I just graduated from high school, and I plan to major in Molecular Biology and/or genetics.
I was planning to enroll in Boston University, but I recently found out I got accepted off the wait list for another dream college, McGill University. I heard that both universities have good biology programs, and while I heard that tuition in McGill is cheaper, I have family in Boston that I can contact in case I need help.
Any more input/advice on which college I should go to? This decision has been really difficult for me, so I would like fairly detailed explanations in your replies, not just single-statement answers such as “I would choose McGill.” or “you should go to BU.” or “I agree with that person.”
McGill is considered one of the top 2 universities in a country with quite a few solid universities. BU is barely in the top ten in Massachusetts. The rankings don’t really mean much about your actual education. But as far as your sense of personal achievement goes, I think mcgill students hold their heads higher, so to speak.
Both cities are fascinating, with good mass transit. Montreal probably has slightly colder winters.
McGill, being in a French-speaking city, will giv. You an opportunity to learn French. I spent some time in Boston, and I’m not sure what language they speak there.
McGill is a great school for an independent go-getter. Not a lot of hand-holding. BU will probably have more school spirit and a stronger campus conmunity. I believe almost all McGill students move off-campus after freshman year.
I work in a molecular biology lab at Northeastern, and many of the papers and methods I reference are from McGill. Very subjective quality measure, but I thought I’d mention it nonetheless.
BU still seems like a great school (in response to @moooop, QS puts McGill usually around 20, BU usually around 90 internationally. Still a significant ranking difference, but you were comparing two different metrics), and it is worth considering the city–I personally prefer Boston over Montreal.
Ask yourself: would you choose BU or UCLA? McGill won’t have UCLA’s sports or weather, but like UCLA, it will have top research faculty, top students, have the funding constraints that many publics have now, and be sink-or-swim.
Sounds like I should switch over to McGill University, but I still have some other questions.
Despite the greater prestige and significantly cheaper tuition in McGill, my parents are still reluctant and would rather I enroll in BU, because I have a cousin and older sister who reside there whom I could contact in case I need support. I also know that BU provides its students with sources of support, such as various student services such as academic counseling and mental health.
I researched in the McGill website, and it says the college offers student and mental health services similar to those of BU. Do you know other information about student support and McGill? I live in the US, and my parents are worried about me going to another country alone and without any family or relatives nearby. Do you know what particular help McGill offers for students studying far away from their families? For instance, I know that BU offers programs for students to help them connect with each other to encourage a sense of community, and even a course for freshmen in which students can tour the city of Boston so they can familiarize themselves with the surrounding urban area. Does McGill offer programs similar to those activities?
My apologies for typing a wall of text, but I have one more question. I have visited Boston several times recently, and I fell in love with the city. I have heard that Montreal has a culture as rich as Boston, but I am worried that Montreal would not impress me as much as Boston did. Plus, Montreal is not near the ocean :(. To anyone who visited Montreal, what did you think of the city, and what sights impressed you? Do you know any cheap but nice restaurants that you recommend? How is Montreal compared to Boston? I also heard that McGill is a tough school, but though I can handle tough workloads, do you know if McGill students have a satisfactory amount of time to explore the city outside of the campus?
If you have your heart set on Boston and BU, go there. It’s not a bad school by any means and will get you where you want to be. It sounds like the only reason you’d consider McGill is because you feel like other people find it more impressive.
Every year, thousands of American students enroll in foreign universities. I think the thing these students have in common is a sense of adventure, a willingness to live independently even if it’s difficult at first, and the ability to make friends quickly. If this describes you, pick McGill. It’s a much better value than BU (and I have a graduate degree from BU), and is better regarded in the world than BU.
But BU is still an excellent university. So if you’re not sure you’re ready to be that independent, and need a few more years with family close by, there’s no shame in that. Pick BU.
My daughter chose to go to college close to home because she had some mental health issues and wasn’t sure she was ready to live far away. Now, her junior year, she is studying in France.
It takes some kids longer to be ready than others, and that’s okay.
The decision should hinge on 1) if the financial difference is significant to your family 2) if you feel ready to go to school in Canada, away from family and 3) which is better for your academic and social needs. Only you can answer these questions.
@JakeTheDog31 My son graduated from McGill. What part of the US do you live in? I agree with @Massmomm that you need to have a sense of adventure. Also the workload at McGill can be very demanding. Being from Boston McGill and Montreal provided him a great opportunity for an international experience only 300 miles from home.
Montreal is a unique city as it is officially French but functionally bilingual. My son was able to advance his high school French into fluency. As an American you will get a unique perspective on a culture that at first seems similar to ours but has many differences. For example you may develop a skepticism of the virtues of socialized medicine.
While many complain about the severe winters there nothing can compare to the winter of 2015 here in Boston with 110 inches of snow. Montreal is a very safe city compared to most US cities( although Boston has a low crime rate too compared to other US cities). It is possible to explore the city by foot, metro or bus without having to worry about wandering into unsafe areas. A car would be more of a burden than a benefit in both cities.
Another factor to consider is that in Montreal the drinking age is 18. it makes for a different campus culture compared to BU. BU and many US campuses are big party schools with students getting fake ID’s, sneaking alcohol into the dorms or searching out off campus parties. In Quebec it is all in the open and legal. This article is over 10 years old but it gives a good comparison of the student culture; http://www.mcgill.ca/reporter/38/01/drinking/
@PurpleTitan right, and normally I advocate the cheaper option, but given that this student has already put down their deposit and enrolled at BU, I made the assumption that is in their ballpark of affordability.
Personally, I don’t care how good a school is, if you can’t visit it first then it’s a risky thing. It would be great if you could somehow make a trip to McGill. Without seeing it you may enroll and find out you hate it.