McGill University vs Grinnell College. Does my decision make sense?

College Search & Selection
1

<p>I'm an international student, and I want to study engineering. (or physics at Grinnell)</p>

<p>Well, I'm 90% certain I'm going to McGill, but I wanted to think about it one last time.
This is why I chose McGill:
1. International prestige- I do not really want to immigrate to the US, so Grinnell's amazing reputation inside the States is irrelevant. McGill has an outstanding global reputation, even though a lot of it is from it's graduate schools.
2. By transferring credits, I can get my BEng degree in 3 years, i.e. I can skip the first year entirely. I'll have to study all four years in Grinnell, and then perhaps some more to complete some prerequisites for engineering grad school.
3. At McGill, there is a greater student population, which I think would prepare me for life outside college, as I would have to be competitive. This competition would also be present because I need to keep up my grades to retain my scholarship.
4. Easier to get immigration if I want to.
5. Cost is kind of a problem, although not that much...with the aid and small scholarship, I'll have to pay around 20k the first year, and something like 17-18k in the next 2 or 3 years, as I'll move out of the student residences. My parents will find it slightly difficult to pay, esp if it is for all four years. However, the starting pay for engineers is much higher than the starting pay for people with a BA in Physics, inspite of their better acumen in theoretical physics. (any comments about this? I'm still not sure about this part 100%)</p>

<p>Now why I'm still in doubt:
1) At grinell, I'll have to pay a little less, i.e. I'll have to pay 16k a year.
2) The average Grinnell student is smarter than the average McGill student (I said average because McGill takes a lot of below par international students who are willing to pay, two of my classmates got in (and one of the decisions was a complete facepalm moment for us, because that kid is not smart by any means)). This will undoubtedly impact my "college experience".
3) smaller class setting, better actual learning, arguably better teachers.
4)Harder to get into Grinnell. Acceptance feels more like an achievement. McGill acceptance initially was a "meh" moment.</p>

<p>Now as the pros outweigh the cons(some of which are just feeling-related, and not practical at all), I chose McGill. I thought it makes sense given my career goals. I know that with skipping the first year, and with the competition, and the grade deflation at McGill, I'll have to study extremely hard, and probably would not really get to enjoy a fun college life...but i think McGill is much more practical, and would even work if I do not want to go a grad school...even if I did, a McGill degree with a decent GPA would not hold me back (i think) Does my decision make sense?</p>

2

<p>McGill is the better choice given your particular career goal (engineering). It also is less expensive overall for your family because you will be finished in three years. Kiss Grinnell good-bye, and don’t look back.</p>

3

<p>I’m a big Grinnell fan, but I have to say that in your case, I agree that McGill is probably the better choice for the reasons cited by happymom. </p>

<p>And don’t let the admission of a few terribly bright full-pay internationals put you off. McGill is highly respected and attracts many of the brightest Canadian and American students.</p>

4

<p>Congratulations! Both are great schools. As you aptly pointed out, since you do not intend to live in the US, a McGill degree will be more recognized when you apply to jobs in your home country. This is further compunded when you consider that you wish to study engineering, a field that McGill excels at but that Grinnell does not even offer.</p>

<p>I am not sure why you think getting into Grinnell is a more impressive accomplishment than getting into McGill. Grinnell is very selective, but so is McGill, and neither is “mega selective”. Last I checked, Grinnell’s acceptance rate hovered around 50% and the mid 50% SAT range was in the 600-700 range for both Math and Critical Reading. McGill’s acceptance rate hovers around 45% and the mid 50% SAT range is also in the 600-700 range for both the Math and Critical Reading.</p>

<p>I agree that classes at Grinnell will be smaller, but then again, they do not offer Engineering. If you were interested in majoring in a traditional discipline, such as History or Chemistry, with the intent of going straight to graduate school in the US, I would have recommended Grinnell as highly as, if not more highly than, McGill. But given your academic interests and desire to work in your home country after graduation, McGill is the better option.</p>

5

<p>Grinell college only has a slightly lower admission rate than McGill. Roughly 45% compared to roughly 50%. You also have to take into account that Grinell only has about 2,000 undergraduates, while McGill has 25,000. McGill accepts a wider range of students. You shouldn’t generalize that all McGill students aren’t as bright just based on a few people that were accepted.</p>

6

<p>Okay, I just received another scholarship from McGill of 3k for the first year. But they now say that guaranteed tuition for the next four years would be 28k instead of the 26k before. </p>

<p>And if I take the cheapest (and the smallest and the worst…as far as i can tell from the youtube videos), I’ll have to cook my own food, which might be good as meal plan is expensive. But this is further away from campus, so transport cost goes up.</p>

<p>I cannot believe how vague McGill is about total cost of attendance. I’M SO FRUSTRATED HERE. I cannot calculate my cost of attendance for the first year now, so I’m not sure if I can actually go. I’m scared that when I get there, I’m gonna find that hidden costs rise up by 3k or something.</p>

<p>@#$% my life.</p>

7

<p>By my extremely rough estimations, first year cost is going to be a maximum of 24k. The next two years, McGill gave me no guarantee. They say my academic scholarship of 5k is renewable, but they have not mentioned the terms or if there are any strings attached. They say that I can reapply for the financial aid, but have not made any assurances if I will get the fin aid award in the next two years, even if my family income stays same.</p>

<p>I don’t even know how much amenities are going to cost me. I ll have to pay housing fees for 11 months a year, even though I’ll be staying there for 9-10 months. </p>

<p>After the first year, I will probably have to pay an extra amount just to leave the student residence (dorm). I’ll repeat this ridiculous sentence again, I’ll have to pay (around 2-3 month’s) to not live in a dorm ever again, in addition to the rent that I’ll pay while living in an apartment.</p>

<p>I’m extremely scared that McGill can easily pull the plug on all these things in the second and third year. I cannot express how anxious I am that costs will creep up and up to a point where my parents won’t be able to pay, and I’ll be left to dry after the first year. And I wont be able to apply as a transfer student to US colleges, because they do not give fin aid to transfer students.</p>

<p>What should I do? Going to McGill a mistake? Or do many students have these doubts or concerns and none of these come to haunt them in the future (such as McGill not giving fin aid in the later years).</p>

<p>Or gap year, and apply to a engineering place in the US where they can guarantee me a certain amount of aid for all four years?</p>

8

<p>Why don’t you contact McGill and ask them what the conditions are for renewing your financial aid each year? Ask what the likelihood is of it being the same assuming your maintain your grades? Express your concerns to them about the need to predict exactly what your costs will be over the four years. Go onto a McGill forum and ask other internationals if their aid has been reliable and consistent from year to year. Ask McGill what your total estimated expenses are for the year - and double check it with other internationals at McGill. You aren’t the first international student at McGill who needed to accurately predict their costs over four years, so your questions shouldn’t come as a surprise to them. Likewise, there are hundreds of internationals at McGill who probably had the same questions - and got them answered - so find them. </p>

<p>This process of getting the information you need is just the first step of many related to learning how to survive in a foreign country and a foreign educational system. Not to be harsh here, but if you can’t do this much, you aren’t going to make it through 4 years.</p>

9

<p>While you are at it, find out the details about working with a student visa while you are in Canada. There is no reason why you can’t get a part-time job to help cover your expenses once you are there.</p>