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Rank: Valedictorian
Groups: Member
Joined: 3/4/2008
Posts: 607
Location: Mississauga, ON
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Okay so I've been pretty set on McGill for the longest time now (ie. since gr 9 or 10, when I realized how easy it was to get into an ivy league school. Probably just because I read/heard someone say that McG was the best ranked school in Canada, and started looking into it.) This was before I knew anything about anything though... ie. that McGill wasn't actually the best school in the country. Nonetheless I don't think it's a bad school, but I don't want to make my university decision based on some wandering thought I had 4 years ago. For some reason, as much as I probably will enjoy myself at McGill, I can't help but think that it's not the best option for me. (Logically anyway.) And I can't get myself to accept my offer and finalize my decision. What if I end up regretting it? Isn't going to Queen's like.. guarateed fun? I keep getting persuaded to go somewhere by someone but I end up coming back to square one and start considering another option. Am I just getting cold feet? I can't figure out if I'm not set on a decision because I know I am not truly happy with it or I'm just being difficult/indecisive. Can anyone help me set my mind straight? Lol. Please, please?
Options:
McGill Arts & Science (Int'l development studies/biomedical science)
McGill Science
Queen's Life Science (with Global Development Studies)
Western Biomedical Science (Scholar's Elective reject. lol.)
McMaster Life Science (BHSc alternate offer. lol.)- I'm not really considering UWO or Mac... Brother goes to western; mac too close. (I swear I'm not bitter.) So it's really the other two schools I'm concerning myself with. Anyway what's making it hard for me; I'm not sure if any of the below are misconceptions? but...: McGill- pros: Montreal, French (I want to get fluent), Int'l reputation cons: Underfunded, general downhill trend?, lack of school spirit, half the student population commutes, expensive Queen's- pros: strong sense of community, general uphill trend, future student centre, know a handful of people going here already, high student satisfaction rate, getting more $ here. cons: Small university town, current construction...'til 2014 for phase 3 of student centre?, lack of things to do?, no french I did visit both schools on a couple of occasions. Loved Queen's campus; McGill's was okay. Loved montreal, Kingston kinda sucked.. Wow, i wrote a novel. Suggestions? Opinions? Should I flip a coin? Where would you go?
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Rank: Senior Student
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Joined: 3/18/2008
Posts: 121
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Do NOT flip a coin. Continue to think it through. Remember, this is your future we're talking about. I can't tell you much, but if you still want a shot an an ivy league school, go to McGill. McGill and U of T are internationally recognized as great universities.
University of Toronto Engineering 12'
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Rank: Valedictorian
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Joined: 3/4/2008
Posts: 607
Location: Mississauga, ON
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noo i couldn't care less about ivy leagues. I didn't even take SATs. I just want to balance some good academics with some fun.
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Rank: Senior Student
Groups: Member
Joined: 3/18/2008
Posts: 121
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tmhlee wrote:noo i couldn't care less about ivy leagues. I didn't even take SATs.
I just want to balance some good academics with some fun. Then I would go wherever you feel more comfortable. I'm not 100% but I think Queen's and McGill are both equally good for sciences.
University of Toronto Engineering 12'
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Rank: Valedictorian
Groups: Member
Joined: 3/4/2008
Posts: 607
Location: Mississauga, ON
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Thanks.. Yeah I think they are both great schools, both offering a lot of potential.. I can't figure out which one I feel more comfortable in though. Slight retardation here... What factors in more to feeling comfortable? Liking the campus or the location of the school?
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Rank: Senior Student
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Joined: 4/28/2008
Posts: 195
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go for the one with the most scholarships  i think mcgill will be more fun tho... it's quebec yo. but queens has a smaller class size. (but kingston.......) happy deciding
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Rank: Valedictorian
Groups: Member
Joined: 3/4/2008
Posts: 607
Location: Mississauga, ON
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newmarket.sucks.yo wrote:go for the one with the most scholarships i think mcgill will be more fun tho... it's quebec yo. but queens has a smaller class size. (but kingston.......) happy deciding so Queen's for money, McGill for fun? I got a small outside scholarship I could use at either schools... but Queen's is giving roughly $5000 more in bursaries + scholarships...and I'm not sure how much of a difference that is in the long run.
