Looking for a school in Toronto.
 

So, I've decided to move to Canada. Specifically, Toronto. I have friends up there, it's far, far away from home, and I like the various aspects of the culture, including the film festivals.

Anywho, I know there are a few Toronto folks here, so I'd like some advice on which university to attend. Right now I'm looking at York University, but if I could find something even cheaper, that'd be cool.

Here's what I'm looking for:

• Health insurance included in the tuition.
• A film program of some sort.
• Residency.
• Parking (I'm not sure how that works up there, but I remember going to Savannah and there was a bunch of bullshit about parking, and I need my car.)

I don't think that's too much to ask. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

First of all, congratulations on deciding on your city for your studies. And you will enjoy Toronto, I'm sure, as many of us do.

I do recall being relatively pleased with York's health coverage. But I don't know how it stacks up against other schools. It's always best to get the details and compare plans.

What do you aim on getting out of the film program. There is a wide variety of options, from what little I know. Are you after the artistic side more, or the technical side?

There is little you can do about the parking; it will likely always be a headache. York should be okay I think, from what I've heard (it's a commuter's school by far). Just be prepared to pay.

I know little about residency. I don't recall any of my classmates complaining.

I know this probably doesn't sound like much, but it's a start. (And I'm off to bed, because I'm tired and it's late.) Perhaps we can feed you more information as we go along.

You should also look into the film program at Ryerson. You should also check out the Canadian Film Centre... I don't know if you qualify but it is a fantastic programs. Ditto for the Feature First program at the National Screen Institute.

Also, once you are here, you need to check out some of the film collectives like LIFT and Trinity Square.

That said, York has a good program.


Finally, you could save a ton of cash (if cash is an issue) by ditching the car. You really can get by in Toronto without a car. Public transit is generally very good.

I don't know about the programs, but I will say, from the music perspective, that an arts program is only as good as the city it's in, so here are two advantages to going to a school downtown (say University of Toronto):

1. You won't need a car.

2. You will go see more films and engage with more culture than if you have to commute in. Coming downtown from York U is like changing time zones.

It's true. I lived downtown and attended York.

I always felt I had forgotten to get my currency exchanged before leaving.... :sad:

Ryerson (located in the heart of downtown) also has excellent Radio, Television, Journalism and Photography programs so if you find your interest broadening, there's lots of options.

FYI, there's a strike at York at the moment: Classes cancelled at York University as strike begins

York is great for film. Maybe Ryerson.

They do say, now, that "if you can hold a fork, you can go to york". I kid, I kid. But I have a friend who goes there that can attest to it's worth.

He can also probably attest that it sucks to be a york student right now.

Ryerson has a long tradition in various aspects of media, journalism and film being the strongest, (as stated by Fresnelly). It has also had a huge injection of corporate & public money since it gained university status. There are new residences, new buildings for engineering and the business school plus it's located in the deep heart of the city. Across the street from the Eaton Centre, it has its own compact, self contained campas as well.

Not to put down York, but that school is out in the suburbs, and travelling there is a hassle. At both Rye or UofT. you could feasibly rent a student house with some others, and walk to class, as well as partake in the social/night life all within walking or very easy transit distance.

My son is in his first year of engineering at Ryerson, (Biomedical) and is enjoying it tremendously. This school has far outstripped its earlier polytechnical reputation of being a glorified high school (Rye High to it's friends) and is quickly establishing a strong reputation across the spectrum iof studies.

The web site is: RYERSON UNIVERSITY - Toronto, Ontario, Canada

If you are aiming for next September to start class, don't worry about the York labour unrest as it should be resolved. Although this is the second time for a strike there, so, you know, if it looks like a duck....

Most of the people I know in the film and tv industry in Toronto went through Ryerson.