<p>So here's the deal. I'm considering transferring out of McGill to UBC and I was wondering if it was a good idea. I mean do students do that? Because technically McGill is ranked higher than UBC so in a sense i'd be transferring down.....
Okay so firstly because my major here at McGill is a Science and I know that McGill is known for its science program. But that leaves me to wonder if it's strong in science for Graduate program and not its undergraduate program (what i'm doing)
So does it matter where you do your undergraduate program be it McGill or UBC for a major in a life science.
I just generally don't like the excessive partying here. The environment is sort of depressing since the campus buildings are all identically old and grey.</p>
<p>You are definitely not transferring down. In terms of undergrad education, they are pretty on par with each other. I do know that UBC has recently taken steps toward improving undergrad experience (by hiring Nobel Laureates to give first-year lectures etc). UBC has Science One program which is pretty rigorous i think. </p>
<p>It all comes down to which city u prefer and whether u are ok with the process of re-location, moving and adapting to new environment: Vancouver has nice weather, nice beaches, stanley park, skiing resorts ridiculously close-by, also looks slightly cleaner and newer than Montreal. But on the other hand Montreal’s cultural and bar scenes are things that Vancouver cannot beat. </p>
<p>I do know a frd of mine who got sick of Montreal and its winter and transferred back home to UBC (she is from Vancouver)</p>
<p>I don’t think you are trading down at all. If you are miserable in undergrad then it’s important that you do something about it. I wasn’t aware that McGill science program was better than UBC, my impression was quite the opposite.</p>
<p>If you don’t mind, can you elaborate a bit on why you don’t like McGill? I would have thought that parties are optional, as is spending time on the grey campus. I mean, UBC also has a lot of concrete in the architecture and there are big parties there too. Just curious, thanks.</p>
<p>Personally, if I was given the choice I would not transfer.</p>
<p>When you look at schools like this, it’s basically the name that your looking for. McGill has a better name than UBC; just this year, two McGill grads got Nobel prizes. In addition, McGill is know as a big on science university, and most people/employers might not consider whether the undergrad is as good as the grad.</p>
<p>and plus UBC is way more expensive.</p>
<p>Although I do agree that McGill is mostly research. My advice is to only transfer if you really do not like McGill./</p>
<p>I’m also considering transferring from McGill to UBC. I don’t think McGill is much better than UBC unless you really want to work on the East Coast.</p>
<p>I know quite a few students who have transferred from McGill science to UBC science. The programs are extremely comparable in quality, similar faculty, class sizes, research funding, opps for undergrad research. Tuition is similar too (unless you are from Quebec).</p>
<p>Have you visited UBC? Maybe it would help to visit, meet with faculty and talk to the students, see the classes for yourself in your major. Given your experience so far, you’d be in a very good position to judge the two if you came in person. A tiny investment for something so important.</p>
<p>well parties are “optional” as in you don’t need to be directly in the middle of the party. BUT i feel like i don’t have a choice since my housemates always throw parties so even though i don’t participate in them, i can still hear the loud music (the party area --kitchen— is next to my room) and drunk people.</p>
<p>^ Wouldn’t it be easier to change housing than change schools and cities? It seems a bit extreme. Get new roommates, move into a new location? I am sure there are tons of students that equally appreciate living with non-partying roommates at McGill. You just have to find them.</p>
<p>^^ i concur</p>
<p>i’m sure that’s true but it’s too late to change housing. Plus next year, i’ll have to find a place of my own…and seeing as i didn’t make any friends this year that i could live with…not sure how to find those non-drinking people</p>
<p>^Okay so too late to changing housing. Have you confirmed by talking to someone this is absolutely true? Isn’t it too late to switch schools this year too? </p>
<p>For next year: how were you planning to find non-drinking friends at your next college? You will find partying students at all big public schools…schools in general. But I am positive you have diversity and therefore “your people” at every big school. It will just take some creative effort to find them. </p>
<p>At UBC and McGill most students are probably off campus beyond 1-2 years…how do any of them find off campus housing? They really aren’t all friends moving in together! Everyone is always looking to fill another room in a house or find an apartment mate. Ask around. Go to the on line housing board and read the ads and post an ad. </p>
<p>You might want to work on finding friends who are less likely to be into a lot of partying.
