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Rank: Student Council
Groups: Member
Joined: 3/4/2008
Posts: 342
Location: ON
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Hahha I have two huge ISUs due soon that I've not yet started.
Screwwwwed.
By 6 i meant 6 weeks.
I got my calc exam at the end of this month (night school)
And my regular exams are june 17-19. Gonna be a breeeeze.
This forum is also kind of addictive
McGill Arts and Science 2012!!
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Rank: Senior Student
Groups: Member
Joined: 3/7/2008
Posts: 200
Location: Toronto
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I know. I refresh it constantly.
Oooh, that sucks. Do you go to school in Sauga? My friend also has school until mmidway of the first week of exams for me, or something.
I hate how there are some conflicting comments on the website. Plus, when people say the prof is boring, you can't really know if they're bringing up a valid point, or if it's just that they have the attention span of a cueball.
McGill Arts '12
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Rank: Student Council
Groups: Member
Joined: 3/4/2008
Posts: 342
Location: ON
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Yep. sauga.
Go with the general consensus. But if there's conflicting comments then you know that it's pretty much one of those subjective teachers that half the people hate/love.
McGill Arts and Science 2012!!
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Rank: Senior Student
Groups: Member
Joined: 3/7/2008
Posts: 200
Location: Toronto
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Yeah, but it's pretty hard to know where I'd fit in with the subjective teachers. I know that on the rate my high school teachers or whatever website, there were teachers who were hated, but who I either felt indifference towards or didn't mind them. There are basically no teachers where I was like "wow, that there's someone who knows how to relay information" at my school.
plus one of the teachers has participation as 15% of the mark in a 300+ class. crazzy.
McGill Arts '12
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Rank: Frosh
Groups: Member
Joined: 5/11/2008
Posts: 5
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Hello,
I am a grade 12 student with acceptance into McGill and U of T. I find that while McGill was the university I had been aspiring to attend, University of Toronto seems most logical due to close location, family surroundings, and no need to take on as much responsibility. I would like to hear your opinions on University of Toronto vs. McGill University. Both are internationally-renowned, yet I feel I should base my decision on much more than just reputation.
I have been considering McGill residences heavily. In fact, I have read articles which highlighted less glorious parts of McGill Residence. For example, Solin Hall, New Residence, and either M.O.R.E or Molson have a couple of rooms which are infested with bedbugs. Search it on google, "Solin Hall Bedbugs", and you'll get the full details. I loved Solin until I heard this news. Furthemore, I liked Greenbriar, but in a footage which I had seen on YouTube, there were a lot of cracks in the floor tiles. I would prefer solitude over a party life, so that is also a concern for me. New Residence seems very nice, but once again, I do not know whether this is exaggeration, but if there will be parties at least once every week, then for me it would be intolerable.
What do you think of parties at McGill and the condition of Residences? Also, of the two, McGill vs. U of T, help me out here, because I have stressed myself out so much concerning this matter. My mother wants me to stay, but my father encourages me to go to McGill. Is there a difference in academic difficulty?
Thanks.