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Rank: Senior Student
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Joined: 4/28/2008
Posts: 195
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tmhlee wrote:newmarket.sucks.yo wrote:go for the one with the most scholarships i think mcgill will be more fun tho... it's quebec yo. but queens has a smaller class size. (but kingston.......) happy deciding so Queen's for money, McGill for fun? I got a small outside scholarship I could use at either schools... but Queen's is giving roughly $5000 more in bursaries + scholarships...and I'm not sure how much of a difference that is in the long run. come on buddio, u don't go to queens just because i said "hey you, go to queens." see what i mean? personally i am in love with mcgill. yet their business program sucks so i am kinda :S in addition, u gotta know that either going to queens or mcgill... you can't go wrong either way. but mcgill has a slight advantage. it is the 12th top university in the world. u said u dun care about ivy league stuff. but u never know. it might help you a great deal in the future.
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Rank: Valedictorian
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Joined: 3/4/2008
Posts: 607
Location: Mississauga, ON
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I know I can't go absolutely wrong with either... which is why seriously at this rate, I might do a tally of what people said to go to and then make that the deciding factor.  And isn't THES ranking useless? I mean.. it put McGill>Stanford in that ranking. That's not right.. lol
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Rank: Frosh
Groups: Member
Joined: 4/2/2008
Posts: 35
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DO NOT go to a university because they're giving you 5 Grand more in Scholarships/Bursaries.
If one is granting you a National Scholarship, then fine - that's a little different. But 5K? That's not a huge sum of money. If you're living away from home you'll spend about 80 or so Grand over four years. That makes 5 K about 6 percent of the total. That really isn't much guys, although it seems that way to us, being a group of 17 and 18 year olds whose eyes light up at the thought of a few thousand big ones.
Over the course of a career, this is not substantial. So, pick the university that's 'right' for you. I know you've heard it all before, but it's the truth. The education you'll receive, the contacts you'll make, the fun you'll have is worth a whole lot more than 5 grand.
So I'm not telling you to go to Mcgill, or on the other hand to completely disregard the fact that Queen's is offering you more. I'm just saying, let it be only a small piece in the enormous puzzle.
And to explain to you how strongly I feel about this... I won a 33 thousand dollar scholarship and I'm still COMPLETELY undecided when it comes to what university I want to attend. Western or Queen's?
Only 16 days to decide!!!
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Rank: Valedictorian
Groups: Member
Joined: 3/4/2008
Posts: 607
Location: Mississauga, ON
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Thanks and yeah, I do agree - and I'm trying not to make money a huge factor in my decision. After all they're both giving me something even if it's a small sum. And I'll have around the same student debt afterwards anyway. But I can't figure out how to determine which school is the 'right' fit. I like both and I haven't spent enough time at either schools to really know which one I'd like better. 16 days! joy!  PS: congrats on the scholarship. I'm guessing you are picking between Ivey/QC. Good luck, lol.
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Rank: Senior Student
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Joined: 4/28/2008
Posts: 195
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mcgill> stanford.
wait.
WHAT? McGill > Stanford???????
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Rank: Frosh
Groups: Member
Joined: 5/12/2008
Posts: 23
Location: Kingston
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I've lived in Kingston for 7 years, it's not a terrible town. Very small, but if you're into the quiet side of life it's a very nice place to live. Plus the traffic here is GREAT. If you come from a big city like Toronto, you'll LOVE the lack of traffic. Plus our Aberdeen Street parties are famous...it made the front page of the Toronto Star I think 2 years ago, when some students flipped a car over and then lit it on fire...
It's a very safe place to live, but there is a noticeable lack of hangout spots, particularly foreign kinds. But you'll almost always get entire football fields/most parks to yourself, so if you're into huge group sports with friends you're golden there. Plus RMC has an amazing sports center, but it tends to get on the expensive side.
