What are my chances of getting into McGill? What can I do to improve my chances?

Colleges and Universities A-Z McGill University
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A few months ago, a friend of mine suggested that I look into McGill after not finding many appealing universities in the States. After weeks of finding more about the school, campus life and city, it quickly grew to be my number-one choice. Honestly, it’s the only school I want to go to - I have family-friends there, it’s a great school, it’s in my favorite city - it’s my perfect match. I truly can’t envision myself anywhere else, and I’d be completely crushed if I was to be denied a place there.

Anyways, I’ll save you the sob story; I’m currently a rising senior at high-performing public school in a fairly well-to-do town in New Jersey here in the US. I want to major in internal relations, economics, or both. I’m not sure whether or not it matters, but I am Hispanic and will likely be applying for financial aid as I qualify (however, I think my parents, grandparents and myself have all saved enough money for me not to be in too much trouble if I can’t get it, and I think I can get a scholarship because of my Tourette’s, so if it hurts my chances I think I’d be able to get by without it).

I currently have a 3.148 U.S. GPA, which likely won’t change due to school policy. I haven’t taken any SATs or ACTs yet, so I don’t know my score, but I suspect I will do quite well (by the way, which test does McGill prefer in an application?).
The real kick-in-the-guts for me, however, is that I have heard that McGill doesn’t ask for anything apart from GPA, test scores, and maybe a transcript (please correct me if I am wrong). This is especially bad for me due to my unimpressive
GPA, and because my essay is supposed to be my redeeming quality.

I spent my entire junior year of high school studying abroad in New Zealand, and while this certainly helps when applying for a college that accepts essays, this knowledge has, to my knowledge, no way of reaching the McGill application revision board.

To sum up, what exactly can I do - given the information above - to help me get into McGill? It’s the only school I can envision myself enrolling in. Do I have a chance? What can I do to improve my chances? Thanks in advance.
TL;DR: Poor GPA, haven’t taken SATs yet, rising senior in America, really wants to go to McGill. Spent a year studying abroad in New Zealand but no idea how to make McGill aware. Can I get in, how can I get in, and what can I do to increase my chances of getting in?

GPA: 3.148 | SAT/ACT: Haven’t taken, but will likely do well. | Major: International relations, economics or both. | Studied abroad, Hispanic, has (mild) Tourette’s and ADHD.

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First issue is: How much of your so-so GPA was from freshman year of high school? McGill won’t care at all about your freshman year. They will recalculate your GPA based on sophomore year on.

SAT will matter. However, 3.14 is probably going to be too low for McGill. It might give you a decent chance at Concordia, which is the other English language university in Montreal, and which is just down the street from McGill. Concordia has two campuses (it was formed from the merger of two universities), one of which is actually closer to McGill than it is to the other Concordia campus. Concordia and McGill have some form of cooperative agreement so it is possible for Concordia students to take some classes at McGill (subject to some restrictions).

One thing that you could check on, but which is only worth considering if you are really set on McGill: I am not sure whether they care about “sophomore year and after that”, however, I think that McGill actually cares about “your most recent two full years of high school plus current year and anything after that”. As such, if you were to graduate high school and take a gap year, I think that they might only care about your last two years of high school. You would still need a lot better than a 3.14 however, and you would need to double check on this.

There are also of course a LOT of other good universities in Canada. However, McGill and Concordia are the only two English-language universities in Montreal.

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Yes, Canadian schools, for the most part, only look at GPA and SAT/ACT scores (for US students). Some programs, such as engineering and business, will have an essay component. Some programs will have a video essay. But, the GPA and standardized test scores are the initial cutoff. If you don’t meet the initial cutoff, your application will be rejected.

The GPA and standardized test requirements at McGill for US students are here - https://www.mcgill.ca/applying/requirements/minima/usa#grades The vast majority of programs at McGill, including Arts and Science, which houses international relations and economics, require at least a B+ average in each of grades 10, 11 and 12, in addition to minimum of an A- in every English class and minimum SAT/ACT scores.

Your GPA equates to a B-/B average.

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Is the 3.148 weighted or unweighted? The McGill minima are for unweighted.