<p>I got into UMich and McGill, and according to US News and World Report, it's better for the fields I want to go into (bio/biochem/medical).</p>
<p>So basically, I am going to McGill, but I know almost nothing about the school. Where do start... do people generally like the school? I keep hearing amazing things, and reading bad things.</p>
<p>I'm also scared about maintaining a GPA around 3.4 at a school like McGill. I feel like I may nick my chances for med school....</p>
<p>It looks ideal: relatively low cost, great science/biomedicine programs, nice city. I need to visit though.</p>
<p>/\ /\ Are you really deciding based only on what USNR says about your chosen field? That sounds like a mistake to me. Some other factors that should matter:</p>
<p>1) Finances - would your cost of attendance be equivalent? Does it matter to you and your family? (Note McGill recently announced that they will be raising tuition for Sci. Faculty students to about $20,000 next year, and again the year after.)</p>
<p>2) Is an American-style University experience important to you? (big-time athletics, distribution requirements/room for electives in your schedule, relative ease of changing mind about major 'til sometime in your second year, good advising and academic support available)</p>
<p>3) Would you prefer to live in Montreal or Ann-Arbor for the next 4 years.</p>
<p>The relative quality of teaching and research available to an undergraduate majoring in bio or biochem at UofM and McGill may not be so very different…but there are other differences which might be important to you along the lines noted above.</p>
<p>I think visiting before you decide is essential. By the way, I like both schools a lot, one of my kids is at McGill finishing his first year in Sci. Fac. (will probably major in biochem) and another kid is accepted OOS at UofM (waiting to hear from other schools b4 deciding). Both great schools. But different in ways OTHER than academic quality.</p>
<p>I have a lot of friends who go/have gone to McGill, and I rarely hear anything negative about it. They love the classes, they love the dorms, they love the city. Montreal is very European, and it’s great if you speak French. I’d go and visit though, you can’t really be sure about a place until you’ve seen it for yourself!</p>
As a New Yorker, McGill will remain significantly less expensive for you than Ann Arbor.
I don’t know about Science, but I know for Arts, your major need not be declared until your second year, and there is space for electives in your schedule.
I think that this is probably the most important question. I would suggest visiting both schools before applying. If you dislike large cities, avoid McGill; if you don’t like the feeling of being in “the middle of nowhere,” avoid UMich. (Yes, I know it’s near Detroit, but does anyone want to go to Detroit?)</p>
<p>A 3.4 is doable but requires a lot of work (in science at least). Academic quality is basically the same at both schools, meaning neither will offer an amazing undergrad experience but you don’t care anyways. Both are cold but Montreal is really, really cold. Like, freezing. Montreal has the best looking people in North America. Good nightlife too.</p>
<p>Wutang, what do you think of McGill given the huge tuition increases these days? As of now, I can go to my state school, Rutgers, for only 5k a year. McGill gave me no scholarship. I’m still waiting on the ivies I applied to.</p>
<p>I’m in the same spot as you KungFu. I got into UMich, McGill, U of New Mexico (full ride), and Cornell with a likely letter. I’m still waiting to hear back from many other schools, but I’ve been dying to go to McGill for several years, but it’s looking very doubtful, especially with the tuition hike. I could go to UMich as an OOS for practically the same price, or just a hair more.</p>
<p>It’s a touch choice, but regardless, Montreal is a fantastic city. There’s so much to do it’s not even funny. You really don’t even need to speak French. Granted, it would probably help considerably outside of the McGill bubble, but I went into Chinatown and ventured pretty far away, and made it perfectly fine with no French knowledge. It’s a very unique school, different from any I’ve visited in the US, but it’s amazing. Everyone I’ve spoken to that went there or knows someone who went there only has rave reviews of the school. Since you’re going into med and whatnot, it’s also a major plus that it’s a huge research school. </p>
<p>If you can, go visit. That way you’ll see how much you like it, because I know you will. </p>
<p>Arts is not going up (Don’t quote me though) is what I read somewhere, just science and a few other faculties. I think they’re kinda tired of US students coming for the super cheap, very good education and then leaving Quebec with it to return to the US.</p>
<p>Well I got a 10k/yr scholarship from UMich so that cuts it down to ~33k/yr. McGill would be about the same by the time room and board and fees and books are tacked onto 20k for tuition. </p>
<p>I was dying to go to McGill, and I told myself I was going there no matter what if I got in, and I did. </p>
<p>However, I didn’t foresee myself getting into Cornell, or having a free ride at UNM for McGill to contend with.</p>
<p>“Another + for McGill is that you have the chance of living in a 4 star hotel (new rez is a converted hotel”</p>
<p>HAHA, McGill just bought the Sheraton Hotel right by campus (it was just in the daily recently, though a lot of people knew about it already b4 it happened) so supposedly that’s gonna be named “New Rez” and new rez will be changed.</p>
<p>To the OP, McGill is the best. Nothing beats Montreal (okay that’s not true, but Montreal is a great city).</p>
<p>Exchange rate right now is 1usd to 1.22 CAD…which is terrible considering 2 weeks ago it was around 1.285…i have a feeling we’re all screwed comin up soon.</p>
<p>Oh, I know.
The CAD has been within normal range (US 76¢ to 84¢) for the past six months or so.
Last summer was a spike that’s not likely to be repeated any time soon.</p>
<p>I loved Mcgill when I visited (about 5 times haha), and Montreal is an amazing city! No matter what your interests are, you can always find something to do.</p>