Hey guys,
I am currently studying ChemE at McGill and would be more than happy to answer any questions / chance as well.
I found this site really helpful during my application year, so I thought I’d give a little back… 
Hi everyone! I am a Colombian girl applying to both Bsc programs of the science faculty at McGill. My stats are the following (for grade 12):
Biology 90%
Physics 90%
Calculus 90%
Basic Mathematics 93.5%
Chemistry 93.5%
Academic average 92%
TOEFL 108
What are my chances? I’ve been so anxious about this
How hard is chemE compared to Biol Sciences? (admission stats). is the acceptance rate of this one the same as the public stats ( 46-48%)? Do they look at grade 10 and 11 scores? Between average GPA and prerequisite courses’ scores, which one will they focus on?
Does mcgill have placement tests for freshmen?
how about the employablity after grad of chem eng in montreal?
i’m a vietnamese guy applying to both biol sci and chemE. our passing score is 5.0/10.0 and I know that a 9-ish in my school is not easy, actually only a few guys in my class can get 9.0… if mcgill says A- is required for prerequisite courses, how can i convert my scores to this grading system?
This looks like a great thread! Thanks for offering to help!
I was recently admitted to MechE and Life Sci. I am still not sure which one to choose and was hoping you might have some good insights. I am more interested in engineering (the application) than science per se. How is the work load in engineering? I have heard people say that it’s * too much* for them. I am not talking about the necessary work that needs to be done. If that’s what it is and it’s worth working hard for, I am fine with it. Also, how are the employment opportunities once graduated? Canada really wants engineers and McGill has one of the best reputations in engineering, correct?
I am thinking about living off-campus starting the first year, would you recommend that? I want to bring my car there also and get an apartment/house about 20 min drive away from school and drive to school daily.
Are there a lot of work opportunities on- and off-campus for English-only students? Work for SSMU, Student Life, Service Point, Welcome Center? I hope to get a job and get to work before my first semester starts.
Many thanks!
Congrats on finishing your exams
@CosmicMaria I definitely think you stand a chance
@ToanNguyen How hard is chemE compared to Biol Sciences? (admission stats). Hard, haha we do lots of organix chem, higher level mathematics annd processes/thermodynamics. i dont want to scare you or anything though! i think if you like bio, def go for bio!
is the acceptance rate of this one the same as the public stats ( 46-48%)? I don’t think so, lower acceptance for eng, we have smaller class sizes that graduate each yaer.
Do they look at grade 10 and 11 scores? yepp
Between average GPA and prerequisite courses’ scores, which one will they focus on? both, actually!
Does mcgill have placement tests for freshmen? we do. you can just google it!
how about the employablity after grad of chem eng in montreal? right now, not so good in montreal because it’s pretty darn urban, but most likely in bc/ontario
i’m a vietnamese guy applying to both biol sci and chemE. our passing score is 5.0/10.0 and I know that a 9-ish in my school is not easy, actually only a few guys in my class can get 9.0… if mcgill says A- is required for prerequisite courses, how can i convert my scores to this grading system? my grading system automatically had these grading scheme, so i am not entirely sure. but i suggest you just look on the website, where it says, “requirements for int’ls” and find vietnam system or whichever you are in
best of luck!
@ryanwww
This looks like a great thread! Thanks for offering to help!
How is the work load in engineering? I have heard people say that it’s too much for them. I am not talking about the necessary work that needs to be done. If that’s what it is and it’s worth working hard for, I am fine with it.
I’d say it really depend on the # of credits you take. I decided to take the full 18 credits, as stated on the syllabus and oh man. Killer. I worked all day and night for the marks I want. Profs have high expections, obv because we’re pretty much considered to be top-notch… so you are right, it is definitely worth it to work hard for! I think you are in the right mindset for eng (and ps, dont let the upperclassmen scare you away! you do you.)
Also, how are the employment opportunities once graduated? Canada really wants engineers and McGill has one of the best reputations in engineering, correct? correct! high wages too. 
and you can always train to become a manager (with technical background); it’s appealing!
I am thinking about living off-campus starting the first year, would you recommend that? I want to bring my car there also and get an apartment/house about 20 min drive away from school and drive to school daily.
I am actually living off campus … as a first year! that sounds good to me.
Are there a lot of work opportunities on- and off-campus for English-only students? Work for SSMU, Student Life, Service Point, Welcome Center? I hope to get a job and get to work before my first semester starts.
on campus, yes. make sure to apply for work-study program beforehand! off-campus, i’d say yes as well… since a lot of people speak english here now, but in terms of competitiveness, you’d lose to anotehr applicant who knows french (i know 
)
Many thanks!
Congrats on finishing your exams
Thank you! Good luck, I hope to see you soon! best of luck xo
@pnguon thank you!
Hello! I’m applying for electrical engineering and I have a few questions:
- If I decided to minor in something, would the work load be too much? Is there anyone you know who does minor? (I'm doing a levels do I'd prob have advanced credits)
- Is there a lot of opportunities for doing projects and practicals?
- Which rez do you recommend?
- And finally, can we like rent a piano room from the music department? Or are there any pianos lying around the campus?
Thank you very much!
Living on campus is a great way to make friends first year. McGill provides little or no on campus parking to students without a disability.
Do you really want to drive in a Montréal winter? See for yourself:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hgAWOnOdax0
@pnguon Thanks a bunch! I’ve accepted the offer for MechE. See ya next year!
and @TomSrOfBoston Thanks for letting me know about that. I’ll still bring a car coming to Montreal because I need to move basically everything I have from the States to Canada (I’m from China, did three years of high school in the U.S.) and the car is one of those things. But public transit is definitely what I’ll be looking at.
Hello! I’m applying for electrical engineering and I have a few questions:
- If I decided to minor in something, would the work load be too much? Is there anyone you know who does minor? (I'm doing a levels do I'd prob have advanced credits) A minor is good, and yes, there are people who do have a minor. Though from what I hear from them, they tend to stay for 4.5 - 5 years ( if not, take summer courses).
- Is there a lot of opportunities for doing projects and practicals? I can only answer for Chem E for this one, I'm sorry. But I can say, McGill is a research university.. so you could probably find a lab to work at (under supervision of either a Masters/Phd or prof). And we have a program called "Sure," check it out!
- Which rez do you recommend? I live off campus.. sorry but i'd recommend ones closer to campus for sure.. ( royal victoria residence is really pretty..)
- And finally, can we like rent a piano room from the music department? Or are there any pianos lying around the campus? Montreal has public pianos lying around in the summer, and one at indigo near mcgill. residences have piano too! unfortunately, music rooms are only opened to music students (but you can find someone you know to sneak you in :P )
Thank you very much!
No worries, best of luck!
Is it true that final exams at McGill are commonly worth 75% of the course grade?
@pnguon Is it true that final exams are often 70% of the course grade at McGill?
@klb222 According to Mcgill’s policy finals can be worth as much as 75 percent… so from my experiences with classes engineering… yes. I can’t say this for all classes though.
@pnguon hi friend i would like to know abt bio engg course in mcgill do they have job opp in canada for that stream as its new course i hv also applied chem planning to go in pharma what is your opinion.indian my decision revd pending for a month do they wait till 12th marks to get for indians any idea thanks.