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That link is laughably bad, at least for Canadian universities. U of Toronto at #20 world wide? Impossible. People are not lining up to get into Toronto. I was

That link is laughably bad, at least for Canadian universities. U of Toronto at #20 world wide? Impossible. People are not lining up to get into Toronto. I was offered a full scholarship at my first choice at Toronto, and didn't even get my first choice at Waterloo. Waterloo behind 7 or 8 other Canadian universities? Also impossible.

berelig 12y ago
These rankings rely so heavily on research and reputation for scoring that you shouldn't look at it as an indicator of a university's academic quality. That would be the reason U of T is ranked so highly; they are even amongst competitive Ivy League schools! When I was applying for university (2007/08) U of T was handing out acceptance letters to everyone. Instead of rejecting you they would offer a place at a "lesser" campus (Mississauga or Scarborough) or defer you to a less competitive but related program. They are the largest university system in the nation with lots of spaces to fill so the scenario you described (getting accepted by the "#1 ranked school in Canada" and rejected by another") actually happens quite a lot. As for Waterloo, they're hardly a well rounded school. Yes, their engineering and computer science departments are internationally renown, but otherwise they are 2nd tier. Whatever the metric for rankings, I still think U of T is the best school in Canada. Just maybe not top 20 in the world.
- 3pt14159 12y ago
  Waterloo very well known: Physics, CompSci, Mathematics, Engineering, Optometry departments. Good, but not great: Science, Econ. Average: Traditional arts and humanities. While Toronto has a first tier medical, legal, and maybe engineering programs. Everything else is just good or worse. for a top 3 school list in the country, Waterloo and Toronto both definitely deserve a spot, but I wouldn't say that Toronto is solidly the best in Canada; nor would I say that of Waterloo. But for the two of them to be that separated basically means that this list is measuring the wrong things.

berelig 12y ago

These rankings rely so heavily on research and reputation for scoring that you shouldn't look at it as an indicator of a university's academic quality. That would be the reason U of T is ranked so highly; they are even amongst competitive Ivy League schools! When I was applying for university (2007/08) U of T was handing out acceptance letters to everyone. Instead of rejecting you they would offer a place at a "lesser" campus (Mississauga or Scarborough) or defer you to a less competitive but related program. They are the largest university system in the nation with lots of spaces to fill so the scenario you described (getting accepted by the "#1 ranked school in Canada" and rejected by another") actually happens quite a lot. As for Waterloo, they're hardly a well rounded school. Yes, their engineering and computer science departments are internationally renown, but otherwise they are 2nd tier. Whatever the metric for rankings, I still think U of T is the best school in Canada. Just maybe not top 20 in the world.

3pt14159 12y ago
Waterloo very well known: Physics, CompSci, Mathematics, Engineering, Optometry departments. Good, but not great: Science, Econ. Average: Traditional arts and humanities. While Toronto has a first tier medical, legal, and maybe engineering programs. Everything else is just good or worse. for a top 3 school list in the country, Waterloo and Toronto both definitely deserve a spot, but I wouldn't say that Toronto is solidly the best in Canada; nor would I say that of Waterloo. But for the two of them to be that separated basically means that this list is measuring the wrong things.