HELP! Harvard, McGill, American, BC

College Search & Selection
1

<p>Alright so I've been accepted to three of those four. Guess which? I'm currently waitlisted to Harvard and accepted to McGill, American, and BC. So I have two questions:</p>

<p>First, let's say I don't get accepted to Harvard. Which of the other three do I choose? I'm leaning towards McGill and a main reason is because it is seemingly far ahead of American and BC in academic and overall rankings. Does anyone disagree with that? I was pretty sure but I had only heard through hearsay, and now I saw something online saying American was stronger than McGill. Is that true? </p>

<p>Secondly, let's say I'm accepted to Harvard. Is it a no-brainer? I like Harvard a lot and not only because of their reputation, but I've heard from some that it might not be a significant difference between Harvard and McGill (or American and BC I guess). </p>

<p>So what say you?</p>

2

<p>Last year, my brother was accepted to McGill and BC, and after weighing his options, he decided on McGill. It’s in an excellent location; there’s an incredible amount of stuff to do in Montreal, and there’s a lot of diversity. Most of his friends are international students [as is he], and I’m pretty sure McGill’s like 18th in the world in terms of ranking right now. He really likes his professors, as well. If you want to know more about McGill, maybe go on the 2014 Facebook group and look around? Some people on there turned down HYP + other top tier schools for McGill. </p>

<p>So based on my limited experience with these colleges, I’d say go McGill if you don’t get into Harvard. :]</p>

3

<p>Harvard >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> McGill = BC >> American</p>

4

<p>M C G I L L</p>

<h1>18 on the WORLD rankings according to US News.</h1>

<p>Also, Montreal is a location you really can’t give up.</p>

5

<p>McGill, the atmosphere is superb!</p>

6

<p>McGill is an excellent school in a great city, but a Harvard degree will be far more valuable anywhere in the world except perhaps Canada.</p>

7

<p>But that’s pointless, since the OP and a billion other kids are waitlisted at Harvard. You have to take Harvard off the table.</p>

8

<p>If you get off the waitlist at Harvard GO! Otherwise, McGill or BC. Both are excellent schools but provide a totally different college experience. American is pretty much a third tier school. In Washington, DC, it is far below Georgetown and quite a bit below GW too.</p>

9

<p>Undergrad:</p>

<p>Harvard> Mcgill=BC> American (I might put Mcgill slightly better than BC because Mcgill is much cheaper)</p>

<p>Grad</p>

<p>Harvard>Mcgill> BC>American</p>

10

<p>Yes I agree with most of you. To put it into a clearer view, Boston College only offered me $3500 a year to help their $50,000 or so cost. McGill (since I have dual-citizenship) is only around $20,000 altogether. American offered me $27,000 a year and I was accepted to the honor program there. It has really fallen off my list though. In my mind I see Harvard>McGill>BC>American, and most of you seem to agree. Anything else to take into consideration?</p>

11

<p>Where are you from? If you are from the Boston area, then it would be good to experience a different city (assuming Harvard doesn’t come through). Would you be comfortable at a medium sized, Catholic, primarily undergrad school (BC) or at a large research university (McGill)?</p>

<p>Also, where would the extra money for BC come from? From your figures, BC would cost you or your parents $100,000 more over 4 years. Yikes!</p>

12

<p>I think you should consider that BC is probably a better college experience than McGill and is at least equally well regarded in the US. Getting off the Harvard wait list is improbable, so I’d study these two closely.</p>

13

<p>But is BC worth $100,000 more?</p>

14

<p>I know you can’t put a price tag on the quality of the academic and social experience of a college, but in all due seriousness, no.</p>

15

<p>Totally depends on family finances. McGill is a fine school but largely a commuter one without the kind of college experience most American kids want. If you can afford the experience, it’s priceless. If it’s loans, no way.</p>

16

<p>I am attending McGill in the fall and I think that if you look at rankings, while nothing can compare to Harvard, McGill is clearly a better school than BC. It has the resources of a large university and being from the Boston area I know BC is not really in Boston. There are many people in my school going to BC and they all think of McGill as a better school.</p>

17

<p>^biased and totally lacking in fact. Could only be supported by McGill’s grad schools rankings. BC is objectively the higher quality undergad college and I have no dog in this race.</p>

18

<p>I suppose it really depends on what you want. Its hard to say which one would be better for you without knowing what you want out of your college. Although this sounds corny, I really would suggest making a pro/con list to figure out what you like and don’t like about your schools, including Harvard if you decide its worth accepting the waitlist there. My list definitely helped me decide where to go.</p>