# How hard is it for an American to get into University of Toronto? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 17, 2010, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-hard-is-it-for-an-american-to-get-into-university-of-toronto/539718 "2010-05-17T03:05:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Sonnenstrahl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/82dd89/32.png) [@Sonnenstrahl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sonnenstrahl)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2010, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-hard-is-it-for-an-american-to-get-into-university-of-toronto/539718/21 "2010-05-19T02:22:12Z")
> [@The\_Tao\_s\_Revenge](#): > > I checked into it the Math today. According to one of the guidance counselors, using the Accuplacer I tested into intermediate Algebra when I took the entrance exam, so by the time I’m done saving up I should have Calculus down. There’s three Calculus classes, and I need to take Intermediate, and Advanced Algebra, then Trigonometry, and then I can start Calculus. > > … > > That said thinking it all out, maybe I’d better off finishing up a 4 year degree in state and then going to Toronto for a Masters or PHd. I think I’d get where I want to go a lot quicker. I’m currently going to a community college, and the U of T transfer policies don’t look too promising. At the very least I’ll inquire about it in my email. > > Thanks all! I figured you probably had enough math if you have an AA, and I’m glad to hear you will. Ontario is sadly behind most other places in making it easy to transition between community college and university, so I’m not surprised they’re giving you trouble. ☹ When I moved to BC for school I was amazed that many of my classmates had gone to college for a year or two to get prerequisites done for cheap, which is not really possible in Ontario where higher education is stuck in a sharp vocational/academic divide. I didn’t suggest it because I assumed you were looking particularly for the prestige of U of T, but if Toronto itself drew you, there are two other universities (York and Ryerson). I’ve heard that York is slightly less expensive for students from the U.S. and I’ve heard of them taking “unconventional” students that U of T wouldn’t. Of course, the payoff is in the complete lack of name recognition in the U.S. Still, it sounds like you’ve made a good decision. I’m prejudiced but I hope you do make it to Toronto for your grad degrees. 🙂 I just wanted to agree and commiserate that it’s stupidly hard to transfer credits in Ontario. ---
**Author:** ![anu-la1979](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/47e85d/32.png) [@anu-la1979](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anu-la1979)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2010, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-hard-is-it-for-an-american-to-get-into-university-of-toronto/539718/22 "2010-05-19T02:41:01Z")
McGill graduate here. I was Canadian at the time I applied and attended. I’ve since added a US passport and applied having graduated from an American high school. There are a lot of Americans at U of T, McGill and UBC. The difficulty isn’t really related to you being American. McGill loved international students because they could charge a higher tuition since (at that time, have no idea whether they increased it) the tuition for Canadians was ridiculously low. However, you’ll need the scores and grades to get in as these schools are rather difficult to get into even for Canadians. Also, I never met anyone who only transferred in for the last two years of school . However, I only went to school in Canada up to 6th grade, so I have no idea what their CC situation is. ---
**Author:** ![Duke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e8c25b/32.png) [@Duke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duke)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2010, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-hard-is-it-for-an-american-to-get-into-university-of-toronto/539718/23 "2010-05-19T02:43:00Z")
> [@anu-la1979](#): > > McGill loved international students because they could charge a higher tuition since (at that time) the tuition for Canadians At U of T international students can apply for a Differential Fee Waiver which will cut your tuition to that of an Ontario student. I got one but I was very lucky to do so. ---
**Author:** ![In\_Winnipeg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/a8b319/32.png) [@In\_Winnipeg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/In_Winnipeg)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2010, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-hard-is-it-for-an-american-to-get-into-university-of-toronto/539718/24 "2010-05-19T02:47:38Z")
> [@Sunspace](#): > > We got a regular high-school diploma after grade 12 and a Honours dimplma after grade 13, and it was in this year that they gave us all the calculus, algebra, relations & functions, etc. It was fun. 🙂 Really? I did Grade 13 without any math. As I recall, I took 2 English courses, History, Geography, Economics and Biology, passed 'em all and got my OSSGHD. As to Americans going to school in Canada, be advised that these days education is viewed as a business and if you got the bucks, you’re pretty much in. ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2010, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-hard-is-it-for-an-american-to-get-into-university-of-toronto/539718/25 "2010-05-19T03:37:42Z")
> [@In\_Winnipeg](#): > > Really? I did Grade 13 without any math. As I recall, I took 2 English courses, History, Geography, Economics and Biology, passed 'em all and got my OSSGHD. Oh, all the courses, and the entire grade, were voluntary. People picked courses according to the requirements of their planned university programs. I was heading for architecture school; if I had decided to go to art school, I could have loaded up on just writing, languages and art. But I _like_ math. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Kyla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/eada6e/32.png) [@Kyla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kyla)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2010, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-hard-is-it-for-an-american-to-get-into-university-of-toronto/539718/26 "2010-05-19T03:43:53Z")
> [@The\_Tao\_s\_Revenge](#): > > These are very help thoughts. I have thought of studying abroad. The biggest draw for Toronto is it’s close to home. I’ve lived in another part of the country, but I got very homesick. Toronto has the advantage of being about an 8 to 10 hour drive from my home. I figure homesickness will be lessened quite a bit if a visit is a weekend trip down highway 401. What’s wrong with the University of Michigan, huh? Not good enough for you? Fine. _sniffs_ Be that way. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-hard-is-it-for-an-american-to-get-into-university-of-toronto/539718.md?page=1)