I’m a sophomore at mcgill in Montreal currently, which was my top choice coming into college as a Canadian student. I had a great freshman year, living in a dorm, where I made some really great friends. However, the transition out of residence (almost all mcgill students move off campus/nearby after first year) has been tougher than I expected. I miss the sense of community, like I truly was at college unlike now when I kind of feel like I’m missing out when I’m not on campus, along with the social aspect and the general feeling like I could relate my experience to what I had perceived to be the ‘typical college experience’. I live in a condo with some of my best friends now and we have a great time, but my social circle has naturally become smaller (despite hosting a few parties etc.) and a lot of my friends rarely party now (and when we do party everything just seems kind of muted).
I’m really really torn as I feel like I should belong at McGill and I love my friends and many aspects of it, but I’m increasingly feeling like I should have considered a big ‘party’ school in America when I was applying to colleges initially (mostly for financial reasons). Another factor tearing me up is that I’m on scholarship here. I don’t want to want to transfer, and everything rational is telling me to stay and tough it out, and that hopefully I can expand my network and find the ‘college experience’ again, but there’s obviously also a voice telling me that I would be having more fun elsewhere and that I’m missing out. Any insight into whether this is reason to start possibly considering transferring or just a case of thinking the grass is greener on the other side is appreciated as I can’t really talk about this with anyone. thanks!
It sounds a little like being a grad student in the US. My suggestion is to find ways to expand your activities and circle of friends. Like find a sports team to join or add an artistic activity that your current friends don’t share.
How do you plan on paying for the “more fun elsewhere”? Big party schools in the US do not give need based aid to international students and merit aid for all transfers is limited or non-existent. And asking your parents to pay your way so that you can party more likely won’t go over too well.
Also at most American colleges students generally move off campus after sophomore year anyway.
Most everyone parties a lot first year then they get more serious as they mature.
As TomSrOfBoston pointed out, most students – especially at the “big American party schools” – move out of the dorms after their freshman year. By transferring, you’d miss out on that year of bonding students enjoy in their first year. Most likely, you’d be in a worse social situation than you are now.
Maybe you’ll find the social aspect again if you move back on campus. Some upperclassmen who want to stay involved with student life will continue to live in dorms or serve as residence advisors. Or else find some other way of getting involved in student life - clubs, student government, associations within your major, etc.
You are at a great school, have great friends, are doing well, have a nice scholarship and are thinking of transferring for better parties? I would stay put without question. A few things:
–Your experience is not all that unusual. Many students in colleges all across the US tone down the partying after freshman year. In my college most sophomores moved into suites and although they were still dorms the expereince as not so different from yours. If you want to actively seek out more parties, I imagine you can do so.
–The grass is not always greener on the other side. I would not give up a situation that is overall working well for you unless there is an excellent reason.
–Being a transfer student can be hard socially. Many friendships are formed freshman year when people are looking for new friends and it can be hard to break in as a transfer.
–You will be getting used to a new place when the vast majority of your peers are settled into a routine.
–Not all of your credits may transfer so you would need to be sure you could still graduate in 4 years.
–If you want a change of pace, see if there are some study abroad or exchange programs you might consider.
@geraniol At McGill only first year students can live on campus unless you are an RA.
OP, I have never heard about a student wanting to transfer out of McGill because of the limited party scene. McGill is typical of Canadian universities except maybe Queen’s. My son is a McGill alumnus and he made the transition to off campus easily. The “college experience” is pretty much an American concept. The drinking age in the US is 21.so partying is done in off campus apartments or frat houses. It is a world of searching out the parties or getting a fake ID which can really get a student in trouble. In Montreal you have the freedom to go to a bar or club with your friends. You are definitely feeling the “grass is greener” syndrome.
I thought 18 was the legal drinking age in Canada? S17 is at SUNY Fredonia and when we visited, we went up to Niagara Falls Canada side and took him out for a beer with his real ID. It was very gratifying for me, as his mom, to see the disgusted expression on his face as he realized that beer tastes gross.
I agree about staying at McGill, which is supposed to be an amazing school. Apply to be an RA if you want to get back on campus, otherwise, consider study abroad as someone else mentioned.
“I thought 18 was the legal drinking age in Canada”
18 in the province of Quebec, which includes Montreal and McGill of course. 19 in most of the rest of the country.
@mbw201899 The drinking age in the US is 21. If you move south then you will not be of legal drinking age. Generally, by the time students get to be juniors, they are strongly focused on academics. There is not as much partying for upper year students down here. There is less partying for upper year students for any schools which are academically comparable to McGill.
For a Canadian student, McGill is a great bargain (by US standards) even without a scholarship. Compare what you are paying versus costs over $70,000 per year at comparable US schools, and this is in US dollars. If you tell your parents that you want to spend US$70,000 per year to transfer to Boston University so that you can party and drink more, I do not expect that you will get a good response from them.
I will also point out that McGill has a great reputation in Canada, in the US, and worldwide.
“I live in a condo with some of my best friends now”
This sounds like a rather sweet deal. Montreal is of course much more affordable than many US cities (or many large Canadian cities). There is also a lot to do in Montreal. It is a great city for a college student.
“my social circle has naturally become smaller”
Welcome to growing up.
I think that you are doing really well where you are. Have a Molson’s and relax.
And sorry about that Bruins/Canadiens game from last night.
thank you all for all your help! I really appreciate it–helped me gain some perspective during a rough point in the semester. Not transferring happy new year!
