<p>I just applied to McGill and it looks like there has been a lot of debate on whether or not it is “actually” as good as school as its made out to me. So basically, let’s here all the pros and cons. I’d probably study Economics, or maybe Linguistics. Almost certainly a social science in the Faculty of Arts.</p>
<p>So, start arguing, please.</p>
<p>PS I’m from the US if that makes any difference.</p>
<p>First off, what have you heard about McGill?</p>
<p>McGill is one of the top schools in linguistics (from a research point of view most probably), there’s no question about that. But if you really want pros and cons, you have to specify what you are looking for in a school in particular.</p>
<p>Well from these forums I’ve heard that its near-impossible, at least in some of the faculties, to successfully compete for a good GPA. So: is this true for Arts? I’ve heard McGill is underfunded, but I’ve also heard that its the best funded in Canada. I’ve heard its got huge class sizes, but I’ve also heard that its no more so in that respect than the prestigious American public universities like Michigan or Wisconsin. I’ve heard its got a great social scene but I’ve also read that it can be cliquey and difficult to find a scene because of all the commuters and native Quebecois. Etc</p>
<p>Basically, I saw another thread that turned into a huge battle over the merits of the school, and a lot of other people getting upset that that’s what the thread turned into. But as a prospective student, I found it worthwhile to read, so I thought I’d try and start a place for it.</p>
<p>So what are you looking for in a school? What do you want to get out of your college experience? I keep asking because many aspects of a school can be seen as a pro or a con, depending on one’s perspective and desires.</p>
<p>I can’t speak about the funding, because I don’t know what to look for when it comes to how well funded a school is. I can say this, there are definitely other schools that throw around more money than McGill (i.e. U of Toronto, and their debating union Harthouse; Harthouse members don’t have to pay any fees to travel around for debating tournaments, U of T covers them). </p>
<p>As for respect back home: McGill (to people in the Midwest, who are in “the know”) still holds the, wildly inaccurate, reputation of being Canada’s best, and an “undercover” ivy-league caliber school. My dad doesn’t even believe me when I explain that McGill being the harvard of canada isn’t that accurate.</p>
<p>I’m in engineering, so all my classes are math and science related. That being said, I’ve watched a decent amount of MIT lectures to supplement my own, and the difference in quality between my profs and the MIT’s isn’t proportional to the difference in price. While at times the MIT prof’s touch on ambiguous points my own profs didn’t, it’s not like professors here don’t hold office hours that they wouldn’t love for you to attend. From my experience, the professors here want you to do well, and they want you to seek them out if you don’t understand something. </p>
<p>Class size here is very program dependent. For art’s kids, there are a decent mix of big classes and small classes. I have a couple friends in a “literature and democracy” class that’s capped off at around 30 or so. My physics section was capped at 80, but had no more than 35 people in it at any given time. Hell that class was so small my professor actually knew who I was/asked me about my twin when he dropped the course. He also knew me as the kid who told him to “pound it” every time he answered a question for me after class. </p>
<p>There’s attention here if you look for it, but if you’re not willing to go out of your way, you’ll be just another body in a 300 person lecture hall. </p>
<p>If you live in Rez your first year you won’t see or deal with the “commuters or Quebecois” so making friends won’t be a problem.</p>
<p>Thanks for the info, drmambo.</p>
<p>Blobof: I consider myself a fairly flexible and adaptable person, to the point where I don’t have too many things I’m looking for in a school, other than its location (Montreal is clearly good), size (as long as its bigger than my high school, which McGill obviously is), and ability to give me a high quality education (which by all accounts, class sizes notwithstanding, McGill is capable of). That being said, I would like to attend a school that has good international connections/programs, and where McGill stands on this I don’t know. Furthermore, is it a reasonable place from which to apply to a top university graduate program? Can I get a good enough GPA (reasonably) / does McGill have enough prestige?</p>
<p>Aside from those, I ask the vague question of what the pros/cons are just so that I can know and compare them to those of other schools I’ve applied to.</p>
<p>I always hear it is hard to get good grades, but I am always skeptical too.</p>
<p>Cause whenever someone answers, it’s usually someone whos says “yeah, it’s real hard here” but then goes on to say how much they drink at school.</p>
<p>And then i wonder, “I dont drink. Obviously you love drinking and not studying. What if you just loved studying and studies like 6+ hrs a day outside of class? then what?”</p>
<p>But i never get clear cut answers.
