<p>I'm recently about to start my first semester at Boston College (after transferring from another university) as a sophomore. I was miserable at my first college freshman year, and couldn't wait to get out. I've always had an interest in Mcgill (since freshman year of high school) but my parents didn't want me going to school in another country. </p>
<p>Well, after going to BC orientation and as time goes on, I'm getting more and more worried that I made the wrong choice in BC. </p>
<p>This was only confirmed after visiting Montreal last week, and falling in love with it all over again. I really don't want to transfer 3 times, so my question to you guys is should I go to BC, see how it goes and after one semester if I don't like it -transfer to Mcgill? Or take this year off, take some community college courses and then try and transfer to Mcgill (as they don't take spring transfers). </p>
<p>I've read on here about a few students that did in fact transfer from BC to Mcgill. Did you regret this decision?</p>
<p>Is there any chance that you’re getting cold feet? Lots of students are this week. They lost the ability to trust themselves or they’re panicked about college in general or there’s some other reason. When I dropped my child off a couple days ago she looked like she was miserable. Today she’s chatting up a storm about the city, museums, and people where her uni is. </p>
<p>There were reasons that you wanted to go to BC. Write them all down (boston history and museums are to die for). Are all those reasons still valid as far as you know? Then go ahead and go to BC and give it your best shot. You’ll probably love the place–so many students do. </p>
<p>Your worry about BC was not “confirmed” by visiting Montreal. It’s just that you fell in love with another city and another university. It’s possible you could love both institutions and settings. Trust yourself about BC. You can intern or vacation in Montreal. It’s a beautiful city. But unless BC lacks the things that attracted you to it, go to BC.</p>
<p>Lemme throw a little zen at you: wherever you go, there you are.</p>
<p>@jkeil911 Thank you so much for your response! I think you could be right. </p>
<p>McGill was actually my first college tour EVER. I had just finished freshman year of high school, and we stopped by campus during our family vacation. I fell in love with it, but once my parents said no, I put it behind me. When applying as a transfer, I think I simply thought of it as an old fantasy. I was only 15 at the time, and thought that I couldn’t possibly want in a school what I thought I wanted four years ago. </p>
<p>I’m worried that I convinced myself that BC was the right choice for me. I don’t know if the issue is the school (BC) or that I’m just terrified of having another bad college experience (aka my freshman year). I think deep down if I had to do it all over again, I would apply to Mcgill (and if I got in), go there. </p>
<p>Not sure how others felt during orientation, but I was actually more apprehensive about the school after going than before. I’m worried that I belong more in an urban setting, and that BC will be too secluded (people kept using the phrase ‘the BC bubble’?). If anyone has any insight into either school, especially their education programs in particular, I would really appreciate it!</p>
<p>Again, not sure if it’s just cold feet or something that I should actually consider. I’m just very against transferring a third time, but don’t want to force myself to stay somewhere that I’m not happy. </p>
<p>BC has a certain identity, a BC Way made up by a type of student who is attracted to BC and whom BC wants. It’s BC’s brand. If there’s a BC Bubble, this is what is meant by it, but it doesn’t encapsulate all BC students. I went to Brandeis as a non-Jew from anywhere but MA/NY/NJ and I found plenty of “atypical” students who would have laughed that they weren’t Brandeis enough.</p>
<p>Almost EVERY school, including McGill, has such a brand and their own kind of student. But there are plenty of other students at BC who don’t fit the stereotypical BC student. But you will have to put yourself out to find these different students, just as you would at any college where you don’t fit the Type. you’ll have to greet your classmates with an open mind and search out the kind of kids you like. They’re there; they’re searching for you, too.</p>
<p>As for BC’s provincialism: Dude, you’re on a bus line to one of the greatest cities and college towns in the world! There’s the BC Shuttle to the Cleveland Circle T stop. You can find a lot more like-minded students on Boston’s numerous campuses. But you’ve to make the effort. After a year elsewhere, you know what doesn’t work, so try some other methods and make BC work.</p>
<p>As an education major, you should be doing your studies in the state (or province) where you intend to teach. It fan take many months and many additional courses and money to pay for those courses to transfer your licensure/qualifications. The education systems in Quebec and Massachusetts are quite different.With a degree from McGill, you will not be well trained for a position in the U.S. </p>
<p>@jkeil911 thank you, again! you made a lot of great points. I think you’re right - I’m going to go into BC with an open mind, and definitely put myself out there. </p>
<p>@bouders good point! I’m not from Massachusetts/plan on teaching there after graduation, but you could be right about it being difficult to transfer my license to another country. It’s definitely something I would have to look more into (if I ever considered transferring again). Thanks again!</p>
<p>@bouders My son just graduated from McGill (an American citizen) and he got several job offers in the US with major investment banking companies. McGill is highly regarded internationally which leaves the door open to work anywhere you want. Granted he was a finance major, but their reputation is very good both around the world and in the US in all subjects. He loved McGill because it was so international and he made many friends from all over the world. He had excellent grades and when I made a passing suggestion that perhaps he would want to transfer to an IVY in the US he declined. As many of our friends noticed, he came back much more sophisticated and worldly than many of his friends who went to colleges in the US. It just depends on the person and what kind of experience you are looking for. He loved the experience!</p>
<p>You are at BC now…just give it a chance! Most students love it there. Go in with the attitude that you are going to give it all you’ve got! Don’t allow negative thoughts to creep in. If at the end of the semester you are truly unhappy, you can rethink your plan. But for now, join activities, male friends, get to know your professors. …you will probably become a BC fan in no time! </p>
<p>Bouders is right. If you want to teach in the US, you need to go to college in the US to learn current trends in education in the US. Canadian trends are totally different, especially now. You also need to think about where you want to teach and what state teaching certificates are valid in that state. Depending on which state certificate you want to apply for, you may want to look at taking some extra electives at BC.</p>
<p>You’ve had a tough freshman year so remember that you’ll probably start out a little nervous wherever you go. BC is a great school (I’m biased though since I’m a grad), and you definitely do not feel secluded if you go there. Like the OP mentioned, the public T stop is right at the front entrance to the campus and you can be in downtown Boston in less than 15 minutes. Boston is a great city with so many great schools and so many things to offer for entertainment. There’s something for everyone at BC if you seek it out. Look for groups and activities you’re interested in and make the most of your time at school. Give BC a shot (the School of Education there has some great professors), and if you’re still unhappy at the end of the semester move on to Plan B. For what it’s worth I have a friend whose daughter goes to McGill now and wants to transfer back to Boston because she’s homesick as a sophomore. It happens to lots of students. Best of luck!</p>