ohseedee, congratulations on being accepted to Guelph. Have you been accepted to Laurentian? (Maybe this question will be a non-issue if you don't get accepted there.)

I have applied to two schools (for Masters degree), been accepted to one, and I think there is a good chance I will be accepted into the other. I really want to go to the second one. It is a smaller school, with more personal contact with professors, and has a really nice community feel to it. I have visited there, and think it is a better fit for me. However, the first one has a higher reputation, but it is quite a bit more expensive. My heart really wants to go to the second, smaller one, and I don't think the better reputation and ranking of the first one can sway me. Right now, money is pretty important to me, so if I can get a reasonable education and save money by going to a less expensive school, that is what I want to do.

I have a daughter who is a sophmore at university, so she was going through this choice a couple of years ago. Everything we read on this topic said to visit the school and find the school that is the best fit for you. That can mean a lot of things, from what sort of community the university is in (urban, suburban, rural), to whether they offer the academic programs that interest you, how big the school is, if they have sports you like, etc. My daughter found a really good fit for her. She visited some of her top choices several times each to be sure.

Have you visited either Guelph or Laurentian? Maybe that would help you in your decision.

Good luck.