BTW, i wanna be doing philosophy and languages.</p>
<p>Trust me, even kids studying 6 hrs a day also find it difficult sometimes. Bottom line: stay on top of your Course material. Cramming just before exams wont work. Period.</p>
<p>Ah, now we’re talking. Size can be an issue to some (too small or too big, depending on preferences). McGill is fairly large but by no means a huge university like, say, Universite de Montreal or University of Toronto (only half as big as the former, and it makes a huge difference). The “school” has good connections but that depends on what you’re looking for. If you intend to go to grad school, it’s possibly more up to the connections of your references (pick wisely). Provided you do your part in your undergrad studies, you should have no problem getting in top grad programs from McGill (short list of where my classmates ended up: Harvard (at least one turned it down, to go to Chicago, and one count of “he got into Harvard? really??”), Oxford (including 2 Rhodes Scholars), Stanford, Yale, MIT (lots of people went there), Johns Hopkins, Berkeley, etc). On that matter, talk to your profs long before it’s time to ask for recommendation letters.</p>
<p>But, it is true, class sizes can be huge, especially early on, depending on your program. If you prefer smaller classes, try to pick the right ones (usually the tougher, honours courses). And nothing is given to you automatically. Personal attention, help, guidance: you have to seek those yourself, and, I can’t emphasize it enough, ask your peers, especially the older undergrads. When it comes to picking courses, they know better than many advisors. If you’ve heard that the advisors are useless as a complaint, it’s not entirely false (some advisors certainly are), but if the only person you’ve spoken to is your advisor, you’re doing it wrong. Visit the departmental undergrad lounges, don’t be afraid to talk to people. </p>
<p>It is very much possible to get a good GPA, but that usually is not easy (McGill is not known for grade inflation). It’s a matter of effort, diligence, picking your classes wisely (to balance the workload) and finding the right working environment. And knowing when and how to relax…</p>
<p>As for the rest: Montreal is a great town, unless you’re afraid of a little snow (there ain’t that much and they usually clear it pretty efficiently anyway). It’s considered a party city, the legal drinking age is 18, but drinking and partying are not an obligation (really, neither are necessary to make friends, plus Frosh is a big ripoff, and again, talk to people, and try different places on campus, don’t confine yourself to your classes or the Burnside basement). As it’s in Canada, you won’t get a break for American Thanksgiving. The exchange rate now is not what it used to be, but it’s unlikely to be as bad as it was a few weeks ago. It’s a pain to go up the hill if you have classes in Stewart Bio or are in Education…</p>
<p>Yo Bigtwix, I’ve rarely partook in alcohol consumption here and I can attest to the “getting good grades = difficult” philosophy. </p>
<p>If you study 6+ hours a day outside of class, though, you’ll have no life, and some may subsequently brand you a “loser”. You’re also here to have fun. Binge studying during finals is alright, but you need balance. </p>
<p>I have a few friends + a twin in philosophy, and nothing is more supporting of the “good grades = difficult” mentality than the philosophy curriculum here. They have grade quotas so you really need to be atop you stuff to get the A on your papers (i.e. you have to be better than 98% of your peers…). </p>
<p>I had more to say, but forgot/have to goto a linear algebra pre-final tutorial.</p>
<p>Have you taken foreign languages? Anybody know how difficult they are at McGill? Particularly Japanese, Italian, and Chinese?</p>
<p>Wait, so to get an A in Philosophy you have to be in the top 2%? So what, like only 1 A pre class?</p>
<p>How difficult would it be considered to get a 3.3?</p>
<p>Big, you assume there are only 50 kids in philosophy? Multiply that number by 6 (at least). I believe the total number of A’s released is around 4, MAYBE 6. </p>
<p>I’m only in my first year, first semester no less; I can’t gauge how hard it is to get/maintain a 3.3+</p>
<p>“I can’t gauge how hard it is to get/maintain a 3.3+”
As it is that impossibly hard? Or as in you are a first year and havent been in school long enough to gauge yet since grades havent been determined yet kind thing?</p>
<p>Is it like that for all philosophy classes? What about other departments like languages or linguistics?</p>
<p>I can attest to the idea that As are very difficult to get in philosophy.</p>
<p>I think a 3.3 is extremely doable with relatively little effort if you’re in arts, but to break the 3.7-3.8 barrier is challenging. You really need consistent hard work to maintain a GPA like that. Then again, this is my first semester at McGill too (but second year of college).</p>
<p>^ haven’t been here long enough to be able to tell.</p>
<p>First semester GPA is not enough to say much though. My final CGPA was .5 above my first semester GPA.</p>
<p>A 3.3 is very attainable in arts, if you work hard. Passing is easy, even if you’re lazy.</p>
<p>You simply cannot bet on a 3.7+ in arts no matter how smart you are; grading is subjective, and they have to limit the number of A’s. If you’re trying to go to an American law school, DO NOT GO to McGill! </p>
<p>Grad school, don’t worry. They know. Law school doesn’t.</p>
<p>Oh, and if you’re real smart, and study 80+ hours per week, you CAN bet on a 3.7+ in science, not because it’s easier, but because it’s objective.</p>