ICrisis

The Upper Residences are pretty much identical. The culture changes from year to year, but the experience you have in one is not going to be significantly different from another, so I'm lumping them all together.

Pros: Surrounded by the most diverse student body. Close to campus, close to the Plateau, close to Mont-Royal where Tams Tams (hippie music and a lot of pot smoking) is held in the summer.

Cons: Dorm rooms are tiny. The hill is not so bad in the fall and summer, but Montreal winters make it a real pain to walk up hill. Dorm rooms are in pretty bad condition in my opinion. Also, if you happen to live near someone who is a particularly messy, because of the proximity to your dorm, some of the consequences can spread to your room. Shared kitchens.

New Rez

Pros: Best rooms, best food, most convenient location.

Cons: New Rez's dirty secret: Because of the sheer amount of young people in the residence getting high and drunk every Thursday to Sunday, New Rez often has pest problem. Imagine trying to clean up 14 floors worth of 18-21 year olds every Monday. New Rez also has a well deserved reputation for being the residence with the most spoiled brats. I know, every residence has its bad apples, but New Rez just attracts the most because of it's environment. It's the most expensive residence and it's dorm rooms once belonged to a four star hotel, it's to be expected. Also, the likelihood of you getting a single room is pretty low since they often go to scholarship students so just keep that in mind.

Greenbriar

Pros: Most accessible in terms of location. Across the street from most of the major buildings. Biggest living spaces. Meal plans are optional and you get your own kitchen so if you're a good cook this is a great location. Cheapest rents. You get your own bedroom in addition to a large apartment, complete with living room, balcony and windows.

Cons: Lack of any real good grocery stores near campus. There's a Provigo and a Metro, but they aren't all that great if you're looking for specialty stuff (ie: Asian food, organic food etc.). Rooms vary greatly in quality.

lennni

Btw, they're repainting all the rooms in Douglas. Also, there was an underground tunnel to navigate between houses which is being painted green (it has been red for the past 30 years, apparently).

paradoll

I'm really wanting a Douglas single. How is the social vibe there? Do the kids feel a bit separated from the other upper rez students? Are the parties more low-key? Is it worth the extra couple thousand dollars?

lennni

Well, this year doug was a lot of fun. the parties feel more exclusive because it's just going to be the hundred or so people you see every day. mostly people from other rezes didn't show up, but that never hurt the fun factor. i still had a lot of friends in upper rez, but you have to be wiling to go up there and get to know people, otherwise you get stuck in a doug bubble.
umm i'd definitely say i was happier at doug than i would've been elsewhere, but as far as money, i'm not sure how to quantify whether or not it is worth it. we do have our own dining room and more laid back caf workers, though. :P

paradoll

awesome to hear. Did you make good friends and stuff to move in with for next year?

I wanted MORE single before but it seems sort of risky because you don't know who you're gonna end up with and there's only a few people per house...

Molson/Gardner seems pretty good too but I'm sort of dreading the hill during the icy winters... and douglas is less of a hike right? (is there a big difference between the distance to upper rezs and douglas?) Also worried about Molson's party rep and its affect on GPA. I don't want a really boring rez either though.

drmambo

The walk from douglas to McConnell is about 30 seconds. The difference is nothing. But Upper Rez and Douglas are at the TOP of the hill (with Gardner being the most elevated rez).

Molson only "brings down" the gpa (how can you lower a GPA that hasn't even been established) of weak students who don't know how to budget their time between their studies and their binge drinking.

The key towards doing well AND having a good time, is knowing how you can most efficiently use your time. If you find that you can't get much work done is rez, don't try and make it work. Goto the library. The better your study habits are, the easier it'll be for you to occasionally take a night off and party. IMHO some people take a few nights off too many, when they haven't really done enough work to deserve them. That's why people do bad here. Don't blame the rez, just take care of yourself.

Giacamo

Just watch out for your first term. Freshmen tend to party a lot which can have very detrimental effect on GPA ( as far as academics are concerned, McGill shows no mercy.) Find out which study habits suit you the best and balance it out with the partying. You'll figure it out by the 2nd term if you try. Just don't let your GPA take a bad hit in the 1st term.

cassz

I have ruled out Greenbriar, and I am now reconsidering Royal Victoria College, so any pros/cons for that res would be appreciated.

Thanks for all the feedback so far!

ICrisis

Why'd you rule out Greenbriar out of curiosity?

Anyways, RVC. Being a man, I have never actually lived there so I'm gonna give you second hand accounts:

Pros:
Neatest
Close to campus
Creates a lot of close friendships

Cons:
No men
When men are around, rumours fly
A lot of drama
Lamest rez parties

cassz

I realized I wasn't too keen on apartment-style living just yet.

As for no guys and girl-drama at RVC, I'm used to it, so perhaps it's not a bad choice, but as I said before, I'm ambivalent.

Ocikat

Why is the "No men" considered to be con?

d3n

aren't the co-ed bathrooms in gardner molson and douglas a bit uncomfortable?

lennni

i had no problem with the bathrooms at doug because the people on my floor were pretty chill and relaxed. i don't think it's that big an issue. all you have to do is wear your bathrobe to and from your room.

paradoll: yeah i'm really close with the people i lived with at doug and am moving into an apartment with 2 of them in august. i think the friends you make is about your personality, though, and not where they put you. you can make great friends in whichever rez you choose.