McGill University

While McGill University is far from perfect I can genuinely say that it is the most amazing university. Unfortunately for many students (Arts students especially), McGill lacks educational facilities, resources, and at time competent professors; however, McGill more than makes up for its faults in its exceptional student life. While McGill doesn't have a strong sense of school spirit, its student body compensates by planning many events that occur throughout the year. In addition, Montreal is a young, vibrant city that is absolutely perfect for students which essentially guarantees a fantastic social life.

The highly international student body, in combination with top quality academics, results in a intensely globally minded university experience. In addition, it is very easy to establish professional relationships with professors, who tend to be among the best in their respective fields. I would highly recommend.

McGill University consistently ranks amongst the top 3 universities in Canada and among the top 50 in the world. It is a large research institution which has been praised for the quality of research it produces. Yet, the life of an undergraduate at McGill is hard, cold, and lonesome. While I'll spare you the details, my main quarrels with McGill are with its size and research oriented approach. Firstly, it is incredibly hard to make academic connections. Unless you have found an academic passion you ready to geek-out about, and are willing to talk to professors about your said new-found passion, it is hard to form genuine connections with the professors. This is not because they don't care (some don't and are too busy citing their sources), but rather because, to them, you are student 6029. Furthermore, for such a large university, there seem to be a substantially under-staffed, under-funded, and under-thought, student services sector. The health clinic is abysmally slow, the mental health resources probably make issues worse, and academic help is hard to come by. That being said, there are many resources that are good and useful, you just need to find them. No one is going to show you. Also, a word of warning, the grading here is HARD. McGill isn't an easy place to thrive. You can thrive here, but be ready to cram. All of this being said, I can't love Montreal enough. From the cheap rent, to the cheap beer, to the international vibe. McGill, mostly due to Montreal and the people, is still a great place to study. Especially, if you're from Canada, or can afford the tuition here. Tuition is cheaper than most mid-tier U.S liberal arts colleges and probably better. Plus, I doubt the U.S will remain a bastion for excellence in higher education much longer. Education can't and shouldn't be commercialized the way it is today. Bottom line: McGill is a good place to study, you'll get prestige, recognition, a nice, cheap, and clean city, with many cool people. You will however feel isolated, frustrated, and probably incredibly happy to be done. Oh and one final word of advice, try to be passionate about you're going to study! If you, like me, chose something you can only muster marginal energy for, you'll, like me, end up grumpy and frowny. Lots of love though!

After a first year at McGill, I experienced the great social life and high standard academics. The university enables me to study multiple fields of practice such as art history, management, and social sciences which is a huge plus. The association and clubs offer is wide and for everyone. Although courses and workload are hard, I wouldn’t change it for the world

The thing that stroke me the most there was the diversity and how international it was. Life on campus was great and eye-opening, especially for somebody who didn’t grow up in North America. You also make lasting friendships and McGill generates great professional networking opportunities.

It is sometimes so surreal to be studying at Mcgill. I find myself forgetting what a privilege it is to be here, and whenever I do acknowledge the campus that surrounds me I’m always so amazed. Physically it is a beautiful school, no doubt about it. The profs are almost always excellent, and the classes are super interesting. It is extremely tough, as expected from a higher ranked university in Canada. But sometimes the atmosphere gets far too competitive, and the workload is almost suffocating. The lecture halls are massive, so being able to ask questions is nearly impossible, which makes keeping up with the workload a lot harder. There aren’t enough amenities concerning student wellness, for example, the mental health services are lacking- but it’s not their fault that it’s incredibly understaffed. Another thing I would bring up is that it’s really hard to meet people, it’s a really individualistic university and socializing is something you really have to work for. There really isn’t a sense of community, unfortunately. Then again, the main complaints I have (workload too intense for students thus creating a really stressful environment, no amenities for students who are incredibly stressed, super individualistic) are all pretty characteristic of a highly regarded university.