<p>As for the quality of the education, it is first rate. My son graduated with a English/Cultural Studies degree in May. Even in a casual conversation, it's clear that he's not only acquired a deep understanding of literature, but also great reasoning and communications skills. Living outside of the country was also a significant educational experience for him, especially as we live in a small, suburban New England town. Now that's he's graduated, he's finding the McGill name readily opening doors for him in a very competitive field, film. My daughter, who wants to concentrate in math, has been accepted to McGill and though she hasn't made up her mind yet, I'd be happy to see her at there as well. The academics are challenging, the cultural life stimulating and the perspective of being an international student broadening.</p>
<p>BOW: My oldest d. graduated from one of the Seven Sisters, a top LAC, at $40,000+ per year. She got a fine education, including personal relations with her professors, sense of community, and was guided all the way to her degree by caring staff. Dorms were plush and the food outrageous. Students lived on campus all four years. Classes were small and intimate.</p>
<p>My youngest d. goes to McGill at $24,000 per year. She is on her own in a large city, independent and self-motivated. She had about 400 students in every class the first year. Her adviser never responded to any e-mails or calls. She lives off-campus and cooks for herself. Most of her friends are french-speakers. She is getting an incredible education and the work is much harder than the LAC, professors expect a great deal and grade to a b-/c+. She studies 4-5 hours a day and loves her classes--she is challenged for the
first time in her life. (Brag--after 3 semesters has a 3.8 gpa.)</p>
<p>My wife would prefer an LAC, I would kill to be 19 again and a student at McGill. It all depends on how mature your son is, and what type of college experience he wants. But, you can rest assured he will work hard and learn well at McGill. Feel free to PM me if you have any questions.</p>
<p>McGilldad, is that $24k with institutional aid\scholarship or is it just with CD$ - USD conversion?</p>
<p>Also, I enjoyed your post, it was very encouraging. What faculty is your daughter in? (I applied to the Science and Engineering faculties and if shes got 4-5 hours a day I might be a wee-bit worried)</p>
<p>Thanks for the reassurance. My son was fortunate in that his (public) high school has provided him an LAC-like experience: academically rigorous courses with only 100 students in his graduating class and demanding teachers who gave support every step of the way; he is ready to move on to a different learning environment/social scene and thinks he can handle McGill. Of course the college years should be an adventure where one tests oneself -- I guess I'm simply feeling a need to turn over every stone before more possible acceptance letters come later this month. </p>
<p>Kudos to your daughter. It is rather amazing that she chose McGill after seeing her older sister content in such a comfortable, safe setting. I hope my son has the same happy outcome.</p>
<p>Truthfully, I would kill to be 19 again at ANY university.</p>
<p>well, now that we've completely deviated from the original topic... (^_^)
one quick question (geared towards the parents in this discussion):
how often does your child come back home? I'm assuming at least 2. Once during the holidays and once during the summer. I just want to get an idea of what the arrangement is of other families because my dad and i got to talking about going to McGill and apparently he anticipates me coming back home a total of two times during my 4 years of undergrad studies there. Then again, he's using his own college experiences as a reference, so...
Any input would be greatly appreciated!</p>
<p>We live in So. Connecticut, about a 6 to 7 hr. ride by car depending on the wait at the border, and a 9-hr. ride on Amtrak on a good day. My son came home fairly frequently and found it relatively easy to find rides to the NYC area. But for the last two years he really wanted to spend the summer in Montreal -- it's a great time of year to be there, great weather and an incredibly active social scene. We missed him during those summers, but it gave us an excuse to find a short-term apartment rental and send a few weeks there ourselves.</p>
<p>McGillDad, I have to say your description of academic life at McGill fits our experience exactly. My daughter now faces the choice between one of those top-level LACs and McGill. At least she's got a good understanding of the differences between the two environments. Personally, I'm with you -- Montreal and McGill hands down, but then I'm not the one going.</p>
<p>Looks like this has become a parents thread.</p>
<p>Izabelle: We live in Vermont, only 90 minutes from MTL. Her first year my d. came home frequently. This, her second year, she has been home one time, at XMas. Montreal is too inviting and she didnt even come home during winter break, although we go up to see her a few times a year. She, like jpm's son
is planning to stay the whole summer in MTL. Who can blame her?</p>
<p>You also need to remember that you are in Canada. You wont get Thanksgiving break in November, since the Canadians celebrate in October, and there is not a long school break. Also, Xmas break is MUCH shorter, lasting about 10 days in total. McGill gets out about two-three weeks earlier than American U. There is
one drawback, it will be difficult to hook-up back home with high school friends away at American U. since they have different schedules.</p>
<p>Drmambo: The 24K estimate is all inclusive of every cost and is in US Dollars with no financial aid. My daughter is in the dual Arts & Sciences program.
