/3 "2003-06-02T23:14:18Z")
Get ahold of the Maclean’s University issue, it rates the different U’s in Canada, it’s an interesting read. ---
**Author:** ![CuriousCanuck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d2c977/32.png) [@CuriousCanuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CuriousCanuck)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2003, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-to-university-in-ontario/179235/4 "2003-06-03T00:05:06Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Magayuk \* > \*\*Get ahold of the Maclean’s University issue, it rates the different U’s in Canada, it’s an interesting read. \*\* I agree. Shoulda applies to Queen’s though. (sorry… brainwashing takess awhile to fade…) From what I have heard however, I would recommend Brock. Small university, cheaper place to live, and you will not just be a number. A class size of 75 is a lot better than some 500+ ones you might get elsewhere… ---
**Author:** ![lillyflower](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@lillyflower](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lillyflower)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2003, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-to-university-in-ontario/179235/5 "2003-06-03T00:09:36Z")
I would have to say that a laptop is best for a university situation. You are able to take it anwhere, and especially if you go home for a vacation or even for a weekend it is easy to take your work with you. I do not have a laptop but I regret that decision now, so IMHO I would have to say LAPTOP:) ---
**Author:** ![sstaurus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e4f/32.png) [@sstaurus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sstaurus)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2003, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-to-university-in-ontario/179235/6 "2003-06-03T00:21:46Z")
Thanks for the replies all 🙂 Yeah the Maclean’s issue is good, I have it. I was just looking for some student opinion, since it is something that Macleans doesn’t cover all that well heheh. So far I’ve been leaning to Windsor or Brock. I’m going into business, and Windsor has what I think is a good business school, and they have good athletic facilities and some watersports I’d really love to do like sailing and kayaking. They also have int’l exchange which would be awesome to do! 🙂 But I dunno what I want to do anyway, so I just took business so I’d have more options? sound like a good plan to you? Anyway I think I am leaning to the laptop idea as well… being able to take it home even for short trips home, and out to the coffeeshop sounds good. thanks again!😛 ---
**Author:** ![sstaurus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e4f/32.png) [@sstaurus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sstaurus)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2003, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-to-university-in-ontario/179235/7 "2003-06-03T00:24:09Z")
EDIT: I was thinking going to a university in a downtown core like Ryerson wouldn’t be that great, I mean it’s cool to be able to walk anywhere, but it’s kind of claustrophobic. A little more space would be nice 🙂 ok im done… ---
**Author:** ![Kwyjibo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/59ef9b/32.png) [@Kwyjibo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kwyjibo)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2003, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-to-university-in-ontario/179235/8 "2003-06-03T00:25:03Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by SexyHamster \* > **I’m not a real big fan of the city of Windsor. Too industrial for my tastes. That being said, I now live just north of Kitchener.** Just north of? Not much out there… 😛 ---
**Author:** ![CuriousCanuck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d2c977/32.png) [@CuriousCanuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CuriousCanuck)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2003, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-to-university-in-ontario/179235/9 "2003-06-03T00:26:07Z")
Well, there is the Moose sports complex. And Cambridge. And Guelph. Do those count? ---
**Author:** ![Trigonal\_Planar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/0ea827/32.png) [@Trigonal\_Planar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trigonal_Planar)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2003, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-to-university-in-ontario/179235/10 "2003-06-03T01:56:12Z")
What about \*\*Western?[/b. Its in London, which is a really nice city and the campus is large and open. ---
**Author:** ![Trigonal\_Planar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/0ea827/32.png) [@Trigonal\_Planar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trigonal_Planar)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2003, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-to-university-in-ontario/179235/11 "2003-06-03T01:57:20Z")
Sorry, that was supposed to be **Western!** And another good reason: I go there 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![StephenG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7feea3/32.png) [@StephenG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StephenG)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2003, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-to-university-in-ontario/179235/12 "2003-06-03T02:06:34Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by CuriousCanuck \* > \*\*Shoulda applies to Queen’s though. (sorry… brainwashing takess awhile to fade…) > \*\* Truer words were never spoken! To answer the OP: I got a desktop, but if I had to do it again, I’d go with a laptop. I’d much prefer the flexibility that comes with one – you can take it anywhere to do work or study offline, there are frequently ethernet jacks in libraries (and other places), and it’s a lot easier to bring home for the weekend. Theft is **definitely** an issue, so do be careful – don’t put it down in public, etc. It shouldn’t be too expensive to buy a chain that you can bolt to the desk in your res room to which you can attach your laptop when you want to leave it in your room. You’re going into business? Did you apply to Queen’s, U. of T., or Western? I don’t mean to embarass you if you didn’t get accepted, but those are the first three schools I think of (in that order) for business programs in Ontario. I visited Windsor, and was distinctly unimpressed. Everything I’ve heard since then confirms my initial impressions. I don’t know a lot about Brock or Ryerson, but I hear better things about Brock. That’s not terribly helpful, and I apologize, so I’ll second what others have said – go visit! ---
