<p>How is McGill on financial aid? I visited a couple of years ago, but at that point I didn't have much interest so I didn't really ask any questions. I'd need a few thousand a year to be able to go, but my app probably isn't going to be outstanding. Here are my stats.</p>
<p>SAT I: CR,M,W 730,650,640
SAT II's: Math I and Literature, won't know scores until the 20th.
I probably won't submit the SAT's, I think my ACT score looks more impressive.
ACT: 32
GPA: UW- 3.78
Rank: Overwhelmingly low. My school has a minimum GPA of a 3.0 I think, but everyone takes the easiest classes. I have the most rigorous course load, will this help?
EC's: Gay Straight Alliance, Literary Journal Staff, Peace Jam, ACLU School Branch, Philosophy Club, Writing Club, Fencing, Internship (artical writing for a hospital newspaper).
Volunteer Work: 3-5 hours per week with United Artist Coalition for Kids, political campaigning with Colorado's Referendum I (Gay Marraige proposal).
Work: 15-20 hours per week at a local drug store.
Recs: Teacher recs good, one is a fantastic writer and the other is not so much, but he's a calculus teacher, so whatever. Counselor rec terrible. Terrible terrible grammer, knows nothing about me, etc.</p>
<p>Anyway, I probably forgot to list something, but what do you think?</p>
<p>I'm assuming you are American. If not, then this answer will not apply to you at all.</p>
<p>McGill does not give any need based aid for international students. The price is VERY low for a university of its caliber--around $25k USD a year total. As it's ranked in the top 25 in the world by the Times Higher Education Supplement, I'd say it's a good deal.</p>
<p>They do give 2 kinds of admissions scholarships. One type is the "basic," for which all admitted students are considered. It's for $3000 CAD, and is based solely on academic achievement. The other kind is the "major" scholarship, and it's worth between $5k and $10k Canadian. It's based on your academic achievement and also leadership, and requires an essay and 2 letters of reference, one academic and one activity based. So if you need a few grand for financial aid, you can hope to get one of these or get some outside aid.</p>
<p>They don't require teacher reqs at all. I believe you may send them if you want, but they rely mostly on your transcript. So I'd skip the calc reference and only send the English reference if it's suberb.</p>
<p>I know they admit around half of all applicants, but I don't know what percentage of international or American applicants get admitted. I'd ask the admissions department.</p>
<p>To qualify for any scholarship at McGill as an international student, you need an A- average, 660 each SAT or 32 ACT, and be in the top 5% of your high school class.</p>
<p>Here are the rules for the major scholarship from the McGill website:</p>
<p>If you meet the minimum academic requirements listed above, and also demonstrate significant leadership qualities, you may apply for a major scholarship on the web after your application for admission has been submitted. You will receive an e-mail acknowledgement of your admission application, which will provide you with your McGill ID number as well as a PIN that you can use to log on to Minerva. On Minerva, you can check the status of your admission application and submit your application for a major scholarship. </p>
<p>On Minerva, select the "Apply for a Major Scholarship" link on the "Applicant" menu. You will be prompted to provide the following: </p>
<p>a factual list of principal interests and activities while in school or CEGEP;
a list of up to a maximum of six books or major articles read during the past year (exclude selections which were required for school or CEGEP courses), from which you must choose one and explain in a maximum of 200 words why you read it and why it was significant;
an essay of no more than 500 words explaining what and where you expect to be 20 years from now, and what will have been the role of your education. </p>
<p>You also must include </p>
<p>(1) Signed statement from your school indicating the size of your class and your class rank. If your school does not rank students, a statement to that effect from the school should be provided, if possible. All documents should be provided on school letterhead and placed in a sealed envelope, signed across the flap by the sender.
(2) Two letters of reference, one academic and one activity-related. Letters of reference must be submitted in envelopes sealed and signed across the flap by the author of the letter. It would be appreciated if letters could be typed and, whenever possible, prepared on letterhead stationery.</p>
<p>The application deadline is 22 January 2007.</p>
<p>As for admissions, I think you have a decent shot based on the stats; for aid, you seem to be on the low end- you have an okay shot of getting 3k, and if you had some great recs and wrote some killer essays, you could always get a major one, though I wouldn't count on that.</p>
<p>At McGill it is all about which faculty to which you plan to apply. Separate departments individually screen and have different cut-off points for acceptance. Without knowing which fac is your choice, I say you have a valid chance, but I would not make McGill a safety school based on the last several years increase in applications and candidate quality.
Submit the ACT, for sure.</p>
<p>Scholarships are hard to come by for internationals, esp. from the US as the price is reasonable.</p>
<p>My understanding is that if you apply to two schools, you will be evaluated by both. Thus you can be admitted to both, one or none.</p>
<p>Is that how it works?</p>
<p>That is right--my d. got accepted to both Arts and Arts and Sciences.
It costs the same, so always go for two. Transferring is not hard after the
first year, if you have a good gpa.</p>
<p>Thank you. How do you think I'd look for Arts and Sciences?</p>