I agree to some extent, but Canadians are considered international, and have to pay up front for all 4 years of tuition, and are NOT eligible for federal student loans. So yeah, competitive applicants from the north may be considered, but who has half a million dollars in their back pocket? sorry... $625,000 CAD in their back pocket? not me.
I guess I could take that private loan that charges 12% interest on my $625,000. Or I'll just bank on getting into Stanford, or Harvard who have nice endowments and can give me financial aid. Oh wait! those are the top schools you say? hrmmm. Well that sounds difficult.