<p>Hi guys. I have been offered admission at many colleges in North America but I’ve narrowed my list to just two colleges- WPI (Worcester Polytechnic Institute) and McGill University. I am an international student (from India). I’m having a hard time deciding between these two. I’ll probably be majoring in Engineering/Applied Science. At McGill, I’ve been selected into two programs- Electrical/Computer Engineering and Mechanical Engineering. Is it possible to switch ypur major (within Engineering) at McGill? (Advice from a McGill student would really help) At WPI, I’ve been selected with an undeclared Engineering major. Please help me out. Here are my criteria (not listed in order, just random):</p>
<p>Size of the University and it’s impact on the overall experience
Class Size & Student:Teacher Ratio
Faculty
Social Life & Surrounding City
Academic quality
Activity Clubs
Fitness and Sports facilities
University reputation (both in the country & worldwide)
Student Body: Level of competition & diversity
Weather
Availability of internships (during college years) and jobs (after graduation) to international students
(Please feel free to comment on any other criterion which you think might be important)</p>
<p>I’ll be spending a huge sum of money at either of these places. (At WPI, I’ve got a $24,000 merit scholarship which makes it slightly less expensive than McGill) I’m also listing other universities that I’ve been accepted at (with the scholarship amount). If you think any of them is better than these two, please let me know. </p>
<p>University of Southern California
Villanova University
(can’t afford these two listed above)
Rochester Tech- $13,000 per annum
Drexel University- $19,000 per annum
Seattle University- $16,000 per annum
University of Cincinnati- $12,000 per annum
University of Waterloo</p>
<p>Also, how easy is it to transfer to a higher level university after the first semester or so? Will it be easier from McGill or WPI?
I have to decide and enroll by May 1. Is it possible that I enroll at both the places and later decide which one to attend? </p>
<p>Thanks</p>
<p>WPI is ranked 9th among “Top 10 colleges to get rich.” Which means, the opportunity it creates for your life is unlike any other(just 8 others!) university.
I would probably go to WPI because of the reputation it holds among the employers.
I do agree that many people have heard about McGill but ultimately, I find WPI degree to be far more attractive.</p>
<p>I totally disagree with confidential2015 - employers and grad schools know and respect McGill; among educated people it’s considered among the top universities in North America.</p>
<p>Thanks guys. I’m planning to enroll at McGill. WPI seems to score low on the social scene as well.</p>
<p>you’re definitely making the right choice in terms of social life. I have a lot of friends at mcgill and they all love it! and montreal is an amazing city as well :)</p>
<p>English is the language of instruction, and of the administration, at McGill. French is not absolutely necessary for life in the city of Montreal, but life will be much easier once you learn some.</p>
<p>McGill is only one of several English-language universities in Quebec. There also are French-language universities as well. Whether or not McGill would need to change language of instruction if the Quebec separatist movement were to ultimately succeed is another question entirely. For the present, French language skills are not absolutely necessary for survival at McGill.</p>
<p>Evangelica, how do you get that from what I’ve written?</p>
<p>My understanding of the initial language question, was that the writer was concerned that he/she would need to know French in order to take classes and communicate with the faculty and administration at McGill. Given that at the present time McGill is an English-language institution, the answer to that question would be “No”. </p>
<p>If in the future, a language other than English were to become the sole official language of the geographical region where the city of Montreal (and consequently McGill) is located, then whether or not McGill would be required to change its language of instruction to that other language is not something that it is within my powers to foresee. It is indeed another question entirely.</p>
<p>What I can say with certainty, having visited the charming city of Montreal as a tourist, is that anyone who expects to spend an extended period of time there will probably enjoy that time much more if they can manage to acquire at least a modicum of French. It also is highly likely that the more French the person can speak, the more they will enjoy their years in Montreal.</p>