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But the point is, if McGill doesn't give financial aid to internationals, that is a major factor that will deter Americans (or any other foreigners) from attending.
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<p>Only at the undergraduate level. They do give financial aid at the graduate level.</p>
<p>bluebayou: The $12K a year is tuition only. Your numbers ($28K) are all expenses included (food, transportation, lodging, etc) and still a bit high an estimate (but given recent changes in the exchange rate I'll give you the benefits of the doubt).</p>
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So the real question is why aren't more US students applying to top Canadian universities? Maybe they are waiting for the Canadian dollar to drop again.
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<p>One could ask the same question of why aren't more of the best American students applying to Ox-bridge or to the Sorbonne? I am convinced it's because of the two factors I mentioned - they want to avoid later problems with obtaining work visas, and they can only get limited financial aid by going to a foreign university. Most companies recruiting at European universities are (obviously) going to be for jobs in Europe, which is a problem if you're an American and thus don't have the legal right to work in Europe. I also believe that most foreign universities do not provide significant aid to Americans.</p>
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"2) McGill costs about the equivalent of $12,000 a year for American students (and only about $2,000 for Quebecians). It costs about 3 to 4 times that amount to get the same quality of education at an American college."</p>
<p>Yeah, but that's sticker price. That's not the true cost for most people. Most Americans are either on some sort of financial aid, or they're so rich that they don't care. I don't pretend to know how the Canadian financial aid system works, but I seem to recall that McGill provides no aid to internationals.
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Many students at my private HS choose McGill precisely for that reason... their income disqualifies them from financial aid in the US, which makes Canada the cheaper option.</p>
<p>It wouldn't be right for me (I thrive on small classes and personal interaction, and want a school with a cohesive campus), but I definitely see how it would be an attractive option.</p>
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HUH? "McGill costs about the equivalent of $12,000 a year for American students...uhh, no.</p>
<p>Unless our friends up north want to give asylum to their southern friends, McGill;s cost of attendance is up to CN$32k for internationals. At today's exchange rate, that is USD$28k.</p>
<p>At that price, every state public college is a better financial deal -- classes are large everywhere. Berkeley and UCLA are less than $25k in-state.
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<p>That person was obviously talking about the tuition fee...</p>
<p>International tuition fees $12,000-$15,000</p>
<p>Of course if you add in lodging and living fees it gets higher</p>
<p>I understood the point when it was made...but, to the OP's question, why doesn't EVERYONE apply to McGill....my response is that the total cost of attendance is more expensive than every state flagship U, some of which are considered more prestigious than McGill (Berkeley, UMich, UVa, UNC).</p>
<p>1) The OP says McGill is widely recognized as the best university in Canada. Thats not the case. McGill has a better rep in the states than it does in Canada. Thats not to confuse reputation with name recognition. Im saying, for those Americans who have heard of McGill, they think its on par with Ivys which is a joke. McGill's rep in the states is highly inflated. Most Canadians feel UofT and Queens are the top schools with McGill close behind. UBC and Western are also highly rated.</p>
<p>2) Montreal is cold, end of story. Toronto is like Barbados compared to mtl. </p>
<p>3) Someone said something about IBanks recruiting at McGill. Yeah well IBanks recruit at McGill probably at the same rate as your average state school. Its biz and econ programs arent the best in the country. Schulich, Queen's Commerce, Ivey, UofT Commerce, UBC Sauder, Laurier BBA are usually ranked higher by emplyers (especially the first 3). </p>
<p>4) Bottom Line: If you want to experience something new and have a unique but not terribly unique (compared to college in France or China) college experience then come to McGill. Dont pick McGill because you feel it is on par with the Ivys etc because your are going to be disappointed. McGill is a good school and all Canadian schools provide top notch academics but dont be fooled into thinking that American employers are dieing to hire McGill grads because Im going to name some US state schools that you should look at before McGill if cost is an issue. If you are looking for regional jobs, these schools blow McGill and many other schools out of the water: UT-Austin, Cal, UCSD, UCLA, UNC, Michigan, UIUC, Wisconsin, UVA, Indiania (for business), OSU (for business), UF, Washington, Minnesota, Penn State, Maryland, Arizona.</p>
<p>If you plan getting a job based on the name of your school you have no business going to any university. Yeah, a name can help, but it's what you make of the education you got that counts. Pick a school for (perceived) quality of education, price, proximity, diversity of the student body, co-op programs that give you work experience, whatever, but don't go just because company A hires people from there.</p>