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Rank: Student Council
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Joined: 3/4/2008
Posts: 342
Location: ON
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Hey Roojin, I know this won't help much, but: it's really dependent on what YOU want. Would you rather have the comforts of home and family or would you rather gain some independence and experience things you never would have if you were to stay home? There isn't much of a difference between the two aside from their locations and the social scenes. Both are in the middle of downtown, full of culture and events. Both are academically rigorous (from what I hear anyway. Mere high schooler here). U of T might actually be stronger in academics and a bit harder/more competitive; but McGill is excellent as well. Would you stay at U of T's residene or commute from home? McGill's rez is definitely not the best out there, with the exception of New Rez, maybe.. (I wasn't aware the bed bugs were there as well though, wow.) but I'm up for living in the crampy rez rooms just to experience it. Yes it will be nothing like the comforts of home, but when else am I going to have an opportunity to live with 200 other crazy students my age in one buildling? I'm not sure if that is appealing to you but I'm totally in. About Solin, I had a friend who stayed there last year and he enjoyed it despite the commute and bedbug scare. Since the bed bug problem was such a big deal in the media and had so much public attention, I'm sure they will take care of the problem and it won't be a problem for you. You might want to consider off-campus housing as well if you are not so keen on the residences though: http://www.mcgill.ca/offcampus/ I checked it out as well as some Montreal real estate and Montreal is so much more affordable than TO. (log in with your McGill id + pin) Most McGill students don't stay in rez after first year anyway. What program would you be going into? They are both really competitive schools. If you are not up for the constant partying (yes there will be frequent parties), by no means are you required to attend them - and if noise is a concern, you could probably request a quiet floor or something. I personally did not apply to U of T - not because it's a bad school; but I knew I wouldn't attend provided I got in elsewhere. The main things were their size (too big), location (too close), and the impression I got of the students' balance between social life and academic rigour. U of T seemed more like a place where students went for pure academics. Many commute and their sole reason for coming is to learn and study. There wasn't much offered for student life - everyone did their own thing; and I wanted at least a bit of sense of community. From what you've written, honestly, U of T seems to be the better fit for you - you will be academically challenged like nowhere else, and there isn't as much hardcore partying as McGill. But by no means does that mean you won't find what you're looking for at McGill. People there will always be keen on doing well and opt for hard core studying instead of binge drinking. Likewise there will be U of T students who will be partying it up 24/7 too. Take all this with a grain of salt. I've not experienced all this directly either. But you really can't go wrong with either schools. It's just a matter of whether or not you are willing to live far from home. But if McGill has been your dream school, you should go. They are both on par with eachother and it's now completely up to you. Logically it makes more sense for me to go to Queen's University too; not McGill. But I'm taking a chance and going to McGill. Sort of just because I've always wanted to. And even though I don't know whether or not I will be happy with my choice.. I will always have an option to transfer to another school if things don't work out (though I'm sure it will)  It's not like what you choose now will be engraved in stone for life. In the meantime, G'luck on your decision.
McGill Arts and Science 2012!!
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Rank: Senior Student
Groups: Member
Joined: 3/7/2008
Posts: 200
Location: Toronto
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Wow, tmhlee. Very nice response.
Yeah, Roojin, everything she's said is true. I think that no matter where you go, if you'll find like-minded people, you will get what you want. Yes, there are people who go to McGill solely to party, there are people who go to McGill to be challenged academically but also to be able to let their hair down and experience the fun side of university, and there are people who to go to McGill purely to study. Since you appear to be the person who wants to maximize learning and minimize partying, you should consider rez where you will be able to do that. For example, I think MORE housing and Solin and Greenbriar are catered more toward people who are independent and aren't necessarily looking to get drunk every other day.
With that said, about the the bedbug problem - like tmhlee said, they will probably look to fix that by next year. But the whole point of university (at least on the first-year residence side) is to live in a cramped environment, in fairly sketchy buildings, and amongst your peers. All the while paying way too much to do it. I realize that it's not for everyone, and people have different monetary resources or dietary needs or a mountain of other reasons. I know for me personally, financially Upper Rez is not the smartest move, but I'm willing to pay more to experience the social, small community (although I guess it's not that small when it's 100+ people) aspect.
The only piece of advice I'd be able to give you is, don't base your decision on your "social perception" of the school. If you want to go to McGill, go to McGill. It's not like people will be forcing you to party. But it does limit what residences you can apply to. I mean, nowhere does it say you can't apply to Gardner if you like solitude, but your floormates will probably be confused why you don't want to party and you'll be annoyed by them staying up until the wee hours of the morning. University is more "independent" no matter what way you look at it. It's up to you to make friends with similar goals as you, and then it's smooth sailing.
