Ask a McGill Alumnus

<p>Hello,
I applied to McGill this college season as a senior, unfortunately I did not get in. I feel this is probably because of my GPA, which is a 2.4UW/2.7W, since their decision was ‘Denied-academic req’t not met’. My test scores are ACT 28 and SAT 620CR/570M/620W. I also took the Math Level II/Physics/Literature SAT II’s, though I do not remember my scores off-hand. I plan to re-test in the fall as a college freshman, and do well enough in my classes to get at least a 3.7 GPA.
Any tips? What do you think my chances are, do you think they will look negatively upon me retesting as a freshman to get higher scores? I was sick on my first testing day for my SAT, almost vomited on my test because I had fits of coughing, so I know that I can do better on a second try. I just didn’t have the money to retest this year.
I know that my high school transcript will also be taken into consideration, do you think if I show that I have improved and have a 3.7 or higher they will take me?</p>

<p>Hey,
I am in a serious dilemma and my question is about choosing the right university for engineering. I assumed you could guide me the best since all the universities are American apart from McGill and yourself being an American too. The universities are McGill U, University of Washington and Purdue U.
Your recommendation?</p>

<p>Thanks</p>

<p>Hello Tom, I want to know something about McGill’s exchange program. I will enter into faculty of commerce.Can you please tell me that is it easy to get exchange opportunity in it?</p>

<p>Hello McGill alumnus,
I am a hs student looking into the faculty of management at McGill. It seems to be getting mixed reviews which somewhat worries me. I am looking into their international management program and I was wondering how good the program is for getting an international internship/job, and how hard the course is. Any responses will be appreciated. Thank you</p>

<p>Hi Guys,</p>

<p>I’m just got admitted to McGill and now I’m choosing/ranking residences. I’m kinda interested in the Greenbriar campus, since it’s close to the campus, I can have my own kitchen, and plus i heard we can easily get to everywhere in Montreal. However, I have some questions.

  • in your opinion, is the security at Greenbriar high?
  • what type of people, in general, usually live at this residence? is it the party type? the study type? the geeky type? the Artist type? the conservative type? the ‘do-nothing’ type (like… just let the days pass without doing anything fun or interesting)?
  • I dont think there’s many facilities at this residence. So, is it possible that I can find a good gym, music center, theater, studio, etc. somewhere near Greenbriar, or at least somewhere near McGill campus?</p>

<p>Also, where can I find information about costs of different residences? I’m not sure if Greenbriar is very much cheaper compared to a well facilitated residence, say… New Rez.</p>

<p>Thanks for your help. Really appreciate it.</p>

<p>Hey, I dunno if this has been brought up before but I can’t be bothered going through the old thread so here it is again: What are the exact holidays we get? As in how long and when? Obviously we get summer and winter break and a reading week. but how long are the summer and winter breaks usually? And is it the same for all students or does it apply differently to different students depending on what they are studying/what courses they take? </p>

<p>Please get back to me on this since I iintend on doing summer/winter internships during these holidays and I’m planning from now on and need to know how long I’ll be able to work. </p>

<p>Peace :)</p>

<p>Everyone’s asking questions and there’s no one to answer them.</p>

<p>

McGillnewbie: I can’t answer you question about Greenbriar specifically ( I live off-campus) but I’ll try to answer some.</p>

<p>Info about costs of residences can be found here: [Fees</a> | Housing - McGill University](<a href=“http://www.mcgill.ca/students/housing/downtown-undergrad/fees]Fees”>http://www.mcgill.ca/students/housing/downtown-undergrad/fees)</p>

<p>Info about Greenbriar can be found here: [Greenbriar</a> Apartments | Housing - McGill University](<a href=“http://www.mcgill.ca/students/housing/downtown-undergrad/residences/greenbriar/]Greenbriar”>http://www.mcgill.ca/students/housing/downtown-undergrad/residences/greenbriar/)</p>

<p>In terms of facilities, since these residences are within the campus, you’re walking distance to a lot of the school’s facilities. Greenbriar is close to our main gym ([McGill</a> Sports Centre - Gymnasiums & Activity Areas](<a href=“http://www.mcgill.ca/athletics/facilities/gymnasium/]McGill”>http://www.mcgill.ca/athletics/facilities/gymnasium/)) - access included in tuition though fitness centre is not included (you pay I think about $20/term).</p>

<p>

kanchuka: Key dates for the 2012-2013 semester can be found here: [Calendar</a> of Academic Dates 2012-2013](<a href=“http://www.mcgill.ca/importantdates/keydates11-12/keydates12-13/]Calendar”>http://www.mcgill.ca/importantdates/keydates11-12/keydates12-13/)</p>

<p>Winter breaks are usually two weeks but it depends on when your last exam is scheduled. Exam week for 2012-2013 starts December 6 until December 19. Reading week happens sometime in February (one week off). Summer break is four months (May - August). </p>

<p>You have to check your faculty if you’re starting earlier but generally it follows the schedule as stated in the key dates.</p>

<p>Hi,</p>

<p>I was recently accepted into Mcgill’s Faculty of Agriculture however I was unaware that that school was on the McDonald Campus. Is it possible the transfer to the Bachelor of Arts degree after I accept my admission and before classes start? Also, if I am unable to do this, would I still able to live on the downtown campus if I am in the Faculty of Agriculture? Please Please help!</p>

