I’m planning on applying to McGill this upcoming winter and am wondering what my chances would be. I have a familiar connection to the school since my grandfather graduated with a degree in mechanical engineering in the early 60s. I haven’t visited the campus yet, but I will be there this weekend for the fall open house.
Female from Maine, family income ~$50k/year
Major: Astronomy or Physics
GPA: 3.22 UW 3.8 W
9th grade GPA: 3.25 UW 3.75 W
10th grade GPA: 3.17 UW 3.58 W
11th grade GPA: 3.25 UW 4 W
Class rank: 50/275
1370 SAT (700 R&W, 670 M, retaking Nov. 4)
Subject tests: Math 2 (620), Bio-E (650), USH (660) (retaking Math 2 and taking Physics in December)
APs: 10th grade - Biology (3), 11th grade - Language (3), US History (3), taking French, Calculus AB, Physics C - Mech, and Physics C - E&M this year
ECs: principal flute in local youth orchestra all 4 years, principal flute in school honors band all 4 years, student council all 4 years (secretary 11), science bowl since 10th grade (asst. captain 11), French club 10 and 11 (treasurer 10 and VP 11), math team all 4 years. Also do astronomical research and have presented at the state science fair twice.
Awards: Academic award (9, 10, 11), 3rd in category at state science fair (9), special award from US Navy Office of Naval Research at state science fair (10), volunteerism award for exemplary volunteerism work (9)
Volunteering: couple hundred hours cumulative, worked as co-coordinator for children’s village at folk festival and event volunteer for local symphony orchestra.
I also went to an elite summer program for astrophysics last summer that accepted 72 people out of 700 applications.
My scores and GPA are low so that’ll hurt me, but I think my recs, ECs, CA essay, and interview will help me. My SAT will go up when I retake it in a week and a half. My GPA is low since I’ve been dealing with mental illness throughout high school, including med changes that messed with me. I’ll mention that somewhere carefully.
Thank you so much!