<p>Got accepted to Mcgill inter faculty of arts and science and UBC faculty of science. :) Im not completely set on pursuing a career on science so i want to go somewhere that is well rounded. Money is not a problem. </p>
<p>Which school is better for undergraduates on a purely academic level? I know mcgill is ranked higher than ubc on several lists but I know that those are research based.
And, if you can't speak French is it impossible to get a job in Montreal?</p>
<p>ANDD if you're currently attending Mcgill or UBC, how happy are you? And why?</p>
<p>Academically, at the undergraduate level for most sufficiently large departments the difference is insignificant. It will be harder to find a job off-campus in Montreal if you don’t speak French, but McGill’s not the place where you’d want to get a part-time job during the semester (McGill is academically-focussed, outside summer you really shouldn’t take a job unless you absolutely need the money).</p>
<p>The more important questions in your case are: would you rather live in Vancouver or Montreal? Do you prefer a campus that is at the heart of downtown or tucked away in its own little suburb (sort of)? How much (and what kind of) diversity are you looking for? What non-academic experiences are you seeking? Answering these will provide a better set of parameters to make the best choice for yourself.</p>
<p>When you say mcgill is academically focused, is it so bad that its impossible to have a social life there if you want a GPA 3.5+? I know that’s an American system but you know what I mean haha. I’m so excited about all the extra currics at college and I want to make sure ill have time for them</p>
<p>It’s not impossible to have a social life at all, but a 3.5+ GPA isn’t easy to attain, at least in some programs (but a 3.5 from McGill is worth a 3.8 from a lot of other places…).</p>
<p>A 3.5 from McGill is worth a 3.8 from what kind of college, Ohio U? Or a subprime college? I thought most employers in fields where institutional brand power is irrelevant treated GPAs indiscriminately (i.e. a 3.5 is a 3.5 regardless from where it came from, as long as the institution is accredited)…</p>
<p>I can’t answer that question for other employers. All I can say is that:
1-grade inflation at McGill is nowhere near what it is in most other North American universities (especially US universities that seem to hand out A’s like candy). Some places (especially in academia) are well aware of that. Away from academia and I guess the US North East, it may not be as well known.
2-In my field, I know what a McGill 3.5 GPA translates to in terms of knowledge and competence, and I would hire/supervise a McGill graduate with a 3.5 GPA over someone with a 3.5 GPA (and above) from most universities (except a handful of top places for my particular field, where I know at least in name the people who work there).</p>
<p>Don’t know. Academically, both universities are pretty much equivalent at the undergraduate level (for most standard programs). And I wouldn’t pick a university based on how easy it is to get good grades (you should work hard in university, no matter what, if you’re just coasting through you’re not getting an good education). Both Montreal and Vancouver are great cities, and, academically, neither McGill nor UBC are wrong choices. The big question remains which atmosphere is most suited for one’s personality?</p>
<p>I always thought that “how much a school inflates grades” was a factor when choosing among two or more “can’t-go-wrong-with-either”, reputable schools of a comparable academic profile, which is the case with UBC vs. McGill, especially if some sort of graduate school (PhD or professional school) seems to be in the cards.</p>
<p>Oh, of course, it cannot be the only factor, though.</p>