McGill Arts '12
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Rank: Senior Student
Groups: Member
Joined: 3/7/2008
Posts: 200
Location: Toronto
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So today my majah and I went for a lengthy power walk, and talked about McGill. I basically squealed "Oh my god! I'm so excited! Ahahaahaaaaaaaa!!!" about a billion times. I told her about the Foreign Service thing (because I usually find something out, start planning something in my head and then tell my mom like a year later, and then get pissed when she starts asking questions about logistics). She thinks it's a pretty good idea, since the education part would be way less expensive than if I were to go to law school, and then end up doing public law because I don't want to do corporate law. Ughhh, though. I can't decide which language to take. Not to mention, my freaking schedule isn't working out too good. 
McGill Arts '12
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Rank: Frosh
Groups: Member
Joined: 3/6/2008
Posts: 18
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there's too many residences to choose from i'm so confused  adding on to the fact that i prolly will not be able to visit mcgill until move in day lol o wells
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Rank: Senior Student
Groups: Member
Joined: 4/28/2008
Posts: 64
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I KNOW! Freakin residence is taking me forever to decide! I am really confused! Double vs. Single., Apartment vs. Dorm, Meal P. vs. No Meal P., Party Life vs. Less Party Life, Walking up a Hill vs. Not LOL!
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Rank: Student Council
Groups: Member
Joined: 3/4/2008
Posts: 342
Location: ON
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take a breath guys
McGill Arts and Science 2012!!
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Rank: Senior Student
Groups: Member
Joined: 5/5/2008
Posts: 84
Location: Edmonton
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tmhlee wrote:Wow, Charles Roth, mcgillguy's math prof has amazing rating for Math 133.
I'm so easily persuaded. Now I will probably take that course. I wonder if he still teaches that course, though.
McGill Engineering 2010
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Rank: Student Council
Groups: Member
Joined: 3/4/2008
Posts: 342
Location: ON
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No? Well hopefully I will be in one of his classes..
I'm not sure about McGill again. It's getting pretty annoying that I can't make up my mind. Coin toss coming soon. Bahhh.
McGill Arts and Science 2012!!
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Rank: Frosh
Groups: Member
Joined: 3/6/2008
Posts: 18
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wait ppl are already looking at ratemyprof?
have you guys figured out your courses yet?
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Rank: Senior Student
Groups: Member
Joined: 3/7/2008
Posts: 200
Location: Toronto
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Well, not per say. I just have a rough list of courses I'm considering taking. If you go on that Fall 08 Course Schedule, you can browse through all the courses available (in science or arts, depending what you're going into). You can then see which prof is teaching what, and you can look them up on ratemyprof and see what students say about them.
McGill Arts '12
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Rank: Frosh
Groups: Member
Joined: 3/5/2008
Posts: 42
Location: Montreal, Quebec
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The part about UofT being more academically(???lol) inclined is somewhat true. At UofT ALOT of people just go there for classes, leave and thats their sole purpose. At mcgill that population of students exists, students from montreal, but its significantly smaller. In first year, definately, your going to be surrounded by people who are just as lost and lonely as you are and you'll find that sense of community quite easily, whether it be in your rez, the library, the cafeteria, or class.
In terms of academic rigour, I personally like many of the people from my school, chose not to go to UofT because of the repuation for "work work work and your GPA still gets owned" type of thing. I dont work nearly as hard as I did in highschool and I'm still doing fairly well. i.e. if you divide my GPA by 4 Id have a higher avg than i had in highschool lol, but thats not exactly how it works unfortunately. I'm confident that if you put the same effort as you did in highschool, assuming you did in fact work hard, a 4.0 for first year is quite attainable. Although after first year things may get a little messy with specializations and weeding courses, but if your doing something you like you should be fine.
Oh and about rate my professor, for first year enough people take the course and review the profs for you to get a good idea of how the profs actually are. If there's 15 great reviews and 1 bad, obviously the one bad review is from someone who managed to fail the course. If theres 250 horrible reviews and 6 good reviews, the six good reviews are from the people who ended up getting the better end of the curve after a really nasty final. The latter does happen in first year FOR SURE if you take calculus, lookup Wiliam Brown.
