Re: 2013-2014 D3 Commitments
The difference is, if a Canadian goes to a local university and lives at home, tuition (without any scholarships) can be as low a $1000 a year, and normally no higher than $3600. Why would a Canadian go to a school in the states if it is going to cost significantly more?
Most Canadians are looking for schools to either match what they would pay back home, or beat it (essentially giving them a full-ride).
Not sure where you get your math, but the big schools in Canada would cost you more than $1000/year. I should know, as I have kids on both sides of the border and seen the math for the last ten years.
Typical tuition for a good school the likes of Queens, UofT, Western etc runs you at 5000-7000 a winter sessions (Two semesters) for a full time program. Sure McGill can be a bit cheaper for Quebec students, but without any shollies that is the tuition cost in Canada. In the US those figures run anywhere from 10G to 40G if you pay the full freight. Cost for things like room, board and books are similar on each side of the border. Difference is that room and board can be covered via Athletic monies in your D1 package, but not at a CIS school .
On the Canadian side your tuition can be offset by as much as $4000 by athletic money. Any other monies toward tuition, room/board and books would have to come from academic funds or other sources. My experience is that unless you are a Ivy type student, you will still pay at least $10 grand a year to cover things like roam and board, and for most 15 grand a year, even with the 4000 stipend. Total cost at a CIS school all inclusive, tuition, room, board and books would be about $20K.
So with this math in hand, a good award at a D1 can be attractive for Canucks, but for most Canadians, A D3 program tends to be more expensive than staying at home and going to a Canadian school. Now there are certainly canucks who are on partials and go south of the border, but unless you are a so called blue chipper, it will not be for free and in the end would cost you about the same as the education back home if you take everything into account. Been there, done it both ways.
The notion by CrossCheck that Canadians are "looking for a free lunch" equally applies to many Americans looking for that Varsity scholarship. Ever seen the masses run for a piece of "Free Cake" at some company event? I always find it hilarious to see that many of the "better off" persons run the fastest for that piece of free cake. It is human nature to "Look for a Free Lunch". That concept knows no boundaries.
And for what it is worth. That so called "Free Ride" takes years of hard work, commitment and many dollars spend by parents to get there. It is not a "Free Ride". Having said that, the experience, journey and the mere attempt to achieve it are the more important learning aspect in that endeavor.
At the end of the day we should call ourselves lucky that our children chose to pursue excellence in athletics and that they learn many things while doing so, whether they failed or succeeded in landing that college roster spot.
Cheers....Born neither in Canada, nor in the USA, but fully aware and appreciative for the freedom and opportunities both countries have to offer.