She does find time to "play" also along with her studies.</p>
<p>Seeing as this is a parents thread now, and I'm still a student. Does any parent know how well McGill awards aid, if any? I'm not expecting much, but some would be nice.</p>
<p>I just looked at the on-campus housing <a href="http://www.mcgill.ca/residences/undergraduate/fees/%5B/url%5D">http://www.mcgill.ca/residences/undergraduate/fees/</a>
and see quite a range in cost. But I'd love to hear something about these various places. H and I would love to keep costs down, but are the low cost ones awful in some way we should know about? Or are there advantages to them, since the least expensive don't involve dining plans and dorm food is usually not very good? Information most appreciated!</p>
<p>I occasionally do work with McGill Residences for various things ranging from office work to security. Here's what I think:</p>
<p>More Houses: Absolutely horrible. Worst run residence, bar none. Avoid at all cost. Every year, More Houses have problems with either bad roomate chemistry or just horrible administration. </p>
<p>Upper Rez: Traditional residences, most people know what to expect.</p>
<p>New Rez: Most rooms are doubles, the singles usually go to scholarship students who get to pick their own rooms and since New Rez has the most anemities, they tend to pick Singles at New Rez. New Rez can be great or crap depending on who you room with. The problem with the residence is that they put two strangers with two beds about a foot apart. If you have really good chemistry with your roomate, it usually turns out well. On the other hand, privacy is a luxury at New Rez and the prospects of walking into a sexual encounter is pretty high. Also, there's a really negative image associated with people in New Rez, your child may or may not fit it, but there are more than enough people who do.</p>
<p>Greenbriar: Basically, it's your standard apartment. Across the street from the school. There's really not much more to it than that.</p>
<p>RVC: Like Upper Rez but girls only. </p>
<p>Solin: Apartment style Rez located off campus. Unlike the other four, you have no option of a meal plan since you live too far away for it to be feasible but it's in one of Montreal's cooler neighbourhoods (the student ghetto is not a neighbourhood, sorry to say). Solin happens to be situated near a metro, some nice mom and pop grocery stores, the Atwater Market (locally grown food), a community garden, some really nice apartment buildings, a church and a whole bunch of restaurants and the highway. It also happens to be situated near of subsidized housing projects and occasionally the kids from the neighbourhood will enter the residence to smoke weed or watch TV in the lounge. St.Henri is a bit more raw than some students might be accustomed to, it's not exactly South Central LA but it's not exactly Orange County either.</p>
<p>Well don't get me wrong, it's POSSIBLE for you to enjoy your time in MORE Houses, but the people who run it are morons.</p>
<p>This year one of them had problem with bedbugs. Last year, they had problems with horrible roomate chemistry (essentially, they paired some disgusting slobs with normal people and they ran out something like half the residents). </p>
<p>Out of all the residences, I find that Solin has the best administration.</p>
<p>i disagree.
i'm on more council, i live in greenbriar. and most people i know love MORE.
the bed bugs thing wasnt the administrations fault, it was the fault of a summer subletter.
furthermore, the people in the administration who were involved with this are the same people who take care of all the rez's.</p>
<p>Roomate issues are nearly unavoidable.
I've seen roomate issues in all the rez's with roomates (especially new rez).
so i think thats an unfair judgement.</p>