Canada's universities do a pretty good job. In fact, I'd say it's tough to find a mediocre one anywhere in this vast nation; and the best of them provide an education comparable to the world's elite institutions.

But that doesn't mean they can't do better. A program of cutbacks forced on them by the recession has only added fuel to criticism that many of them are overcrowded, value research over undergraduate teaching, have gradually lowered standards through grade inflation and are geared to mass-produce graduates for the job market rather than for the sake of an old-fashioned liberal education.

Then there's the long-standing complaint that tuition is too expensive. Frankly, I think Canada's universities are a bargain—not only compared with their counterparts to the south, but also when one calculates what those four years will mean to graduates for the rest of their life. As a University of Manitoba student says in our cover story, a degree seems mandatory for success in today's job market , while (just as importantly) talking about how university exposed her to "new ways of seeing the world." Meanwhile, the University of Guelph, conscious that students are demanding a better classroom experience, has embarked on a bold mission to reimagine the way it teaches undergraduates.

So yes, I do believe university is thoroughly worth it. But it is a large investment of time and money, and the onus is on applicants to do their research and uncover the jewel that will give them full value. That is why we publish our annual survey of undergraduates (see page 44) and rate schools on how well they satisfy students on all the key areas of student life. The comprehensive results of this wide-ranging survey of just under 40,000 students can be searched, analyzed and used as a powerful comparison tool at globecampus.ca. Thanks once again to our partners at The Strategic Counsel and Educational Policy Institute for making this amazing database possible.

Good luck in your search. Find the university that suits your personality and goals, and you'll be embarking on a journey that truly is worth it.