Volunteer!: [SSMU</a> - Students Society of McGill University - Celebrating 100 Years](<a href=“http://ssmu.mcgill.ca/activities/services/]SSMU”>http://ssmu.mcgill.ca/activities/services/)
Or start a club: [SSMU</a> - Students Society of McGill University - Celebrating 100 Years](<a href=“http://ssmu.mcgill.ca/activities/clubs/how-to-start-a-club/]SSMU”>http://ssmu.mcgill.ca/activities/clubs/how-to-start-a-club/)
Or join clubs that attract students that you might guess- based on stereotypes- are less likely to be into parties or are busy doing things besides drinking. Visit a bunch and find your people: the classic music club? christian fellowship? Save the World? Chinese varsity? Muslim club? table tennis club? white ribbon club? or one of the other 200 listed here with contact info: [SSMU</a> - Students Society of McGill University - Celebrating 100 Years](<a href=“http://ssmu.mcgill.ca/activities/clubs/page/9/]SSMU”>http://ssmu.mcgill.ca/activities/clubs/page/9/)</p>
<p>Alternatively you can seek the help of McGill, either getting some coaching for this problem (to help you solve it) through the counselling office or the first year student office: [SSMU</a> - Students Society of McGill University - Celebrating 100 Years](<a href=“http://ssmu.mcgill.ca/activities/services/mcgill-student-services/]SSMU”>http://ssmu.mcgill.ca/activities/services/mcgill-student-services/)</p>
<p>The solution isn’t to focus on where the grass is greener, but create your own environment where you are. Take initiative, use some creativity, and find your people! I assure you that not all 24,000 McGill undergrads are not all wild drinking partiers (especially after freshman year).</p>
<p>First of all, i would like to thank you for your advice :). it’s much appreciated.</p>
<p>But it’s not like i haven’t done my research. Yes, it’s too late to change housing, there’s already a lease involved and the financial organization of moving to another residence will be different since it’ll involve meal plans and such.
- I do not plan move this year, i plan to transfer for the fall of next year.
- Regarding non-drinking friends next year, i have friends there.
- Housing at UBC, you can live on campus for 4 years. Unlike Mcgill, they don’t kick you out after 1st year
- On a plus, i’ve seen the campus, or the buildings and the lecture halls. and i must say it’s a much less depressing campus than Mcgill (not counting weather…)… they get actual tables for lecture halls…not like small tables that you pull out the side. There’s 1 lecture hall that i’ve seen here that is NICE. leacock 232. but no classes i know are held there</p>
<p>i get that ppl won’t be drinking wildly after next year (i hope…though it won’t really matter since i’d be finding my own place) but since ppl have formed bonds over this year based on drinking (like super tight bonds,they talk and act like my best friends…and it took me 4 years to get that close with them) …yeah</p>
<p>though seriously here though…i don’t get how ppl are satisfied with just drinking. i was working on something today with a bunch of people from class and i asked so what do you do in your free time here? and they all said “i basically drink”…O_O</p>
<p>I attended McGill for a year. Like you, I’m not into drinking.</p>
<p>There are plenty of people on campus whose lives don’t revolve around drinking. For me, it wasn’t that difficult to find these people. Campus organizations, as starbright suggested, are a good place to look. The organizations are almost always about an activity that doesn’t inherently involve drinking. So they attract people who are into that non-drinking activity.</p>
<p>If anything, I found McGill to be much less of a party school than other universities I’ve dealt with.</p>
<p>The problem is also likely to correct itself as time goes on. It’s been said that a McGill student spends his or her first two years at Gert’s and his or her last two years at Redpath Library. McGill gets even more challenging when one gets into the 300- and 400-level classes. Eventually, upperclassmen have to scale back the drinking because there aren’t enough hours in the day to party several nights a week and still do well in upper-level classes.</p>
<p>Good luck, whatever you decide.</p>
<p>Hey I am considering transferring from ubc to mcgill as well. Did u manage to transfer from mcgill to ubc?</p>
<p>Also considering the same transfer. Does anyone know how easily science courses will transfer from McGill to UBC? Will BIOL 200 (Molecular Biology) and BIOC 212 (Molecular Mechanisms of Cell Function) at McGill give me credit for BIOL 200 (Cell Biology) and BIOL 201 (Biochemistry) at UBC? Would really like to know from someone who has done the transfer. Thanks!</p>