My parents keep pressuring me to go to UofT over UW. They say I should go to UofT cause it'll be more economical (closer + 5k scholarship) and that their CS program is better. They say this cause UofT is ranked #10 in the world for CS, and also cause they have successful friends who have graduated from UofT CS. They say I can't trust what the Internet people say.

I don't know how to argue back. :/
I've already told them I disliked the vibe at UofT. I don't want to live with them - my parents. I get more work experience at UW cause I can get 2 years of co-op. I felt like I'd fit in at UW, plus I know a bunch of you guys are choosing UW as well - there must be a reason for that, right? Even elsewhere on the Internet, I keep hearing that UW CS is superior to UofT CS by a little both, though they're both really good. Unsurprisingly, I don't personally know any successful CS grads.

I really despise the idea of going to UofT, and I really want to get away from my parents.

Could they be right about UofT CS being superior to UW CS? They say that UofT grads will get more job opportunities (inside and outside of Canada) just cause they're from UofT whereas UW is less well known. I don't really agree with this because I've heard from various sources - on the Internet - that UW are often favoured cause they prove to do very well. Then again, what do I know. I don't know any of these people personally, and I don't know if they've got their facts right.

I got them from my dad who got them from the newspaper (I think), also I've heard the same rankings on this forum, and I've heard the same from elsewhere on the Internet. :p

I just googled it now, and apparently they are actually ranked #8.
http://www.newswire.ca/e...ctober2009/30/c4429.html

^
Lol my mom told me about that too, and I was immediately like wdf is that bullcrap? And I thought to myself , the only reason UofT is on there is cause they're known internationally for their research, but the funny thing is that we have a ton of international students in computer science. so how do all these international kids from china, india, etc. learn about our cs program?

lol i dunno. but they chose waterloo over uoft thats for sure : P

there is no way UT CS> LOO CS..

espec with co-op and students being able to land AMAZING jobs, plus waterloo is known for its math/computing.

go to loo, it will be worth it!

Steve Engels, UTSG CS prof.

The thing is, you absolutely can't go wrong with UoT. It'll also come in handy when you're trying to flog yourself for that expat management position in Shanghai.

And yes, I do know successful UW CS grads by proxy, if you count making ~80 Grand as a Systems Administrator right out of Uni as successful.

He seemed to be a pretty regular guy. Of course my father fumes about how he only got $1600 a month after graduating at the head of his class from one of the best engineering universities, and how my mother made twice as much as a pol.sci grad, so it might be pure luck.

this. and all of the SE grads ive talked to this year all have jobs waiting for them. a ton of them go off to big names in the states, some stay at smaller companies and make big $$ too.
google, microsoft, amazon, facebook all hire a handful of people from us all the time. but its not to say that the big names dont hire from UofT, too, its just that Waterloo has a Jobmine & the companies come down to give talks every 4 months. For UofT, I believe they give talks too, but not as often since it's more popular to work in the summer, obviously. also, facebook currently doesnt have a "Facebook @ schoolname" for UofT, so I assume they havent really looked at UofT : P

Its not always about big names though. Startups actually have a really fun/fast-paced feel.

and as previously mentioned, waterloo is great for undergraduate because of co-op. if youre not planning to do graduate studies, waterloo is the practical choice, literally : O

The gentlemen is working at Opentext Waterloo. They pay well, too.

I'm flippin' furious right now - I feel like I could go violent. :|

ARGH.

This is my life and my decision, and going to f'ing Waterloo.

I can't stand my parents. Live with them for the next 5 years? NO THANKS. Why should I decide to go through hell all over again?
Besides, I didn't even like the atmosphere at UofT when I went for their open house.

They keep telling me UW is too expensive. But who's gonna pay for most of the costs in the end? Oh yes, I AM.

They're just contributing the RESP which will be the same whether I go to UofT or UW.

Why the hell should I spend 5 more years of my life miserable?

I'm tired of putting off happiness.

If I end up as a hobo in the streets, knees deep in debt, then I could always kill myself you know.

I think I'm starting to sound a little melodramatic right now, but I'm very upset and angry.

Edit: What makes me more furious? My parents always talk about money in a miserly way like we can't afford UW, yet they're planning this 20k vacation for the summer. WTF? Not to mention, we eat take out like every other day. (Certainly not rich though).