Mcgill Engineering 2011
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Rank: Frosh
Groups: Member
Joined: 5/11/2008
Posts: 5
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Hey,
Thank you very much for your indepth responses. This really did remove some of the scare I had when considering McGill. One of U of T's aspects which repulsed me was the high competition. Also, if I were to stay in Toronto, I would commute to U of T from Aurora, so it would be approximately a one hour commute. I would be a member of University College, but I saw U of T's residence, and it was far worse than McGill's, and if I were to stay, I would rather reduce the cost, and buy a car with the money instead.
McGill had been my dream school since I saw it during the summer of grade 11. I loved the people, Montreal, their strong political ideas, and the history of McGill, not to mention the reputation. I saw it once more a few weeks ago; the school was definitely more busy, but I also got the impression that people in Montreal were somewhat rude. I do not know if it was just my luck. In any case, I am still sure Montreal is a great city, full of opportunities to discover and since I am in French immersion, it would permit me to perfect my French. Also McGill is very diverse, full of international students, which brings new views at the classroom level. As was mentioned by tmhlee and heythereb, there will always be the party students and the academic students. I suppose its true that in either place, I will see both ends of the spectrum. McGill has been my dream. U of T always occupied second place to McGill. Also, Greenbriar seems to suit me just fine, I saw the you-tube video, and its very nice. Thanks very much for not letting me assume McGill is all party. I think I will proceed to go to McGill. By the way, I would most likely attend faculty of science, and I intend to specialize in a biological science.
Thanks Juiced8 for letting me know of the McGill academics. That is a very key fact that I need to know. I know how hard it is at U of T and despite the efforts, A's simply aren't given away without five or six all-nighters. While I value hardwork, I also value good health. It seems McGill is most likely to offer that peace of mind and body.
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Rank: Student Council
Groups: Member
Joined: 3/4/2008
Posts: 342
Location: ON
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Juiced, are you serious? lol. attainable 4.0? I think I am so down.
Roojin congrats .I think I am leaning towards McGill again. It feels like a duty to go there to fulfill my childhood dreams or something. haha
And if you do end up going, I really suggest you keep an open mind to take advantage of the culture and social life that will be available to you there, lol, not just studystudystudy. And since you are in french immersion, yeah, montreal for sure would be an advantage for you. I want to get fluenter in french as well.
I hope I come to a decision tonight...
McGill Arts and Science 2012!!
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Rank: Senior Student
Groups: Member
Joined: 4/3/2008
Posts: 79
Location: Canada
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Juiced8 wrote: I dont work nearly as hard as I did in highschool and I'm still doing fairly well. Is this true? Is engineering really not as horrendous as its made out to be?
Mothers prefer doctors and lawyers... University of Toronto Engineering Science 1T2
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Rank: Senior Student
Groups: Member
Joined: 3/7/2008
Posts: 200
Location: Toronto
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Roojin - about Montreal people being rude - I say don't base the behaviour of the whole city based on whatever bad apples you managed to talk to. I've heard that the metro ticketers are really rude if you don't speak french, but I've never experienced that. Even when we asked people who didn't speak english for direction they didn't shrug us off or ignore us, they tried to convey where to go through hand gestures or a few key english words. The only rudeness we experienced was from this waiter at an Italian place. And it was more of a cold-shoulder for not speaking french than outright hostility.
And please don't base your decision on whether or not McGill is a party school. You'll find parties wherever you go, and likewise, you'll find quiet studious people wherever you go. And like tmhlee said, these are supposed to be the 4 best years of our lives (we're finally out on our own, maturing -although some more than others) so don't believe the hype that you either have to study 24/7 or party 24/7. You can definitely have both, and when you find the right balance, it'll be great.
McGill Arts '12
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