<p>I know that discussion was pretty lively on here during the summer from looking at the past threads, so i was wondering... what's Mcgill like now that you're actaully there! is it all that it's supposed to be or was it a let down?</p>
<p>I have to say that McGill has been everything I'd hoped it would be and more. Sure, the school itself lives up to its reputation of "red tape", but so far I've found all my classes fairly informative and engaging despite being huge lectures. The people I've met are diverse, interesting, friendly, and fun, and easily the most intelligent bunch of kids I've ever been surrounded by. It's an amazing atmosphere. Living in Montreal feels almost surreal in how ideal it's been - so much cuture, always things to do, relatively safe and clean, friendly, attractive, etc etc. I'm living in Solin Hall, and it's seriously like having my own apartment, which is exactly what I wanted. And so on and so forth.</p>
<p>To sum up, yeah, I don't think I could've made a better choice. I'm very happy here.</p>
<p>How big are the classes? My classes at present are very small (11 in most, my largest has 24 people (feels huge) and my smallest has 2 people including me in ap calc). I am sure I will feel shocked at any uni but I am still curious as we did not go into a lecture hall or classroom on my tour of McGill. Glad to hear you like solin..if admitted that will be one of my top choices.</p>
<p>Most of your intro classes will be big. REALLY big. I have 6 classes this year in Leacock 132. It's Mcgill's largest lecture hall and it holds about 600 people. I never found large classes a distraction and I really love the fact that I can slip in 10 minutes late if I need to. The language classes tend to be smaller and a lot of classes have tutorials or conferences once a week that have 20-30 people in them. You'll find it's the same at most universities, especially the one in metropolitan cities. The class sizes get smaller as you go on though.</p>
<p>In regards to my expectations of Mcgill...this place is home. I love it. I remember when I first visited and something felt very right about the campus. Now I'm living here and never want to leave. I went back to Toronto for Canadian thanksgiving and spent the whole time being terribly homesick for this place. So in short, it's hard not to fall in love with Mcgill and Montreal. Oh, and think about douglas if you want to be in rez. The rooms are so much nicer than the other upper rezes and you have your own caf! New rez is expensive and to be quite honest I didn't really like it. The people there are awesome, but you walk in and ALL the doors are closed and you have to sign in anyone who visits you. It just doesn't feel like a home. You can't even put stuff on the walls! Solin is great if you want to branch out a bit more and the metro is pretty easy to figure out. the only problem is the metro closes at 12:30 so if you go out to the bars you end up having to take a cab back. Hope that helps a bit.</p>
<p>Good luck with your decision.</p>
<p>-Katrina.</p>
<p>Yeah, that is the one thing you'll probably not be able to escape at McGill - HUGE classes. Since I'm in Arts and Sciences, almost all my classes are big lectures because they're general/introductory courses. They probably average about 400 people each. But honestly, it's far less intimidating than I thought it would be - you get used to being a bit anonymous. It mostly just means that you have to be diligent about keeping up with your own work because the prof isn't going to be taking time to check up on individual students. Though if you need help, the profs and TAs make themselves VERY accessible outside of class. So huge classes really aren't SO bad, and as you get farther along and focus your area of study more, the class sizes shrink dramatically.</p>
<p>Also, for a bit of Solin-pimping, I don't know anyone here who doesn't love it (even amongst the people who didn't want to be here initially!). Being able to eat when you want, when you want is wonderful - from what I hear, meal plans can get old very fast. The metro ride is VERY quick and easy (about 15 minutes to campus) and having the pass (approx. $30/mo. for unlimited use) is SO convientient because you can really get ANYWHERE, and you learn the city a bit better than just the area around campus. And for me, I think having my own bathroom is a necessary luxury. There's a nice community feel here, too.</p>
<p>Upper rez IS nice though. I've only really been in McConnell and Douglas, but they both seemed pretty awesome for a more traditional dorm experience (with mostly single rooms). If you can brave the walk up and down the hill about 3 times a day!</p>
<p>Any other questions, feel free to ask :)</p>
