McGill identity... just another Ohio State?

Colleges and Universities A-Z McGill University
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<p>Hi everyone,</p>

<p>As of now, I've narrowed my choices between two schools, University of Rochester and McGill. After visiting both, I realize how vastly different they both are. I think my dad is leaning towards Rochester, because he loves the tight bond between all students. I also like this alot, but I don't want to let go of McGill in my mind because I have a feeling that it would just be so cool to be in the city (and my dad responds that I won't be able to afford the city anyways!). Anyways, his major skepticism is that going to McGill would mean that you are just another lost soul. There are 30,000 students and it has this overriding feeling everywhere thats like "Hey bud, you're on your own up in this freezing tundra." He says it would be too easy to lose your identity up here, with such a big university. Furthermore, McGill is basically like an extension of Quebec high school to some kids. They come there and don't expand their circles of friends at all...especially to Americans.</p>

<p>To those of you who go here and possibly had these same exact concerns, please give me a brief account of the feeling of identity at McGill and if you still ecounter these feelings. Also, can you even afford to do things in the city while you're up here?</p>

<p>P.S.- I'm not putting down McGill, I'm just trying to sort out all of the drawbacks before I make the biggest decision of my life.</p>

<pre><code> Thanks
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<p>Hey adam
i don't actually go to mcgill, but i'm sort of in a similar position, trying to choose b/w washu st louis and mcgill. for me, price is the big matter, as there's a $20 thou a year difference, but i am still concerned with the differing atmosphere of the two completely different places.
anyway, i have been in contact with a someone who who graduated from my school last year and goes there now, and i asked her a bunch of questions, including ones about the size, and whether the french is a hindering factor, and if there was a rift b/w canadians and americans (socially).
i don't really want to quote her without asking her if that's ok first, but basically she said the following about those topics:
size: she said it wasn't scary at all, and that she had really just wanted a change from our hs (only about 200 kids per grade). another guy i had spoken to said that it can be overwhelming at first, but then you find a solid group of friends and it really doesn't seem so big at all.
about the language and can vs americans thing: she said that sometimes in the city you have no idea what's going on, but one of your friends will prolly know french. she also said that in mcgill, you really don't need french at all. also, she says half of her friends are canadian and the other half american. as for the extension of quebec high school, i'd assume it could be like that for some kids, but keep in mind that about 20% is international, and many more come from all over canada, and they prolly won't know too many ppl.
another thing she said that might be worth mentioning: " I love it but keep in mind unlike American schools if you want to be involved with the school (clubs or stuff like that) you have to look into it. There aren't like concerts or school events really, you make your own fun buts it so easy it is a HUGE party here"
i didn't ask her about the cost of the city, but i dunno.. i don't see how the spending would necessarily be so different than in rochester, but then again, i wouldn't really know.
i dunno, she really loves it there and is getting me excited about it, but i totally know where you're coming from because i'm in the same position, really.... ahhh such a huge decision i hate it!!
good luck!
k</p>

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<p>Size: I never really noticed the size here (even in my 200 person lectures). You run into the same people, so much so, that you lose track of the true magnitude of the student population (p.s. there's only ~ 26k undergrads). </p>

<p>It's always surprising to me to hear people's choices coming down to McGill vs. U of R, as that was my exact same situation a year ago. Speaking of a year ago, a year ago to this date I visited McGill and realized instantly this is where I want to be. When I visited "downtown" Rochester, and then downtown Montreal, the comparison stopped. I wanted the option to leave campus to do things, and McGill EASILY provides this. In terms of on campus entertainment, you do need to seek it out, but that sounds more dramatic than it really is. For instance, a friend of mine is in the music school, so recently I've been going to her concerts/recitals. I probably wouldn't have known about those, though, had she not alerted me of them. </p>

<p>In terms of the CEGEP-kids excluding other kids, as a U0 you don't even have classes with CEGEP'ers. As in, I only know ONE girl from a CEGEP, and that's because I was taking a U1 management course. Your main source of friendship your first year comes from REZ, and if your in a small frosh (like engineering), then MAYBE frosh. Most kids in Rez are either Canadian or American (with the occasional international student). A majority of my friends are Canadian, though that's not to say I don't have international or American friends. There are A LOT of American's in rez, so that makes you think there are a lot of Americans at McGill (a fact that's a bit exaggerated by your rez experience). </p>

<p>As for expenses. Last night I spent ~ 8 dollars for two chicken schwarma sandwiches and that was more than enough for my dinner. The most expensive commodity you'll purchase here is food, and even then, if you know people who know the city, you can always find a place that's cheap and quality (prior to eating the Lebanese food, I kind of went on a 2 hour metro-ride/adventure trying to get cheap Indian food...that was a failed mission. The place was closed). </p>

<p>Rochester will most likely be cheaper than McGill because you'll leave campus less often, but take that however you like. Montreal is a major metropolitan city, when have you ever heard of a major city beating a large town in terms of pricing/taxes?</p>

<p>So emory didn't work out then, eh?</p>

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<p>nah I got wait listed there, I'd rather slim down my options at this point than wait for months for emory to get back to me. But anyways, thanks for the insight. I'm still not quite sure where I'd like to go yet because I still like U of R alot, but it definitely helps my decision.</p>