The construction sucks a lot, but they've finally finished repairing most of the roads and stuff, so that huge pain in the ass is gone. Plus, EVERYTHING in Kingston is accessible by a 20-30 minute car ride, so most of your attractions are within walking distance from the campus.
If you're the kind that can't stand Western food though, or like to eat spicy stuff, Kingston probably isn't the place for you lol. It's mostly a white community.
UTSG Commerce 2012: Victoria College
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Rank: Senior Student
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Joined: 3/21/2008
Posts: 177
Location: Kingston, ON
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tmhlee wrote:
cons: Small university town, current construction...'til 2014 for phase 3 of student centre?, lack of things to do?, no french
There's definitely not a lack of things to do while you are here during the school term at Queen's - I can garuntee you that. Probably during the summer or the holidays when no-one is around, but in terms of stuff to do as a student- theres a LOT. Besides you can leave the fancy shopping etc when you go back home during long-weekends or holidays (summer). (You wont have much time for those anyways). Also, Toronto, Ottawa, and Montreal are all a 2-3 hour bus ride away, and there are bus trips that are organized and go there. Phase 1 of the Queens Centre (new gymasium swimming pool etc) should be done when you are finishing up first year. Also, most of the construction that u probbaly saw (the parking, sports field and university ave) will be done this summer 
Commerce '08, Queen's School of Business Email: eddie.ho@business.queensu.ca Search for the Queen's Commerce 2012 group on facebook!
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Rank: Valedictorian
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Joined: 3/4/2008
Posts: 607
Location: Mississauga, ON
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haha, yep. According to THES, #12- McGill #19- Stanford #20- Carnegie Mellon and Cornell I wish lol @: Quote:"2 years ago, when some students flipped a car over and then lit it on fire...It's a very safe place to live" Thanks for all the input guys. I'm fine with white food, though I'd like some cultural foods once in a while. I did like the Korean/Japanese restaurant on Princess St so it's def not all burgers and fries...But I guess it still can't compete with Montreal's diversity. And I don't think I'm too worried about Queen's being under construction either. the new centre would probably be amazing.. it would just suck that there is no swimming pool for first year... At this point I don't think I can go with either schools... but the cons about McGill; are those true? How they are really going downhill, etc?
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Rank: Senior Student
Groups: Member
Joined: 3/21/2008
Posts: 177
Location: Kingston, ON
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tmhlee wrote:
And I don't think I'm too worried about Queen's being under construction either. the new centre would probably be amazing.. it would just suck that there is no swimming pool for first year...
Actually the swimming pool still exists It's in the old part of the building in the PEC. Think of Phase 1 as an new building built adjacent to the old one... when phase 1 is done, that means the old one goes.
Commerce '08, Queen's School of Business Email: eddie.ho@business.queensu.ca Search for the Queen's Commerce 2012 group on facebook!
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Rank: Senior Student
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Joined: 5/5/2008
Posts: 87
Location: Edmonton
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tmhlee wrote:I know I can't go absolutely wrong with either... which is why seriously at this rate, I might do a tally of what people said to go to and then make that the deciding factor. And isn't THES ranking useless? I mean.. it put McGill>Stanford in that ranking. That's not right.. lol Why not? Reputation alone doesn't mean anything. THES has a far more thorough ranking system than merely asking people which one they'd heard was better.
McGill Engineering 2010
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Rank: Student Council
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Joined: 3/7/2008
Posts: 329
Location: Toronto
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Well, I can't really say anything more than I've already said in the Rez at McGill thread, but keep in mind that you've come back to McGill at least twice already. Maybe you've already picked, but can't finalize it because it'll feel like you're giving up another school that you like.
McGill Arts '12
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Rank: Student Body Vice-President
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how are ivy league schools easy to get into?! I dont get it
uw/wlu DD '13
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Rank: Senior Student
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Joined: 4/28/2008
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GGG wrote:how are ivy league schools easy to get into?! I dont get it GGG, there are public and private ivey league school. public ones are easier to get into. (comparatively)
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