<p>Thanks a lot rougetardis ! Much appreciated :)</p>

<p>Did anyone else get in the Inter-faculty of Arts and Science here? I’m torn between choosing that or choosing faculty of science. My future is definitely going to be more science/med-school oriented, but I also want to take a lot of arts courses. Liberal program in Faculty of Science seems more reasonable for that goal, but then the inter-faculty is a lot harder to get into I figure there must be a reason why its so desired. So I’m considering doing inter-faculty for start and then transfer out if its detail doesn’t please me (I already took a gazillion APs in high school.) </p>

<p>Thoughts?</p>

<p>I was recently accepted to the Bachelors of Arts & Sciences joint degree as well, and I have some concerns/questions:</p>

<ol>
<li><p>If I come, I will double major in sociology and biology-molecular. I have heard great things about biology at McGill, but nothing about social sciences/sociology. How good is this program at McGill?</p></li>
<li><p>I am very worried I will have a change of heart and only want to complete one degree, in either arts or sciences. I have had a very hard time seeing if it is possible to transfer from the B.Sc&BA degree to only faculty of arts or faculty of sciences. How hard will it be to do this, if it is possible? Will I have to wait longer than a semester?</p></li>
<li><p>Since this is a double major, I worry if it will affect my chances at getting an advanced degree. Will it be harder to get into a graduate school of public health with this degree? What about if I decide to specialize in biology or sociology?</p></li>
<li><p>This is just a general question about McGill - since this is a very independent college, is it harder to find career/research/study abroad opportunities because you are on your own? Lots of my US universities seem to hand them to their students on a platter, and I worry about succeeding if I have to compete or go through tons of red tape to do so.</p></li>
</ol>

<p>Thanks so much for this thread!! It’s really helping me make my decision before May 1 :)</p>

<p>“Requesting advices on which Univ to accept for undergrad in Economics - McGill, U of Toronto, or U of Michigan at Ann Arbor?”</p>

<p>Hi, I would appreciate any advice on which univ I should accept for my undergrad studies in Economics? I am accepted by McGill, U of Toronto, and U of Michigan. After my undergrad, I plan to do a postgraduate degree in the same or similar subject in the US or UK. Thanks.</p>

<p>I am very much confused at the moment. If you look at the international rankings, U of T is much on top of McGill in Economics and Business, but Michigan is not that high up over the former two. </p>

<p>I would llike to make decision on where to go during the Easter holidays, so that I can concentrate on preparation for my final IB exams. </p>

<p>Your early advices are much appreciated! Thanks!</p>

<p>whichtogo: for you, UMich would be the best choice.</p>

<p>It is about the academic calendar that is linked above.</p>

<p>Can someone translate this to a human language?</p>

<p>2T, Apr 16 will follow a Fri schedule.
MWF, TRF, WF & F patterns will end on T, Apr 16.
MTR, MW & M patterns will end on M, Apr 15.
TR & R patterns will end on R, Apr 11.
T & W patterns will end on T, Apr 9 & W, Apr 10 respectively.
There is no shortfall of contact hours for any pattern.</p>

<p>spasticity: Thanks for your advice, but I would appreciate it if you can elaborate the reasons for UMichigan. Cheers!</p>

<p>Hi Tom,</p>

<p>Just wanted to get your opinion on my situation.</p>

<p>So I’ve been accepted to UNC Chapel Hill as a junior transfer (economics). For those who are not aware, transfer students at UNC must complete 1 semester of general courses in order to be eligible to apply to Kenan Flagler, UNC’s business school, which is my ultimate goal.</p>

<p>I’ve also applied to McGill in Canada, specifically their Arts program (I was missing a prereq for their business program). At McGill, if accepted to Arts, I would have to spend at least a year in Arts to take the prereqs I need to get into McGill’s business school.</p>

<p>Neither school has any guarantee that students will get into their business school through internal transfers. So whichever school I go to, I am taking somewhat of a risk, and have to be prepared for the fact that I may not end up going to their business school specifically, and might have to get a degree in some other field (and then obviously later I will pursue my MBA).</p>

<p>Well, I’m a California resident, so at UNC the cost will be roughly $40,000 a year. With financial aid, I will be paying roughly $20,000 a year (possibly a bit more, or possibly a bit less), which is fairly affordable for my parents (especially considering I will only be doing 2.5 years there since I’ve already done 2 years at a CC).</p>

<p>At McGill, since I’m a Canadian citizen, I will pay roughly $17,000 per year.</p>

<p>I’m looking for a college that will give me a strong foundation in the business field, and though this may sound cliche, a college with a strong reputation, particularly in the US. My plan is to live in the US after college.</p>

<p>

</p>

<p>I’m a Green Card holder and a permanent resident of California. You don’t need to be a Citizen in order to receive financial aid :)</p>

<p>Hi, I’d also like to know if I have any realistic chances of getting into these schools: Mcgill (first choice), UofT, and UBC
Currently a Junior, I take the IB diploma course, and attend a school which sends only students’ cumulative sophomore-junior gpa’s to colleges (unless asked for others/more). Although my sophomore gpa was a horrific 3.22, I managed to bring it up this year to, a weighted 4.11. But even so, my GPA will obviously average out to be very poor and unappealing.
I still don’t know my predicted IB score but I heard that it is crucial in the admissions process as well. Is it perhaps more important than your GPA? </p>

<p>Other questions:
-Ask for senior grades (GPA) and take it into account for your cumulative gpa?
-Observe and acknowledge improving grades and take that into account?
-Have early decision/admission options?
-Do the following questions’ answers vary depending on the faculty you are applying to? (I want to apply in the arts, psychology) </p>

<p>These are all inside questions that I find difficult to clarify from the website and/or other sources. I would appreciate it if any of you may answer, thank you!</p>