<p>Yes, but the atmosphere is very french "like."</p>
<p>McGill is not on par with Toronto, in terms of Engineering. Toronto is the second best engineering school in Canada, next to Waterloo. McGill is at best 5th (third and fourth spots go to UAlberta and UBC respectively).</p>
<p>I'd go to GT. It has a larger, better co-op program while providing a top-notch education (and, it has an extremely high job placement rate, reaching 100% in some departments).</p>
<p>^also, a lot of top engineering firms recruit from there, Atlanta is a vibrant city, many job opportunities, "networking" opportunities, etc... I can go on.</p>
<p>Canadian universities aren't quite like American universities. There isn't an MIT, Cal, Caltech or Stanford in Canada. Very little separates the top 10 programs of Engineering. So even if Toronto were #2 and McGill #5 as you claim, that's not saying much. But according to most rankings I have seen, the top 3 Engineering programs in Canada are McGill, Toronton and Waterloo, in no particular order.</p>
<p>And what's wrong with a French atmosphere? Montreal is a gorgeous and fun city.</p>
<p>Runningincircles, my only problem with GT is that the atmosphere is not the funnest and the OP is Turkish. From my visits to Atlanta, I have seen an increasingly unfriendly attitude toward Middle Easterners since 9/11. From an academic and job placement point of view, GT is amazing indeed...but there are other things to consider.</p>
<p>Whose to say that the poster wouldn't run into those same narrow-minded attitudes at UIUC or any of the other american schools? I doubt it is just GT.</p>
<p>If post 9/11 american attitudes will be a concern, then your best bet may very well be McGill.</p>
<p>In GT's defense though, I found the people there to be very friendly. Like any other college I've attended.</p>
<p>GT students, faculty and administration aren't the problem. In fact, like any top university, GT is very accepting, tolerant and welcoming. The problem is the area surrounding GT. You would have some problems at Purdue and UIUC too in that regard, but not as bad as in Georgia. I agree that Toronto and McGill are a better option from a social and cultural point of view.</p>
<p>Ahhhh... I get what you are saying.</p>
<p>The other problem with GT is that once you step out of the university you are in the ghetto. It is a bit unnerving to get harrassed by bums the minute you step out of campus. It feels a little unsafe particularly near the freshman experience halls on the East Side. </p>
<p>Georgia Tech is a great university but I could agree with the assessment that Montreal is better than Atlanta.</p>
<p>"But according to most rankings I have seen, the top 3 Engineering programs in Canada are McGill, Toronton and Waterloo, in no particular order."</p>
<p>Hmmm... I've never seen McGill ranked in the top 5; however, the 5th spot seems to vary from ranking to ranking. Waterloo is always ranked first, Toronto and Alberta are always ranked 2nd and 3rd, and UBC is always ranked 4th. This is why I said that McGill is at best, ranked 5th.</p>
<p>I realize that there isn't a large discepancy in quality of school, but Toronto is still ranked higher. Plus I'm biased against Quebec.</p>
<p>Russell, yours is definitely a personal problem! LOL Seriously, most rankings I have seen place McGill among the top 3 Engineering schools in Canada. The Gourman Report (which is admittedly not very accurate and a little outdated) does as "Graduateshotline", which is a pretty reliable ranking of top US and Canadian universities.</p>
<p>At any rate, no matter what rankings you chose to believe, Toronto is not "much better" than McGill in Engineering. It may be a little better, but not by a significant margin.</p>
<p>If you have other rankings, feel free to share them.</p>
<p>Those Canadian rankings are not in any particular order. They just listed the top engineering schools in Canada -in no particular order-. I dont' see numbering on the sides; and you should realise that the mere fact that SIMON FRASER is fourth on the list, that they are not ordered on that list. Let me find the rankings, and I will share them. However, most of the "rankings" that I speak of, comes from friends from around the world (one actually from Dubai), and from employers.</p>
<p>What are you talking about Alexandre? I live here and that isn't prevelant at all. In fact, I'd be as bold to say that ATL is more tolerant than NYC or LA.</p>
<p>Ah, yes, the little downtown Atlanta area surrounding the campus is ghetto... that's why you must get in your car and drive FAST! Once you reach upper part of midtown, it's fine. Not so ghetto.</p>
<p>I am sorry runningincircles, but I must disagree with you on that one. I have several friends who live in Atlanta, NYC and LA and I have been to those three cities dozens of times. In terms of attitudes toward Middle Easterners, Atlanta is significantly worse than NYC and LA. Don't get me wrong, I would personally rather live in Atlanta than in LA...and possibly even NYC. Seeger's is one of my very favorite restaurants in the World, and that's coming from a foodie. And what'ds the name of that famous burger joint? And the city itself has many nice areas and fun things to do. But that doesn't mean it is a pleasant environment for a Middle Easterner. The general population in Georgia isn't very fond (to put it mildly) of Arabs and muslims.</p>