<p>I got rejected from 3 american ivy schools, and I'm <i>glad</i>. its really awesome up here....it actually snowed tonight 10/26!!! Class sizes range from my intro political science class (612) to french class (28). It's everything I expected and more. One of the best parts is not the drinking, especially for all you americans (me included), the fact that you can drink is really secondary to the awesome people you are bound to meet. I'm up at Molson Hall. It is the PARTY DORM (may I reference you all to our beer bong video on collegehumor). </p>
<p>I figure I'll spit out a few wise words about the residences that I didn't really know before I had to choose (for all you future acceptees).</p>
<p>Upper Res: Is where I am, it's a GREAT community, tons of people, theres always someone around. there are 3 buildings up here, Molson, Gardner, and McConnell, each with about 200 people. Every room is a single. Also, realize that Molson and Gardner are TOTALLY COED, while McConnell is SINGLE SEX WINGS. We all eat in a center building called BMH (meal plan). The food, I think, is good. I don't have to shell out cash every time, and it suits my palette. We had a little rivalry with McConnell (which i helped start...yessss), which was fun. We have our traditions and quirks which are awesome (like a Molson dodgeball tourney, winners got champagne). We live right next to a tennis court and a turf field, so bring your soccer balls! Only bad part about this res is the HILL. It is daunting at first, but right now, 2 months into school, my legs are so strong, and i barely notice it anymore. 15 minute walk to class</p>
<p>Solin hall: is a little further away, but for all of you who like independence with cooking, etc. Solin is a 3 minute walk to the metro, and 4 or 5 stops away from campus. Definitely buy a metro pass, you will get your money's worth within a week. By living in Solin you have the opportunity to see a different part of montreal that most other kids don't get to see (at least on a regular basis). The rooms are usually 3 kids, with living space, and 1.5 bathrooms. I've been in a few and it seems like a very spacious area. 45 minute walk to campus, 1hr walk to upper rez (take the metro).</p>
<p>New Res: I know the least really about new res. I do know that they have a meal plan, and it IS a converted hotel, which means it's nice, yes, but i was unimpressed. It's a hassle to bring people in (they have to be checked in with ID's) and most rooms are doubles. If you want a single, stick with upper rez. Otherwise, maybe this place is for you. Also, you don't have to walk up the hill. 10-15 min walk to campus.</p>
<p>Douglas: Is about 50 meters less walk than upper rez. They have their own small cafeteria, I assume with a meal plan too. The actual building is really nice looking from the outside. I've never been in a room, so I can't comment on the spaciousness. I hear its nice, so if you want singles, i guess this one is another good choice.</p>
<p>RVC: All girls rez. Again never been in a room. The cafeteria is very popular especially for lunch when all the classes get out. Upper rez kids eat here all the time. The staff is much more friendly here than at BMH. Also, RVC girls get the perk of having a meal plan for weekends. Only downside, I guess, is its location. It's a one minute walk to campus, so unless you have motivation, don't expect to see any of the city.</p>
<p>MORE houses: Are the odd-balls. No one seems to hear about them, although I have a friend who lives in one. No meal plans, buy all your own ****. I guess theyre...good? I dont really know. I think i lied, i know the least about MORE houses. Walk to campus, I don't know there are many MORE houses, but some of them are about 10 min</p>
<p>Greenbriar: I lied again, I don't know ANYTHING about greenbriar, other than there appear to be little porches on each room, and its about a 6 minute walk to campus.</p>
<p>Hope that helps.</p>
<p>FYI, I've got plenty of pictures of Douglas (inside and out) as well as some of the upper rez's. Let me know if you want to see them. Oh, and if you decide to come tour the campus I've got no problem in showing you douglas or the other upper residences. I don't think they are part of the official tour. Just leave me a message!
-Katrina</p>
<p>I LOVE it here. McGill is a great school and Montreal is just fantastic. I was very apprehensive at first because I got stuck in the all-girls dorm, RVC, which was one of my last choices. But I have an AMAZING floor and have made some very close friends in such a short period of time. Yes, it is quieter than some of the other residences and it would be nice to have guys around, but there's a really nice sense of community here. And the location is perfect!</p>
<p>Like Katrina, I went home for thanksgiving and couldn't wait to come back. It sort of made me realize how incredible my experience at McGill has been so far. I couldn't imagine myself anywhere else :)</p>
<p>I absolutely love it here...its the best place on earth</p>
<p>academics</p>
<p>i am in management, i have 3 classes with 60-70 people and 1 with 200 people...</p>
<p>for the most part they are ok... but the lectures are totally pointless..u dont learn jack **** that u need for the exam..
