Hello everyone !!
I am holding an offer for both Imperial College and McGill University in Mathematics & Computer Science and I am EXTREMELY hesitant regarding which one would be the better choice…
On one side I feel that Imperial is more of a “top class” or “Ivy League” school and choosing not to go would almost be like refusing a place at Cambridge or Oxford, not something someone in their right mind would do haha !
On the other hand, McGill seems like a much more fun undergraduate experience whilst still being a top university.
So, keeping in mind that I will very probably wish to continue my studies as a postgraduate, possibly aiming for MIT, what would you recommend (considering I hope to score highly in both universities) ? And what would you suggest to make my choice easier ?
Thank you so much for your help !
How do you feel about spending a ton of time in class?
How do you feel about gigantic classes?
How do you feel about the flexibility of switching majors or taking electives?
What are costs?
You will have a lot of contact time at Imperial. Take a look at your schedule, see if you are comfortable with the daily grind.
Hmm. The OP seems to have disappeared (doesn’t want advice?) but in any case, Imperial would have about 30 hours of classes a week (which is insanely high by American standards), McGill has the gigantic classes but also offers more flexibility when it comes to switching majors and taking non-major classes (it’s closer to the Scottish model in that regard). McGill CS is almost certainly like American CS in terms of there being plenty of project work (as opposed to just taking tests).
OP here ! disappeared during the night yes ! haha
I come from a french system (French Baccalaureate) so +/- 30h of class per week is what I’m used too !
As for changing majors I do not think I will make use of that as I’m sure of what I want to study.
I’m actually hesitant because I don’t know how big of an academic difference is between Imperial and McGill. For example: from an employer’s or postgraduate school’s point of vue, is graduating from Imperial more / evenly / less gratifying than graduating from McGill (with equivalent marks) ?
P.S.: Also, I am lucky enough that costs are not a problem for my studies.
I would choose Imperial.
The type of assessment is also quite different. McGill is American with continuous assessment (midterms, finals, projects, problem sets, and maybe papers throughout the school year). Imperial will have some projects, but a lot would come down to tests at the end of the year.
And it’s hard to say even what equivalent marks would be. The distribution of marks in the British Honours system is quite different from that of GPA’s (which would differ quite a bit by school and major). McGill is known for grade deflation (but that’s in a North American context).
Top grad schools would know of both and think both are rigorous enough. What you do would matter more. McGill is better known in Canada and the Northeastern US and is highly regarded there. Imperial is highly regarded by people who know of it (definitely more so in the British Commonwealth and Europe).
Because the actual educational and assessment styles and opportunities/limitations will differ far more than stuff like reputation, I would focus on the former more.
Thank you for your help PurpleTitan.
I’d just have one last thing to ask you, another major problem is that I feel that turning down Imperial (which is I think much more selective than McGill) would be missing on a huge opportunity.
Both universities have advantages and weaker points, but I feel Imperial would be the right one to choose.
As I said in my original post, it feels like turning down Cambridge/Oxford or an Ivy League school.
Which one would you choose ?
So why not Imperial, then?
Doesn’t matter what I would choose. I’m not you, what I care about would almost certainly be different from what you care about, and my work authorization status is not the same as your work authorization status (neither would be my top choice, in any case, and my choice would be heavily influenced by costs).
What are the pros and cons from your perspective?
You have 2 outstandingly good options. My question is, have you visited both? Even when not in session, you can get a gut feeling and there are plenty of students and profs around who would talk.
Imperial is rated certainly higher, but the ratings only go so far, when you are talking apples and oranges in terms of academic method. You need to research which one is closest to your needs and goals.
I just visited McGill with my son and I must say, I was really impressed with the access and willingness of people to talk. We met a prof in a hallway and he took us into his office for an impromptu interview, very encouraging and full of excitement. It was really wonderful. My son liked it much better than MIT and Yale. But that is intuitive - and very important to take into account.
I visited Imperial and quite liked it but because it is not a Campus, I would’ve probably favored McGill in that sense, but I did not have the chance to go to Montréal.
I will probably choose Imperial all things considered even though McGill’s student life is probably better.
Thank you dearly for your time and help.