U of Michigan vs. McGill (Engineering)

College Search & Selection
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My son has less than two weeks to decide.

Probable Major: MechE, with likely specialization/focus on Aerospace Engineering. Also considering CE, CS.

Special Considerations: Goal is to work/develop spacecraft, robotics related to space exploration. Also wants to live and work outside of the US (Singapore, Japan, or other) and/or a more cosmopolitan American city like LA, NYC, etc. Facility and interest in languages (fluent in French, learning Mandarin and Japanese) and multicultural perspectives.

Pros of UMich: Better ranked MechE program. Better student support/health services compared to McGill (I think?) Less uncertainty for cost beyond the first year. No border closings to worry about.

Cons of UMich: Aerospace Engineering focus is not as good or as esteemed as McGill. Same for CS, CE (according to my son’s research). Adamantly opposed to working in the car industry or living, working in Midwestern US. Doesn’t especially like Ann Arbor, which we were able to visit almost two years ago.

Pros of McGill: Highly ranked program with global name for MechE. Better ranking for CS, CE and Aerospace focus. Easier to work for NASA, SpaceX, or international equivalents? Feels more confident about the international profile of the student body, seems to like the students more based on virtual tours, etc. Likes the idea of Montreal (although we’ve never visited).

Cons of McGill: Have heard anecdotally that large swaths of the campus, schools aren’t kept up as much as Engineering. Border closures. Not as highly ranked for MechE. Cost of first year is equivalent to UMich for first year, but not guaranteed for subsequent years. Have heard that there is not much student support (health, etc.) and academic advising isn’t that great. Didn’t get to visit, have never been to Montreal.

Big question is: How likely is it to pursue a career outside of the US and not within the automotive industry, if the choice is UMich?

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Montreal will definitely be more cosmopolitan than University of Michigan.

McGill is still pretty highly ranked for MechEng. (34 vs 12 for U of M) Those rankings reflect research, not undergraduate rankings.

Why is the cost of subsequent years not guaranteed at McGill?

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I’m not sure how Michigan’s Engineering automatically pushes your son into the auto industry? There’s a lot of Michigan grads here in Silicon Valley, it’s one of the more popular Michigan alum areas to locate post-graduation.

And I’m curious what your S didn’t like about Ann Arbor, because it’s always voted one of the best college towns in the US.

In terms of international brand, the QS World University Rankings has Michigan as #21 and McGill as #31.

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Yeah, I am not I’d agree with your son’s research on McG vs UoM …

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One other thing about Michigan tuition, which some folks don’t realize. Michigan’s tuition increases with class standing. Once you attain junior status with AP/DE credits, even if it’s your 2nd year there, the tuition is higher. And the tuition increases every year.

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We received over 30K for first year attendance at McGill, much more than I would have expected for an international student. We’d need to re-apply each year, without any guarantees. There’s not as much money at stake with UofM for subsequent years.

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We’re in-state, so the difference in amount still won’t add up to as much as the uncertainty with international aid for McGill.

McGill has assured international applicants that they will try their best to meet the same need as long as it’s demonstrated, but it’s still a huge amount of money without any guarantee.

Automotive industry - son is concerned about this based on anecdotal evidence. High school alumna in engineering said about 75% of MechE graduates end up in car industry. Friends and acquaintances seem to think this is true more or less, too.

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I must have missed that you’re in-state for Michigan. If so, then to me, it’s a no-brainer. Michigan. We’re from CA, and my D attends Michigan.

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That’s good to know! My son would’ve much preferred to go to UCLA, but ended up not applying.

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Obviously UCLA is a fantastic school. But although more expensive, we thought Michigan was a better choice for my D.

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Here’s McGill’s FAQs on Fall 2021. https://www.mcgill.ca/coronavirus/faqs I would expect several of his classes may end up online.

Given coronavirus, if it were me, I would prefer to have my child on the same side of the border and closer to home. I have 3 children living away from home this year- 2 of them in different states and one in Canada. The restrictions on travel and returning to school for the one in Canada are much more onerous than for schools in the US. International citizens entering Canada for school were barred for a few months last year.

In a normal year, I’d say take the plunge and go to McGill, but things still aren’t normal.

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Sorry but your research or your son’s research is poor. Your son can go wherever he wants to if he works hard and is active on campus. Michigan has grants from Nasa so not sure why he will end up in the auto industry… Lol… He can apply to where ever he wants to. Don’t apply to Ford. Lol.

So my son got a job from an international company that came specifically to Michigan and Georgia Tech. He works his first year in the states and 3 years abroad in just about anywhere in the world since they are in 50 countries with 100 plants and 25 RD centers. What tipped them was his engineering study abroad in France and his internship for engineering in Israel. He’s graduating soon in Industrial Engineering.

So let’s pretend this is not covid times.

Look at these minors and program.

I got to personally play with a helmet that Michigan developed for NASA about 4 years ago that had augmented reality built in. It was a prototype. Very cool so yea, they do some Aerospace stuff…

Michigan is also in the top 10 of about 45 majors.

It’s the best value of just about any college for an instate kid. The ROI is through the roof. Michigan is NOT just a national brand. It’s an international brand. Go just about anywhere in the world and someone will come up and say “Go Blue”…

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This is a few years old now, but shows Michigan’s involvement with NASA.

https://news.engin.umich.edu/2016/12/michigan-nasa-connection/

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Going to UM Engineering does not mean you have to work in the car industry. Michigan has one of the largest alumni networks anywhere in the world.

Their Engineering is ranked 6th in the US. Montreal as someone mentioned is cosmopolitan, gorgeous, very “French” obviously, and VERY expensive.

If the reason your son doesn’t want to remain in state that’s a whole different issue and understandable. I have 4 kids who went out of state, but going to UM Engineering he can get a job anywhere he wants, NY, Chicago, the South, or SV.

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Instate Michigan>McGill. This is an easy choice, especially with Covid restrictions.

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Thanks to everyone here who responded with valuable insights! Son has decided on UMich.

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Congrats!

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