**Author:** ![Horrifying\_Howler\_Monkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/df788c/32.png) [@Horrifying\_Howler\_Monkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horrifying_Howler_Monkey)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2003, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-to-university-in-ontario/179235/13 "2003-06-03T02:18:02Z")
Queens Once Queens Twice Holey Jumpin (yadda yadda). That’s where I went to. Sci02! Only Engineering class to ever have to change their year song (it was pretty bad tho’) ---
**Author:** ![SexyHamster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@SexyHamster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SexyHamster)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2003, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-to-university-in-ontario/179235/14 "2003-06-03T02:42:31Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Kwyjibo \* > \*\*Just north of? Not much out there… 😛 \*\* Well, there’s Waterloo, which is where I am right now. 😃 As for **Queen’s** … after living in Kingston for twenty years, I couldn’t wait to leave. Ugh. ---
**Author:** ![CuriousCanuck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d2c977/32.png) [@CuriousCanuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CuriousCanuck)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2003, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-to-university-in-ontario/179235/15 "2003-06-03T03:22:42Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Magayuk \* > \*\*Queens Once Queens Twice Holey Jumpin (yadda yadda). > That’s where I went to. Sci02! Only Engineering class to ever have to change their year song (it was pretty bad tho’) \*\* Get out your old Queen’s sweater, the dirtier the better… Arts '99 here. Winners of the Leonard Bowl in first year. Sci 02? Didn’t your year lose the pole, frosh? ---
**Author:** ![Kwyjibo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/59ef9b/32.png) [@Kwyjibo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kwyjibo)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2003, 12:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-to-university-in-ontario/179235/16 "2003-06-03T12:25:42Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by SexyHamster \* > **Well, there’s Waterloo, which is where I am right now. 😃** My parents live there. Right by Conestoga Mall. (I live in the south end of Kitchener.) And now back to your regularly scheduled thread. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e19adc/32.png) [@Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2003, 12:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-to-university-in-ontario/179235/17 "2003-06-03T12:50:27Z")
I won’t give you a school recommendation until you tell us what you’re studying 😉 Seriously, going to Ryerson may be great if you want a technical job as a TV cameraman, but if your major is pre-med, well then you’re picking the wrong school… > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Magayuk \* > \*\*Get ahold of the Maclean’s University issue, it rates the different U’s in Canada, it’s an interesting read. \*\* Bah! That issue’s just an extended PR exercise ghost-written and -researched by each university’s public relations department. Nobody from Maclean’s ever actually _goes_ to the schools they rate (aside from the reporter who visits students pre-selected by the campus administration to provide “colour”). And a significant portion of the marks given to the schools include: a) a willingness to participate; and b) the opinions of business leaders. Do you really think that what CEOs think of your university is going to affect your education? ---
**Author:** ![\_baby\_cat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/_/7feea3/32.png) [@\_baby\_cat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/_baby_cat)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2003, 1:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-to-university-in-ontario/179235/18 "2003-06-03T13:09:10Z")
QUEENS or MCMASTER would have been good but i would choose ryerson…brock is kinda blah and i live in windsor and trust me i got friends who had high 60’s averages entering windsor and sucessful in doing so…lol and buy a laoptop, easier to carry around to class, etc, especially if you will be moving. and some clases require laptops/ ---
**Author:** ![\_baby\_cat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/_/7feea3/32.png) [@\_baby\_cat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/_baby_cat)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2003, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-to-university-in-ontario/179235/19 "2003-06-03T13:10:49Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Trigonal Planar \* > \*\*Sorry, that was supposed to be **Western!** > And another good reason: I go there 🙂 \*\* HAHA MY SISTER goes to western…heheheh ---
**Author:** ![Horrifying\_Howler\_Monkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/df788c/32.png) [@Horrifying\_Howler\_Monkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horrifying_Howler_Monkey)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2003, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-to-university-in-ontario/179235/20 "2003-06-03T13:50:32Z")
Hangs head in shame…Yes **CuriousCanuck** yes we did. We almost had the tam in 11 minutes tho’, we were so close. Ended up taking almost (or just over, can’t recall) 2 hours. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-to-university-in-ontario/179235.md?page=2)