@TheDarkKnight19 Hi, it’s what you make it. I assume you’ve always been shy, so if you’ve been new to a situation before it may be similar. Just remember that everybody is in the same position as you this time: new and looking to make friends. It can be very intimidating but sometimes you just have to initiate conversations. I met most of my friends through Rez but some through Frosh and clubs. If you don’t live in Rez, you can still meet people. They have activity fairs in the beginning of every semester where you can sign up for clubs and activities.
I would say just learn the area over the summer, if you can, though it’s not urgent. Maybe start exploring campus and finding buildings? You’ll be in Montreal for a while before classes start, so mostly try to enjoy your summer in a great city. Good luck!
@yebhip Thanks a ton!
I’m in the US and my daughter is still awaiting decision. We cannot seem to get an idea of the cost of room & board. One place we found says month to month rent and it changes. We of course need to know ahead of time so we can know if we can afford the school. Any help would be appreciated!
I got into both the “B Arts” program at the “Faculty of Arts” and the “BSc Biol, Biomed & Life Sci” program at the “Faculty of Science”. I plan on majoring in economics and potentially completing pre-med on the side. Is this possible at McGill (as it is at most US universities?). For some reason my major states undeclared, will I be able to do economics at all? Which faculty should I accept for economics?
Hi!
McGill is my top school. How hard is it to get in compare to an American university? Is it as hard as some prestigious American state universities like UVA and UMichigan? I have an ACT score of 33, are my chances good? Do you think I could get the Entrance Scholarship? I’m thinking about applying for major scholarships, what are my chances? How good is McGill. If you were to rank it among the U.S. schools, where would you put it?
Also, I saw that McGill downtown campus is only 80 acres, so do you usually feel that the campus is too small and is there a sufficient amount of infrastructures, services, activities, and interactions between people on campus? Is there a good sense of campus life? How are the dining services?
More of living-in-Montreal questions: How are real estate prices around campus? Do you get less interaction with your classmates if you live off-campus even for the first year? I want to have my own car; does McGill provide parking lots for students? Do most off-campus jobs require French? Is Montreal an ideal place to learn French?
Thank you!! 
McGill would be comparable to UCLA in my opinion. My son is an alumnus.
McGill has a large campus and a lot of green space for an urban university.
Montreal cost of living is very low compared to Toronto, Boston or Washington DC.
McGill admits Americans solely based on GPA and SAT/ACT. Here are the minimum requirements:
http://www.mcgill.ca/applying/how-we-make-decisions/minimum-grades-used-admission-previous-years/unitedstates
Likely for entrance scholarships, major scholarships are very competitive though.
Live in rez first year, great way to make friends.
Most off campus jobs dealing with the public require French.
^ @TomSrOfBoston @ryanwww Eventhough I agree that McGill is a renowned university but it is not quite on par with UCLA (USNWR Global rankings: UCLA #8, McGill #53, though I am sure, as usual, there may be some other Rankings with reverse order!)
@uclaparent9 Rankings vary, according to QS McGill is 24 and UCLA is 27. We all focus on the ranking that puts our school higher and try to ignore the others.
^ @TomSrOfBoston I can not disagree with you on that point.
@rougetardis, would you mind sharing which other university you attended?
Well, McGill slipped from 18th to 21st place in the QS worldwide rankings this year if that’s what you mean.
Actually, Canadians from outside Quebec have been saying that McGill is in decline for the past 40 years. Many find it galling that Canada's #1 English university is in French speaking Quebec.
I agree; as a current McGill student, I find this is very true. McGill is known for its research - that’s where the money is at and that’s where the focus is.
@zhuski - nursing is good, “practical” ie. more likely to get a job. I’ve done the transfer process(es - university and intrafaculty), they’re do able but a pain in the ass. Set yourself up by taking as many courses in nursing as they will allow so when you get in, you won’t have to do the entire program (ie. have your complementary and electives done).
@ryanwww
Everything is what you make of it - there is student life and student activities but you need to seek them out.
Montreal is a cheap city relative to other big cities however the McGill Ghetto (10 mins radious around the university which spans to about St Famille) is outrageously expensive. The Lower Plateau is just beyond that - usually around a 15 minute walk and much better price wise.
Your experience is what you make of it. If you put the effort, you won’t have any issues.
Don’t get a car - it’s not worth it in Montreal when the transit system is pretty good and parking is expensive.
Most service jobs require French and Montreal is a horrible place to learn it because everyone will speak to you in English. I’m fluently bilingual so I don’t have an issue speaking French but if you aren’t, people will reply to you in English as a means of helping you (more often than not). You have to really push your French, make friends with French people and actively seek out French areas otherwise people will talk to you in English.
Is it likely to get a major entrance scholarship as an American student with a 3.7ish UW GPA, 35 ACT & good ECs?
@nac7890, I don’t think so. They say that only people with a 4.0 are considered who are in the top 1-2% of their graduating class. My daughter had your UW GPA with a 2310 SAT and didn’t even get the first year $3,000.