<p>McGill would only cost about 3,000 while UVA would be abut 35,000 a year. </p>
<p>UVA is perhaps better academically atleast in the U.S. but I much prefer Montreal than Charlottesville. </p>
<p>I want to do politics/history so UVA might also have a better program for this.</p>
<p>Others things to consider-
cold ass Canada weather (from MIA),
Preppy/southern atmosphere of school (embrace diversity)
McGill grades much harsher than UVA</p>
<p>My daughter is facing the exact some choice. The one difference is that her older brother just graduate from McGill, so we have a very good feel for that school.</p>
<p>I believe that academically the two are equal, though I'm sure many would disagree. My son's education, in the liberal arts, was exceptional, and he's found that at least in the NY area the McGill name has opened a lot of doors. He's currently working at Tribeca Films, and he got that interview because of the degree from McGill. Ands as you say, Montreal is a fabulous city, especially for students.</p>
<p>However, there are few things you need to consider. First, unless you're a Canadian citizen, you're way off on the tuition cost for McGill. For an international student paying in US dollars, you're looking at about $23,000 to $25,000/yr. The different schools have different tuition rates, as do the various dorm options. Also McGill has an extensive list of extra fees they need to collect to get around government restrictions on tuition, and as a non-Canadian you also have to buy mandated health insurance.</p>
<p>The other big difference is a bit harder to explain. McGill is very bureaucratic -- as a student there you're on your own to get the class you need, to satisfy the various requirements, pay bills when they're due and so on. The same goes for academics -- no one pushes you to perform. You need to supply all the motivation. For some, that works well. For others .. . well the school has a large drop out rate the first year.
UVA from our initial interaction with them, is much more involved with student life and seems to expend a good deal of effort to make incoming students and their parents comfortable. In the end, they both seem to be great choices for excellent students.</p>
<p>"McGill grades are much harsher than UVA"</p>
<p>I'm not sure how you arrived at this conclusion. In my opinion, it's not easy at all to get As at UVA since you're competing with other great students. You have to be on top of things, and pay great detail to your work in order to do very well here.</p>
<p>my econ prof. from UChicago said he was forced to grade more harshly at McGill than UChicago...and UChicago def. grades harsher than UVA.</p>
<p>The action of one professor doesn't determine the harshness of a school's grading system.</p>
<p>McGill is a wonderful school and Montreal is a fantastic, progressive (drinking age 18, cannabis is tolerated....), clean city with a vibrant nightlife and extremely interesting people.</p>
<p>Two things to consider, though: Montreal is REALLY effin' COLD in the winter. LOTS of snow. Also, McGill has some notable issues with funding and is seen as somewhat of a bureaucracy. UVA, on the other hand, has fairly mild weather and is extremely well-managed, especially for a public school.</p>