McGill vs. Reed!!

Colleges and Universities A-Z McGill University
1

First of all I cannot find two places that are so different like this… now lemme explain why I’m torn by the two…

So a little bit about me… I will do something related to the humanities (e.g. Philosophy, French, History) or perhaps Physics or Computer Science (if to be practical). I plan to stay in the academia eventually, but after undergrad I have to find a job and save money for grad schools.

Reed (visited and loved it)

  1. I love their intimate vibe; small discussion-based classes; calling profs by their first names; visited Hum 110 and conferences and thought it were better than ones at all the other LACs I visited (eg. Amherst and Wellesley; Reed’s conferences are so much more intense)
  2. people so attractive and intellectual… they know the stuff they are passionate about. I’ve talked to prospies and current students they are hipsters poets philosophers; it’s the opposite of what you find at mainstream party schools.
  3. However, I’m concerned that Reed doesn’t have an alumni network as strong as big universities like McGill. Guys tell me about the Life After Reed Center (or something like that), how helpful is it? I guess Reed doesn’t focus on career development (which is a good thing!!! I don’t want to go to a pre professional school where I live up to the social norm), only prepares you for grad schools. But heavens forbid! -Practically I need to work to save money for grad schools…!

McGill (accepted to Faculty of Arts + Engineering)

  1. Way cheaper than Reed, which might allow me to go straight to grad schools without the need to work and save money. Yay.
  2. better resources than Reed; slightly more career oriented than liberal arts colleges(right?).
  3. BUT i dunno if i’ll like the big class sizes. I’ve heard you can make effort to approach the profs intimately (which people like me def will!)
  4. I’m a Reedie at heart (meaning that I have a quirky and weird personality) so don’t know if it’s easy to find my people in a large university like McGill. Montreal is def not mainstream so that kinda comforts me in this sense.

I love both Portland and Montreal. I’m from Boston so I can go colder or warmer no problem lol.

Thanks.