<p>Hello... I'm an international student applying to McGill, Queens, UofT, UBC, Waterloo, and UVic. I'm really struggling to decide which one is my top choice though. I plan to major in physics so I was wondering if any one could let me know about the strength of the departments at these unis. I plan on doing my graduate degree in the US. I think right now my top choice would be Queens but I heard a lot from various sources that say UofT and UBC are much better science schools.... Anyways, any insight would be much appreciated.</p>
<p>honetly, for undergrad you're going to have a similar experience at McGill, U of T, and UBC (I can't really speak for Queens because I don't know much about it)...Waterloo and Uvic are a tier below those other schools, in terms of reputation at least. I would focus more on what location you'd be happier in, because between U of T, UBC, McGill, and Queens, they are all great schools.</p>
<p>Thanks for your reply, I guess I'm gonna have to sit and really think about it . My brother graduated from Concordia University so I've been to Montreal and liked it a lot. I'm sending my application to McGill within this week and I was just wondering if you specify the residence you want to live in in the application. If so, can you give me a brief overview of the residences and what to look for and avoid, etc.?</p>
<p>Thanks a lot</p>
<p>Talking about residences..hehe this is gonna be fun ;)</p>
<p>I live in RVC (Royal Victoria College). I'm assuming you're a guy, so this isn't an option for you ;) haha, we luck out having the rez closest to campus, thouhg the tower rooms aren't as nice as the west wing rooms. And that fancy lounge on the website? it's beautiful, alright, but it is ALWAYS locked. You aren't allowed in there except for very special occasions. Rant aside...I love RVC. Floors are small, so you get a good sense of community, and it's less of a party rez than some of the others so you actually can get sleep/get stuff done (though we do have our nights of fun!)</p>
<p>All rezes are co-ed except for RVC and one of the MORE houses, which are female-only ;)</p>
<p>So the other "traditional" Rezs are the upper rez (molson, mcconnell, and gardner), Douglas, and New Rez.
The upper rez buildings are three halls that are virtually identical surrounding the centre caf building (bishop mountain hall, hence the reason that these three rezs are called "BMH"). My friends live in McConnell, and they like it:
BMH at a glance...
It's Coed..guys and girls. McConnell is single sex by wing, the other two are completely coed</p>
<p>have to go outside to get to the caf
can eat at either doug. caf or RVC caf (handy for school, if you don't want to trek up the hill)</p>
<p>certain floors are really partying, others less so. Kinda luck of the draw. In general, a good sense of community because you're so close to the majority of residences..the other rezs are more isolated.</p>
<p>nice windows and stunning views</p>
<p>THE HILL (this is the major disadvantage to upper rez...it isn't called "upper rez" without a reason). While the hill isn't too bad in fall, helps ward off the frosh 15, in winter, when University street is iced over, it's a one step forward, two step back proposition to get up the darn thing. and yes, the rope is a myth.
Mostly single rooms </p>
<p>Douglas:
one of the nicer rezs
smaller than BMH and while it's close to them, it isn't part of the BMH complex, so it forms a tighter knit community
The caf is nice..and it's in the building
it's up the hill but not as far as BMH
rooms are smaller, but have nicer furnature than BMH/RVC
common rooms on every floor
Looks like a castle ;)
a mix of single/double rooms</p>
<p>New Rez
without question the ritziest rez...a converted hotel, with HUGE beds
mostly double rooms
every room has it's own bathroom
different meal plan than the others...a card, with a certain amount of hours or cash on it, that you can use at all Chartwells places on campus (and certain other places, like starbucks)
has the biggest party scene...nice if you like to party, but can be a real pain when you're trying to sleep before a midterm and your floormates come back banging on doors because they're drunk...at 4:00am.
some people have complained that it doesn't feel "homey"...that floors are too big to really connect well, and that it feels like, well, living in a hotel
it says five blocks from campus on the website...I dunno if it's really that far...at least it's five flat blocks (meaning I'd choose it over the hill!!)</p>
<p>All these rezs are the traditional residences, meaning it's a standard dorm room, all have shared kitchens/washrooms (except new rez where every room has it's own washroom), but you get meal plan coverage so no need to cook, except on weekends for Doug and BMH.</p>
<p>The non-traditional rez options
Greenbriar:
An option that I think gets overlooked..greenbriar apartments are close to RVC and ohhh so close to campus. they are studio apartments, and vary in size/decor. Some have decks..some have carpet, etc. Come with a kitchen, but no meal plan. Though if you want you can buy meal cards to RVC/BMH/Douglas. </p>
<p>Solin:
Located a ways from campus (45 minute walk, or a 4 metro stop ride), Solin is probably one of the nicest residences McGill has. My boyfriend lives there. You live with two other people, and the rezes are three separate bedrooms (nice, you get your own "space") but also a common room and a common kitchen. You cook for yourself, like Greenbriar. Because Solin is so isolated, they tend to form a tight community--you really get to know other solinites. My boyfriend also complains that they don't get notified of stuff the way the other residences do, of the lectures and events. While all the residences are really multicultural, Solin has the rep. for being the most international of the residences. I don't really know what the party life is like there, though. It's not really in the clubbing sector of downtown. I'd say this rez has a lot going for it, except for the commute and the isolation from the other residences.</p>
<p>the MORE houses
These are pretty cool...older houses McGill bought and turned into a residence for 10-16 people. All the houses are reasonably close to campus (closer than new rez, and some closer than BMH). They are actual houses, but still 10 and up to a house is a lot....but there are both single/double rooms,common rooms, kitchen, etc. I admit I don't know hardly anything about them.</p>
<p>Hope this helps...What I'd recommend depends largely on what sort of person you think you are. Do you want a meal plan, or would you prefer to cook for yourself? want a single room or a double room? are you a partier all the time, only on weekends, or not at all?</p>
<p>JoY!
noelle</p>
<p>they do the residences if your admitted, btw good luck, i too am applying</p>
<p>ive been to montreal, and specifically what you may care about mcgill, i know a bit about solin and new rez. solin is apartments which are nice, and it offers you a fair ammount of freedom from school. it is in the middle of a residential area, which is nice, but it can have its bads. You have to comute by way of the subway which is a giant pain in the ass, but on a plus if your a pot head, the dealers stand in the metro stop, which is a block away from the building. new rez is much newer and nicer. it is a converted hotel, and has very liberal policie on just about everything. lots of drinking and pot smoking, that was just my impression. it has wonderful ammenities, and is close to the campus, its my first choice. also new rez has thier own bathrooms, which i think is an awesome thing, having spent countless weekends at friends colleges, private bathrooms are always awesome</p>
<p>haha the McGill rezes are sooo lax regarding drugs/alcohol. In RVC the policy basically is that there is zero problem with alcohol, and drugs are okay as long as your neighbors can't smell it.</p>
<p>lol, thats the feeling that i got, though if i go up im bringing a 30 inch hooka, like for shisha, its a prized possesion, it goes great for hash or opium as well though, so people better be alright, or im gonna be sol</p>
<p>I've been meaning to go out for shisha for awhile...never gotten around to it though. it's on my list of things to accomplish before the end of semester. It's really popular at McGill though, largely because of the big Arab population. Ramadan, every night a group of them would go out for shisha.</p>
<p>oh man, eve feasts are aweomse. one of my best friends was from pakistan, and we went there and UAE and saudi arabia, my god it was everywhere and it was awesome</p>
<p>this thread is awesome...we move from physics, to residences, to shisha. fantastic :D</p>