<p>"I too am interested...I really like McGill but was discouraged by the fact that housing is basically only for first year students."</p>
<p>Don't be discouraged by this. There is PLENTY of cheap housing around McGill that is mostly occupied by students (in fact, it's called the McGill ghetto--so many students live there). I know plenty of people who are not rich and yet live off-campus. </p>
<p>Even better, McGill and the McGill ghetto is smack downtown in what may be the best college city in the world (lots of bars and clubs/drinking age at 18/last call at 3 AM; lots of great cheap/inexpensive restaurants; over 150,000 college students in the city; very safe to walk around late at night).</p>
<p>Also, honestly, I don't have a very high opinion of UBC. It is one of the least selective major schools in Canada, and is a step below Queen's/McGill/UofT and even Waterloo. In my opinion, those 3 or 4 are really the only Canadian schools worth going to if you're from the U.S.</p>