Pros/cons? (Argue all you want)

Blobof
Thu, 13 Dec 2007 00:38:30 +0000

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.

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.

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…

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…