<p>Hi all,</p>
<p>Can someone tell me how hard is the neuroscience major at McGill? How does it compare to something like chemistry/pharmacology? I'm interested in both and need something difficult enough so that I don't get bored...</p>
<p>Thanks in advance.</p>
<p>I’d like to know this as well.</p>
<p>I am also interested in this and am most likely annoying the OP by not giving an answer and simply bumping</p>
<p>Well first you have to be accepted to the program (<a href=“http://www.mcgill.ca/files/neuroscience/Application_201011.pdf[/url]”>http://www.mcgill.ca/files/neuroscience/Application_201011.pdf</a>). The Neuroscience major seats only 50 students and you must apply with at least a 3.2 and several required basic courses completed. Moreover, the program requires an essay as to why you want to be in it and what you plan to do.</p>
<p>Provided you are accepted, at the start of your sophomore year, you can expect very difficult courses, getting more challenging and in depth each year, though also getting more interesting. Your second year will be very structured, like all of the biosci majors, but starting your third year you will have some freedom to choose more interesting classes. Expect a lot of reading, memorizing, and fact regurgitation about stuff that didnt seem important in the notes/lecture. I didn’t do this program but many of the courses are similar and the organization is largely the same. This would be a very interesting program, however it is very focused. Get the prerequisites out of the way your first year and explore all your options for majors.</p>
<p>To compare to chem can’t really be done. Chem is a completely different beast. It involves more math and conceptual comprehension, whereas a neurosci involves a lot of memorizing and understanding of medical/biochemical studies. I will say that while learning about neurons and neuronal function at a biochemical level is very interesting, it is very confusing.</p>
<p>As far as comparing to pharmo, this is very similar. Pharmo will not have any anatomical courses in it, and will not deal as much with complex psychological processes that are often difficult to explain physiologically, but it is full of memorization about the physical processes of drugs within the body and mind. Moreover, it is an excellent major to learn about the medical/drug industry and how the necessity of scientific innovation in medicine has evolved. You will learn lots of fun tidbits that can be used in conversation, and countless facts you will soon forget.</p>
<p>I’m from CEGEP in Quebec which means I start off a year ahead of you guys and I can apply directly into Neuroscience. I was accepted and I have taken up one of those 50 seats. :]</p>
<p>I also didn’t need to write an essay or any of that jazz, lucky me.</p>
<p>^what was the point of that post, this isn’t a forum for the boastful… if you aren’t interested in helping students then move along</p>
<p>I guess maturity wasn’t one of the criteria they look at in admitting students to neuroscience.</p>
<p>i guess simple mathematics wasn’t either because having done cegep you are also a year older than the kids applying now and thus you are not taking up one of their spots because they can’t enter neuro until their second year anyway.</p>
<p>Still on about this? It’s really not a big deal. And yes, one of those 50 seats belongs to me, I never said it was one of their 50 seats. Get over it, I’ve seen way less relevant posts before; for example, the three posts you have in reply to my own which have even less to do with Neuroscience than my own.</p>
<p>You want to know how hard Neuroscience is? It’s one of the most selective programs offered at McGill (behind Pre-Med, Dentistry and similar to Pharmacology); the students admitted are cream of the crop and a very talented student I know still hasn’t heard a reply. Neuroscience in general deals with a lot of unknowns; you aren’t dropping into a field that’s been exhausted to death. The human brain is one of the greatest mysteries of modern science and McGill offers one of the most renowned programs on the subject. </p>
<p>It is very unlikely that you will find anyone from the program in this forum or any other; there is a Facebook group devoted to the program and this will probably be your best bet for any first-hand knowledge. Good luck.</p>
<p>[Neuroscience</a> Undergraduates of McGill | Facebook](<a href=“Facebook Public Group | Facebook”>Facebook Public Group | Facebook)</p>
<p>I guess some of the cream of the crop is a bit curdled.</p>
<p>Hmm, interesting take regarding tom and my posts…Some would argue the police cause a greater hazard by pulling people over on the side of the road, than the actually speeding causes… but somebody’s gotta be on patrol, hence our posts.</p>
<p>I do agree with some of what you said though. It is very selective, but it also a very limited number of students that apply because of its specificity. Also, other kids should note that the ‘pre-med’ program is for cegep students only. Its a ridiculous opportunity for them to be admitted into med school early with the correct assumption that they will practice in quebec. Dentistry is not undergrad so it is not relevant (except for cegep students). </p>
<h1>1 I would argue the cegep students are not necessarily the cream of the crop (though maybe you are) only because they have yet to prove themseleves at a university level, let alone a mcgill level, and much of their future success is based on speculation. On the other hand, 2nd year students have already taken mcgill courses and proven they can handle both the environmental and academic change. Both sets are exceptional though for sure.</h1>
<h1>2 To say neurosci is the cream of the crop is very ignorant in that the number of students that apply is small relative to the number of students in science. One could make the argument that honors english students are in fact ‘the cream of the crop’ as they are able to accurately analyze and compose literature as easy and as fast as it can be typed. Its certainly easy to argue that engineering students are by far the most accomplished and gifted scientific minds on campus. The problems they see in regular assignments are a far cry from the cushy statistics of measuring the synaptic output of misfiring neurons in the cerebral cortex.</h1>
<p>I would suggest you stop patting yourself on the back by explaining how excellent the program is, immediately after letting the world know about your acceptance. Again, this isn’t a forum for you to explain your unproven achievements, but to inform future students about their potential paths.</p>
<p>FYI: i cannot think of any fields that have been exhausted to death at mcgill, save history… but everyone needs history. there are scientific achievements every year in all categories that come out of mcgill, let alone the world, each which continue to reshape the content and the way mcgill professors teach. mcgill is at the forefront of innovation in a multitude of scientific, environmental, engineering, and sociopolitical movements and to say that the brain is somehow special in this regard is ignorant. One could argue youre degree would be largely worthless because much of the brain is largely unknown, and since it is almost guaranteed you will not contribute to any major scientific achievement during your undergraduate tenure (as the vast majority of us do not), you would have spent 3 years learning about decades-old research and speculating about what your professors should study next.</p>
<p>That said, McGill has long lead the international community in neurology and has done so through the MNI (montreal neurological institute) located adjacent to the royal victoria hospital, so for potential students, good luck.</p>
<p>Hi everyboday!
i am the undergraduate 2014 student of McGill, and i was admitted of physiology. can i transfer to neuroscience? is there any specific restriction for international students？ thanks</p>
<p>Nope, there isnt any restrictions for internationals, you just have to do well in your first freshman year and apply. Also, IB/ A level students could directly apply to the program like CEGEP student.</p>
<p>Hey,</p>
<p>From what I’ve heard, the major in Neuroscience isn’t that hard, but is certainly difficult enough to keep one interested for three years. The science majors in general are comparable in difficulty, and the neuro major program is comparable to an honours program in the other disciplines. In any case, it wont be as hard as engineering, just as klmnop said.</p>
<p>I do disagree with the whole “worthless degree” idea, though. I was under the impression that part of the neuroscience program was to take a 6 to 9 credit independent research course, and hopefully uncover something scientifically valid. Furthermore, I am sure there are lots of things one can do with a degree in neuroscience from McGill, including medicine and graduate school.</p>
<p>Also, does anyone know how hard it is this year to get in to neuroscience from McGill? (Or last year, or before that?) I have a pretty good GPA and just applied back in March, but we don’t find out until late May…</p>
<p>Thanks!</p>