<p>Anyway, IDC what anyone says... I still recommend GT to the OP. Job opportunities, co-op, top-notch education, and IMO a safe, tolerant, and diverse environment (if you step into the ghetto, perhaps not as safe... but, those criminals are equal opportunity robbers, so I wouldn't worry much about racism even in the surrounding area).</p>
<p>The Varsity is what you are thinking of, I believe.</p>
<p>How often do you come here? Which parts?</p>
<p>Ahhh... good ol' times. I remember the Varsity or "The V" as they say in Tech lingo.. Greasy food that made your arteries harden the second you put the greasy dripping fry into your mouth.. Good times indeed.</p>
<p>My friends live primarily in the Marietta area, but we usually hang out in the downtown area. I go to Atlanta at least twice a year...less these days because I no longer live in the US.</p>
<p>I found these on the web! Some of them are soo true.</p>
<p>For those of you that have never been to Atlanta, here are some things you'll need to know:</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Atlanta is composed mostly of one way streets. The only way to get out of downtown Atlanta is to turn around and start over when you reach Greenville, South Carolina.</p></li>
<li><p>All directions start with, "Go down Peachtree..." and include the phrase, "When you see the Waffle House. . ." Except that in Cobb County, all directions begin with, "Go to the Big Chicken."</p></li>
<li><p>Peachtree Street has no beginning and no end and is not to be confused with Peachtree Circle, Peachtree Place, Peachtree Lane, Peachtree Road, Peachtree Parkway, Peachtree Run, Peachtree Trace, Peachtree Ave, Peachtree Commons, Peachtree Battle, Peachtree Corners, New Peachtree, Old Peachtree, or Peachtree Industrial Boulevard.</p></li>
<li><p>Atlantans only know their way to work and their way home. If you ask anyone for directions they will always send you down Peachtree.</p></li>
<li><p>Atlantans do not believe in turn signals. You will never see a native signal at a stoplight, to change lanes, or to merge. Never! They are a sign of weakness!</p></li>
<li><p>Atlanta is home of Coca-Cola. That's all we drink here, so don't ask for any other soft drink... unless it's made by Coca Cola. And even then, it's still "Coke."</p></li>
<li><p>Gate One at Atlanta's Hartsfield International Airport is 32 miles away from the Main Concourse so wear sneakers and pack a lunch.</p></li>
<li><p>It's impossible to go around a block and wind up on the street you started on. The Chamber of Commerce calls it a "scenic drive" and has posted signs to that effect, so that out-of-towners don't feel lost... they're just on a "scenic drive."</p></li>
<li><p>The 8 a.m. rush hour is from 4:30 to 10:30 a.m. The 5:00 p.m. rush hour is from 3:00 to 8:00 p.m. Friday's rush hour starts Thursday afternoon and lasts through 2:00 a.m. Sunday.</p></li>
<li><p>"Sir" and "Ma'am" are used by the person speaking to you if there's a remote possibility that you're at least 30 minutes older than they are.</p></li>
<li><p>Ponce de Leon Avenue can be pronounced only by a native, so do not attempt the Spanish pronunciation. People will simply tilt their heads to the right and stare at you. (The Atlanta pronunciation is "pahnss duh LEE-on")</p></li>
<li><p>The falling of one raindrop causes all drivers to immediately forget all traffic rules; so will daylight savings time, a girl applying eye shadow in the next car, or a flat tire three lanes over.</p></li>
<li><p>If a single snowflake falls, the city is paralyzed for three days and it's on all the channels as a news flash every 15 minutes for a month. All the grocery stores will be sold out of milk, bread, bottled water, toilet paper, and beer. If there is a remote chance of snow, and if it does snow, people will be on the corner selling "I survived the blizzard" T-shirts...not to mention the fact that schools will close at the slightest possible chance of snow.</p></li>
<li><p>If you're standing on a corner and a MARTA Bus stops, you're expected to get on and go somewhere.</p></li>
<li><p>Construction on Peachtree Street is a way of life, and a permanent form of entertainment, especially when a water line is tapped and Atlanta's version of Old Faithful erupts.</p></li>
<li><p>Construction crews aren't doing their job properly unless they close down at least one interstate all rush hour.</p></li>
<li><p>Atlantans are very proud of our racetrack, known as Road Atlanta. Actually, it is I-285, the loop that encircles Atlanta and has a posted speed limit of 55 mph (but you have to maintain 80 mph just to keep from getting run over).</p></li>
<li><p>Georgia 400 is our equivalent of the Autobahn. You will rarely see a semi-truck on GA 400, because even the truck drivers are intimidated by the oversized SUV-wielding housewives racing home after a grueling day at the salon or the tennis match to meet their children at the school bus coming home from the college prep preschool.</p></li>
<li><p>The last thing you want to do is give another driver the finger, unless your car is armored, your trigger finger is itchy and your AK-47 has a full clip.</p></li>
<li><p>The pollen count is off the national scale for unhealthy which starts at 120. Atlanta is usually in the 2,000 to 4,000 range. All roads, vehicles, houses, etc..., are yellow from March 28th to July 15th. If you have any allergies you will die.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>Oh, Marietta/Cobb County? That's where I live! We must have been in two different parts or something, haha.</p>