<p>Rejected from UCB today, so I need to make a decision now.</p>
<p>For an engineering major, could I hear any opinions? I just need some thoughts to help make a decision.</p>
<p>Toronto:
Track One Program (General Engineering) which is good because I'm undecided
English speaking
Better engineering program</p>
<p>McGill:
Higher ranking, better known
I don't speak french
Weather?</p>
<p>I can’t speak to the academics except to say both are very good schools. On the language question, I think it cuts both ways. Both schools are entirely in English, so that’s not an issue. Toronto’s a polyglot city but there’s no question English is the sole common tongue, so in a way it’s easier for a native English speaker to fit in there. Montreal is said to be the most bilingual city in the world. To me, that’s a positive, because there’s both the opportunity and the necessity to become bilingual. So if it were one of my daughters facing this choice, I’d say on the language question McGill presents the better opportunity.</p>
<p>On weather, Montreal and Toronto are virtually indistinguishable in spring, summer, and fall. There’s no question Montreal is colder and snowier in winter, but it’s not extreme cold and snow by Canadian standards, and the trade-off is that Montreal is sunnier in winter. Toronto gets more gray skies and cold rain in winter. Pick your poison. Personally I’d opt for more sun and a little more snow even at the expense of a little more cold. Gray skies and cold rain in winter, I can do without.</p>