@SwimmingDad thanks for the info. We are still waiting to hear from McGill. We are in Boston and son was admitted to UMASS Amherst Economics, not Into Isenberg 
Waiting on McGill Desaultes to decide.
Are you aware of internship opportunities for the summer? He is interested in finance. Any lead is appreciated. Btw I’m not sure how to PM you on here.
I submitted my mid-year transcripts a week ago, but the portal still says ‘further review required’ and it hasn’t switched to ‘ready for review’ yet. The website says it would switch once the documents are received, which it says they were a week ago. Should I just wait it out or should I email them? Has anyone had a similar experience of sorts?
@ktgall definitely email service point
@umassbound I just sent you a PM. At the top of this screen you will see a little “envelope” icon. Just click on that and the message should be there. Let’s chat.
Hey I’m an international student in Asia and I just found out that my stat changed to “further review required” for both faculty of arts and Desautels. One thing that I am worried is that I used to have 42/45 predicted grade (HL 776 SL 776), but my final semester grade is 37/42 (HL 776 SL 755). Is there still a chance for me to be admitted to any of them? Im desperate right now cuz i knew that i will get FRR for Desautels but the faculty of arts is just too unexpected for me.
Admitted! (pending final results)
Faculty of Arts for B Arts
International Student (US High School)
GPA: 4.43 (weighted by AP/Hon on 4.0 scale)
ACT: 33
SAT: 1510
TIMELINE:
- Applied December 23, 2018
- Further review required in mid-January requesting mid term results
- Uploaded mid term results January 29, 2019
- Clarification on my class schedule requested (I have a weird schedule)
- Uploaded clarification February 2, 2019
- Received decision February 4, 2019
- Mid term 2nd semester grades requested for scholarship purposes a day later
- Emailed mid term second semester grades February 7, 2019
- Got notification for a $3000 entrance scholarship a few hours after!
I also applied for a Major Undergraduate Entrance scholarship and am waiting to hear back. Wish me luck!! I really need the money to attend D-:
I got FRR
Applied Desautels and Arts
GPA: 3.93 (3.88 after first semester senior year)
ACT: 31
US High School
French Citizen
I uploaded my mid-year transcript today (4 A’s and 3 B’s, I know could be better)
How quick should McGill get back to me after submitting mid-year transcripts?
@BigManfromFrance I’d say within in a week! Maybe even as few as 1-3 days, based on other people’s experiences.
Let us know let us know when you hear back from desaultes.
@Bigmanfromfrance let us know when you hear back from desaultes
@SwimmingDad belated congrats on your second son admission. I’m so happy for you and grateful for all your support to all of us here. It helped a lot
Hey guys I have a question. I dont really want to ask it but if I don’t I’ll just keep stressing about it. So I’ve been reading stuff on reddit and I know it’s not really that reliable but many students there have said that McGill is not really that good and its reputation and quality of education has declined a lot. Is this true? My parents are spending a lot of money to send me there and I just want to know if it’s worth it. They get really happy thinking that I am going to a top world ranked university. I have got an offer from a really good university in my country which is going to be a lot cheaper and I just want to know if mcgill is worth it.
@Jonaerysion123 reddit attracts malcontents. This is true on all the university subreddits.
I have looked at the McGill subreddit and the complaints are clustered around a few points:
Cold and snowy winters (It’s Montreal!!);
Large first year classes (Common at all large research universities);
Students not getting the A’s they feel that they deserve (There are no easy A’s. Some call this grade deflation);
Difficulty in making friends (That is a personal issue and common at large schools for some students.);
The McGill administration is very bureaucratic (At university parents and teachers are not walking you through the process, you have to figure it out yourself).
If you are American you will not find the “handholding” that you would at many American universities. I saw a student comment on some forum to the effect “McGill requires its students to grow up fast. For some it is just what they wanted, for others it is terrifying.”
Another complaint is that the faculty are distant. As a research university the faculty are heavily involved with graduate students. As an undergraduate you will need to take the initiative to get to know them. Go to posted office hours to introduce yourself. Most students only go to office hours after they realize that they are floundering in the course.
For a more balanced view I suggest that you look at niche. Also some reviews from quora:
https://www.quora.com/What-is-it-like-to-attend-McGill-University
I sent you a PM.
@BigManfromFrance I suspect you will hear quickly for Arts. Desautels may/may not be as fast. Good luck.
anybody got any insight on my situation? I’ve been on further review required since the second I submitted my documents, and my checklist is up to date as well (i’ve read that people are sending in mid-year reports when their status changes to further review required but my checklist is all good so i have no idea what to do)
@drmcmuffin Have you submitted your midyear stats?
@Jonaerysion123 I have a son who is a U1 at McGill. Here is what he would say (which echos much of what @TomSrOfBoston said.
Classes can be large. But he has made a point to go to office hours and has been able to get to know some of his profs.
Making friends: He made a point of living in Upper Rez (which is very, very social) and joining a couple of clubs. He seems to have made a lot of friends…and he isn’t the most outgoing of kids.
Bureaucracy: true. Famed for it actually. And I may add in that health services is mad making.
Adulting: It is a word you will hear ALL the time. McGill expects kids to step up. For many American students this can be jarring. But when you see everyone around you adulting you just kind of do it, too. As a parent, seeing this growth in my son has been amazing.
Quality of Education: Sorry but the rigor of McGill is very, very real. You will work your ass off. Everyone there is grinding a lot…most while enjoying a very nice social life. My son’s critical thinking skills have improved tremendously at McGill. I think that there are those that think that you need to have really tiny classes to get a good education. This is simply false. It truly depends on the professor and expectations.
Grades: McGill is a tough school to get good grades at. When, by design, the average grade is a B-/C+…well, you just aren’t going to get the A’s that you got in HS. Some classes (Math 140/141 for example) are weed out classes…kids who did well on Calc B/C struggle with these. Very few kids think they are easy.
Overall: at the end of his first year my son said “I can’t imagine being at any school other than McGill.” It is a tremendous university with a very distinct personality. It is definitely not for all kids. If you want a lot of handholding and people offering you praise for doing the basics…don’t go to McGill. But if you want a world class education in a remarkably diverse school in a fabulously fun city…then McGill is for you.
I’d end by saying that this is just one dad’s/kid’s opinion. PM with any questions.
@TomSrOfBoston
Not necessarily; I was required to submit my I/GCSE/OL/CSEC certificates which I did, along with my High School Transcript/Records. In the latter section, I attached my Predicted Grades for this year, but not my current Mid-Year Report. I’ve no additional items on my checklist though since these were the only two required, and as soon as I hit submit my status changed to ‘Further Review Required’.
I would call admissions to make sure they have everything. SwimmingDad recommended that I did and they were very helpful!
@TomSrOfBoston and @SwimmingDad Thank you both for your help. I will actually be attending mcgill. It’s just I have a lot of free time on my hands and tend to worry.