<p>Obviously, I will be stepping on some toes here, for those people I step on, put on a hard hat and stop being a pansy. Remember, this is only my opinion so if you don't agree, well, you can blow me.</p>
<p>Residences: I'll try to keep this short.</p>
<p>Before we start, popular destinations for the following residences include Bar des Pins, Peel Pub and Gerts. All of them except for BDP if you're in the mood for some seediness, suck. Peel Pub is cheap but let me just say this, there are several Peel Pubs in Toronto that changed their names to Filthy McNasty's, the name is VERY FITTING for the one in Montreal. VERY FITTING. I cannot stress that enough.</p>
<p>The Upper Residences: All named after prominent Montreal families with deeply established roots in the city (little tidbit about Montreal, a lot of old money live in the city). Economically, the biggest ripoff going. Bad food, tiny rooms and disgusting washrooms. However, the relative concentration of students will mean lots of friends right away. Most Upper Rez kids tend to stay within the McGill bubble first year and have absolutely no knowledge of the Metro system or Montreal beyond the bars and the bubble but man they are awesome to hang out with.</p>
<p>MORE Houses: Tight knit community. That's pretty much all I know. Most of the MORE Houses are located on Pins Avenue.</p>
<p>New Rez: Also known as Poo Rez and (if you're easily offended, I suggest you ignore this) Jew Rez because of the amount of rich JAPS (Jewish American Princesses) that supposedly live here. Now I'm not taking a stance on that name, it's just something I've heard. Unlike the Upper Residences, the price of New Rez is actually justified. It's the most expensive residence but you get gourmet food COOKED for you and only your meal plan cards can work at New Rez. New Rez is the rez with the most anemities, you got your SAQ (liquor store), mall, several fast food joints all down the street from you, and you don't have to go up the dreaded hill (personally, I think people who whine about the hill are pansies). New Rez is hedonism for the 21st century university student. Awesome. Cons? The sheer amount of snot nosed kids who think they're entitled to the world you'll be living with, that's not to say everyone will be a Paris Hilton wannabe, but woah, they're are lots of them here. Last year, the motto on New Rez branded clothing was, "Let Them Eat Cake", 'nuff said.</p>
<p>RVC: The all girl Rez, known sometimes as Lez Rez. Okay, right across the street from campus, full of girls, no hill to climb, not that expensive. So what's the problem? No boys allowed unless you go in with a girl. Tight knit community but the parties suck. For obvious reasons, usually the cleanest rez. I've heard that a lot of close friendships have come out of this residence though. Before I move on, let me state this right now, most Rez parties are a joke, the only reason I'd ever go to one would be for cheap booze. Residence units are too small to hold decent house parties and the rooms are tiny and disgusting. McGill isn't located in some small conservative university town where the legal age is 35 and requires a license. Believe me, the best parties at McGill are the ones you have outside of McGill.</p>
<p>Greenbriar: Apartment style living, cheapest residence by far and no mandatory meal plans. Get your own kitchen, right next door to the university, rooms aren't fishbowls. Thumbs up. Cons? Your unit will vary, some units may have suffered from having the worst occupant ever, others had the luxury of having a neat freak living in them the previous year. Also, those who don't choose to get a meal plan, keep in mind that the grocery stores around the downtown core are overpriced. If you or your family are on a budget, this probably offers the best bang for the buck, only thing I don't like about Greenbriar is the lack of decently priced grocery stores in the area. Coming from a guy who pays his own way through school, if I had to do it again, I'd pick Greenbriar.</p>
<p>Solin Hall: Ok folks, those of you who have lived in suburbs your entire life now get to enjoy living in your first actual urban community (the McGill bubble is not a real urban community, sorry folks). Welcome to St. Henri. Right off the bat, you'll want to leave at least half an hour before your classes start to get to school because you'll be living a fair bit aways from campus. Secondly, get used to being a commuter and taking the Metro everyday (unless you have a car). Solin Hall is too far away from campus to offer a meal plan, it wouldn't be practical, fortunately for you folks you got the Atwater Market right there for (expensive) locally grown organic food, the Super C and the IGA grocery stores. Lachine Canal is nice for jogging. Nicest apartments by far, although the bedrooms vary in size from tiny to massive. Qaulity varies obviously. Since you have no meal plan, you'll be cooking for yourself (and maybe your roomates) all year or if you hate having money, ordering food. Second cheapest residence, also the one furthest away from campus. So what is the appeal? Everything I just mentioned. Solin offers the closest thing to a realistic portrayl of living in a city out of all the residences and that may turn you off if you're looking for a real life version of Animal House or may be attractive to you if you think reality appeals to you. Solin happens to neighbour some nice apartments and government subsidizeds projects. Some of Montreal's seedier and poorer neighbourhoods are located in the St. Henri area. However, unless you're stupid, you should be in no more danger than if you lived at say, New Rez. By the way, for anyone who is into investing money in property, St. Henri has a burgeoning condo market with some nice prices so if you're thinking of getting a place for second year, awesome condos in the area.</p>
<p>Living Off Campus - Montreal has a lot of awesome neighbourhoods/boroughs to live in. I won't list them all because I just went over enough of the residences for you but rest assured you'll have plenty of time to explore, especially you Solinites since you'll be armed with a monthly Metropass so you will be using it often.</p>
<p>Frosh Week - McGill Frosh week is legendary and AWESOME. However, every bar in Montreal will know that McGill is having a Frosh Week so they will be carding, after that you can feel safe again. The legal age in Montreal is 18 (another reasons why a night out on the town is vastly superior to rez parties) anyways, you guys should be fine. Bring condoms, that includes you too ladies. </p>
<p>Tip to the First Years: This is something I see once or twice every year (usually from the Americans), YOU DON'T HAVE TO DRINK YOURSELF INTO THE HOSPITAL PRIOR TO 11:30AM. Frosh Week is a week, there are 24 hours in a day and drinking is much better as a nightime activity. The last thing you want when you're drunk is the sunlight hitting you in the face like a sledgehammer, leave the excessive daytime drinking for the lame high school parties you grew out of. Most pathetic thing I ever saw was my first year at McGill and seeing some moron get alcohol poisoning at 10:30 AM during Frosh Week. Might seem cool now (if you're stupid) but he was in the hospital while the rest of our group were drinking shots of girl's bellies in the bar later that night. Two thumbs up to alcohol but remember now that it's legal, it's okay to pace yourself. I sometimes buy beer and put it in the fridge for a later date myself.</p>