for the exams u have to know the text book inside out..which is the way i like to learn anyway..so i really cant complain..i been memorizing text books thru the whole to high school..its not a big change for me...i dont even c the point of going to management classes to be honest..but since there is so much group work, so u have to attend every class..
its really hard to get good grades at McGill...even if u study like hell..they cruve u down in management classes..and since i am doing second and third year classes, i find it pretty hard to compete with upperclassmen..</p>
<p>social life</p>
<p>rez is awesome...i was a temp at solin (didnt have a room) for a month..now i am in gardner (upper rez) .
to be honest..solin sucks compared to upper rez..there are some good/cool people there..but it was too dead, boring and too far for me..but i still go back there on the weekends, since most of my good friends are stuck there...some have managed to move out like me..but solin is alright if ur just here for the education, u just dont get to meet a lot of people from other residences...just try ur best to avoid it (along with RVC)..</p>
<p>upper rez on the other hand is the place to be...i got the best floor in gardner and we have so much fun togather..we are all really tight as well and pratically do everything togather (eat, sports, party, shopping, etc.) and we always in the hallways too..
the hill is a *****, but ur ass and legs get toned nicely..next year everyone person of the opposited sex will be after u..(this is what some second year former upper rez girls told me) </p>
<p>If ur comming to mcgill next year..pick either gardner or molson..both are pratically identical and both are the best residences on campus..most people envy us...
u also meet a lot of people here (over 650) unlike douglas, solin, rvc, and greenbrier..which are all isolated..
mconnell is not bad either..it smelled like weed everytime i been there and they have single sex wings..i know a lot of people who dont know many people from the other wing....
greenbrier is like solin but right beside campus..its really tight community, but they have a lot of wierdos...some of my best friends live there, i spent a lot of time there..its a good alternative to solin..
new rez is quite good too...was my first choice, but its nothing compared to upper rez from what i can c..</p>
<p>well anyway the social life here is amazing..we used to party pretty much everyday till the midterms came along...now everyone is studying..
the amount of alcohol we comsume is insane too...we have drinking competations on on regular basis (i funnelled a 40 in 1 sec last sunday after losing a bet)..i think we are challenging molson next month to a drinking competation..its gonna get crazy...
be warned upper rez is not for everyone,for people who study non stop, anti-social and who like to stay in the rooms all the time..stay away from here..go to solin or RVC (its much quieter there)</p>
<p>just like everyone who has posted b4 me..i love this place, most of my friends at other universities envy me when i tell them about mcgill and montreal (the most awesome city)...McGill is absolutely amazing, there no other place which can come even close...</p>
<p>Ok I have to defend RVC!
Upper rez is definitely an awesome place to be, but if you do get stuck in RVC...don't freak out (like I did) because it can turn out to be an amazing experience. I have friends in Molson and Douglas so I can go up there anytime to experience the crazy drunkneness, and RVC is by no means an anti-social rez. We go out a lot and my floor is the loudest in the tower. Sure, the guy thing can get to you sometimes, but it's not hard to make friends in other residences if you make some effort to be social and get to know people.</p>
<p>sorry, i didnt mean to say RVC was anti-social or bad in anyway..</p>
<p>its just the overwhelming impression i got after visiting RVC (especailly weekends) was that it is was like ghost town..which is good in a way ofcourse, u wanna study..</p>
<p>some of my friends there seem to really like it..and some dont..3 girls have even moved to my floor from RVC..they apprently really hated it.. </p>
<p>if ur an "attractive" girl i guess u would have no problem living in RVC...but the rest, they have a pretty hard time (this is what a lot of my friends there tell me anyway)</p>
<p>I guess if ur stuck there, u have no choice, u just have to make the best of it...i have nothing against RVC..i just think people going coming to mcgill next year should try to avoid it, unless ur pressured into it by ur parents or something</p>
<p>Oh yeah, but I'm just saying that the individual floors really do make a HUGE difference. I love RVC because of my floor. I would've definitely considered transferring to upper rez if I was surrounded by people who are "typical RVC", I guess you could say, but no one on my floor actually chose to be there.</p>