We keep hearing McGill is a place where they don’t “hold your hand.” I’m not sure what exactly people mean when they say this. Are we talking about academics or administration or both. Would appreciate any concrete examples of this, especially in comparison to what one might find at other large schools.
I think it’s more on the academic side. The idea is that you aren’t brought into things you don’t actively seek out, like research opportunities or internships or whatnot. If you slip through the cracks, then you slip through the cracks—the school doesn’t keep an eye out to make sure that you don’t.
At the administrative level, you are expected to be aware of degree requirements e.g. required courses, by reviewing the website and publications. Advisors are there to help you out but they will not review your course load every semester to make sure that you are on track. The help is there but you have to take the initiative to seek it out.
Definitely administratively but academically, it depends on the faculty. I’ve had more hand holding than I did in high school in mine.
what faculty are you in sleepeatstudy?
Another CC’er posted this link. It contains summaries of experiences at McGill from mostly American alumni. It may give a better explanation of the “no hand holding” notion:
https://www.quora.com/What-is-it-like-to-attend-McGill-University-as-an-American-undergrad