Hello, I'm an IT graduate from Mumbai, planning to study in Canada. The city that I'm looking to study in, is Toronto. I want to do International Business Course preferably for 2 years but couldn't find a course for this duration. The colleges that I have shortlisted are George Brown , Centennial, Humber and Conestoga. I would like to ask the following questions:

1) Can anyone rank these colleges ? Which is the best one ? (Study/Work/Living wise)
2) Are there any other courses that you might know that are for 2 years ?
3) Are there any zero interest loans provide by the government of Canada for me ?
4) How hard is it to land a part time job in Toronto ? and what will be the average pay ?
5) How strong are the placement cell in Canada for jobs ?
6) What will be the average pay I can expect working full time after my course ?
7) Are there any local Indian communities in Toronto who can help me out with accommodation, jobs or any other problems that I can face in Toronto.
8) Are there any other good colleges in Canada that I am missing out on ?

Lol ! What do you think? Is Canada an employer ?
No Sir No. You will have to come here and struggle to get a job here. Those are the facts.
I will reply to your queries point wise.

1. Gerorge brown, Senaca, Humver, centennial
2.
3. No. Never.Youy may not even get a loan here as you are an indian student.
4. Very hard unless you take a server job at $ 8 an hour (cash. no tax)
5. Very bad.
6. $ 10 if you are lucky ( job not related to your course). But if at all you get a job related to your course, may be $ 16- $ 18 an hour
7. You can contact Gurudhwara for food and possible short stay accomodation. Apart from that no. If you are a chirstian, may be some church can host you for some time.
8. Good is always relative

Dude, we are in recession here. We ourselves are suffering here. If you come from India, you should also suffer with us, unless you have good money.

Murali

-----------------------------------------------------------------
I am a Gents and not a Ladies.

Just an add-on to TK’s post. The minimum wages in Ontario are 11.25. All TK’s observations are based upon his personal experience when he left Canada around 4-5 years back.

In my opinion, initially everyone has to struggle in Canada. The success is relative to your input, dedication, strategy and luck at the end. You will find good and bad both type of experiences – everywhere in the world, in everyone’s life and it is same here in Canada. It is difficult initially but not impossible.

-----------------------------------------------------------------
A Delhite in Toronto

Sir,
I know that the minimum Legal wage is $ 11.25 or $ 11.00. What I am talking about is Cash jobs. Indian restaurants and Chinese restaurants (which are the best for foreign students) pay $ 8 only.

Murali

-----------------------------------------------------------------
I am a Gents and not a Ladies.

If you are talking about a specific job of server, why do you forget about the gratuities? Some of the restaurants I use to go, servers make gratuities 2 time of their base salary and this is the reason of their base salary is less than the minimum wages.

-----------------------------------------------------------------
A Delhite in Toronto

You must be Canadian Citizen or PR of Canada to get OSAP loans.

There is no guarantee of jobs during and after your course. Nobody can guarantee these things. I have not heard anything called "placement" in Canada. If you are in a co-op course, you can apply for co-op jobs, from which you can fund at least partly the cost of your living and education expenses.

For co-op jobs, you apply just like regular jobs, complete with 5 or more shortlisted candidates and get the job based on your skills. For co-op jobs also they look at your background and experience. Co-op term typically is one semester or 4 months but it could also be longer based on the course you are taking.

If somebody says guaranteed placement, ask them to give you in written.

-----------------------------------------------------------------
Give free food http://www.thehungersite.com ||

Further clarification to the above post - a minimum of 1 year residency as PR is required in Ontario to be eligible for OSAP load.

IMO - one should consider community colleges over the private colleges.

-----------------------------------------------------------------
A Delhite in Toronto