McGill versus Brandeis

PerpetualStudent
Mon, 12 Apr 2010 01:30:40 +0000

Okay, you can probably imagine what response you’re going to get in the McGill forum :)

Whatever semi-objective metrics we do have (AWRU, THE-QS rankings) show that McGill currently has better rankings. I can’t add any more to that question since I do not know Brandeis.

As far as housing goes, all the international students I met moved out into private or shared apartments close to the campus after first year, and I can tell you they were for the most part much nicer than residence (even New Rez). That being said rent is fairly expensive, at least by local standards. I do not see how it will hurt you socially at all, you can still be 5 minutes walk from campus if that is what you desire, and your neighbours will all likely be students anyway. You can use your time in rez to find awesome roommates to move out with. And a shared room does get old quick, believe me.

Now I will give you the standard warning I always give about McGill economics. The program has a regular (major) and an honours stream. The regular stream is (as explained to us by the faculty) inadequate for graduate school. The honors stream is great, but very demanding and with an insanely high attrition rate. Just be warned that there is no fallback if graduate school is what you want and you don’t finish the honors stream. (I didn’t like economics enough to stick with honors for more than 1 semester, so I moved on to a completely different field and it worked okay for me. I do know others who stuck with it and did well however.)

Good luck.