A daughter of mine is a student at university in Montreal. My partner recently completed her masters at CSU. I visited both frequently. Some thoughts:

- Montreal is a big city, Fort Collins is a little town.

- Montreal is, relatively, much more dangerous than Fort Collins.

- Montreal offers the whole range or urban delights, FC is a university town, quite a lot of bars and restaurants and a diverse population for the size of the place but nothing like the dubious pleasures offered by the big city.

- Fort Collins is on the fringe of the Rockies and is near to desert and grasslands, it's scenic and a great spot for outdoor activities. Montreal isn't.

- CSU offers student accomodation in apartments, International House is full of students from abroad. I don't think Concordia offers anything. Montreal, of course, has lots of low rent apartments but they tend to be in francophone areas. My daughter lives on the plateau or in Little Italy when she's working and by the stadium when she's not.

I have never heard of Fort Collins till today but I guarantee it won't be as exciting, vibrant and memorable as Montreal.

Oh I can certainly say that, in my experience, the excitement, vibrancy and memorability of Fort Collins far surpasses that of Montreal.

As I said, there is no disagreement here. I know your old street quite well; lived on Chomedey for a little while which is literally just round the corner.
I loved almost every moment I spent in that city.

There are a few more near where Mr. Jp32 used to live but maybe it's a truly civilised city that can be liberal about such things. In my short time there I also saw a great deal of generosity towards the homeless - on St Cat's at least. My halfhearted attempt at humour gave you the wrong impression I think.

@ DBD - Your point seems valid but there are certainly worse cities to be in to pursue an outdoor lifestyle. There is always the mountain

Oh agreed. One could even join the tam tam or the duct tape warriors. In any case, if one really wanted to be outdoors one wouldn't be in a city.

Does anyone have any idea whatsoever, how much money I will need for living per year in Montreal? I am going to be living a really humble student existence, eating cheap, not going out too often, maybe a movie once a month or so. I dont expect to live the high life or anything. The college hasnt provided me any information on where is a good website to find room rentals or whatever - does anyone know one?? I wish I had the money and time to visit Fort Collins and Montreal, but I don't. Both colleges want me to reply by December 1st. Most likely I will end up heading out to Montreal.

I haven't done a detailed budget for you but just figure how many UK pounds you would spend in a month, living alone and frugally, and that is your budget in dollars

Here are some indicators, expenditures are per month, and these are for are strict necessities;

Rent in a modest surrounding 550, bus pass 63, food 450, clothes 75, heating if not already part of rent 50, other necessities 100.

Right there that comes to 1,300 a month or about 650 sterling.

(You could share a place and cut costs but that has its disadvantages, inconveniences, if not dangers).

It would be great to live close to the University but these places may be pricey. However there are many other accommodations in the east of the city where the metro line also runs.)

You're paying International fees of $10k? Standard advice for undergrads in Toronto (which is a tad more expensive than Montreal) is you'll need $15k a year (but that's for locals). I think you'll need $25k as an International fee payer.

If you need assistance there are bursaries available and of course, most Canadian students work ~ 10-15 hours during semesters and full time in the summers.

My oh is discussing CSU on that other board. She says in part:

"It does provide a fantastic education (and yes, the quality of the faculty IS striking) but doesn't have the name recognition that other universities have, and isn't of much use if you want to go beyond an MA. Also, they don't have the funds to subsidize the education of everyone who goes there, which most graduate students expect. If you are one of their top students, they make it fairly easy. I was paid more to take classes there than I was paid to teach at an elementary school the year before. But most people take out loans.

Still, Fort Collins is a great place to live, the campus is comfortable, if not pretty, and the surrounding wilderness is beautiful."

go to www.guardian.co.uk/talk and search on the user name otraynor.

Her subject was history but her general comments will apply. Note well the one about her scholarships being worth more than having a job, students at US schools can very often pick up some form of funding.

A veritable mine of information; pearls of wisdom aplenty.

Will be reading the rest of her posts with interest

.. and will never have kids.

Ever.

They're so cynical, these young Americans.

My daughter is an International Student at U of T. I think you are nearer the mark but it depends on the course and classes taken. Plus compulsory healthcare insurance which runs at several hundred dollars per year. Plus books...another $500 to $600. She spends around $2,500 to $3,000 per month this includes rent, utilities, food, cell phone etc. She can only work on the university campus.

Im still waiting for the official package in the mail, but if it turns out I cannot work off-campus, or if I am not allowed to work summers full-time while there is no school, I don't think I will go. I am supposed to start in January, so things have to get moving pretty fast. I should get the official letter of acceptance this week I think.