McGill University Reviews

You will find many different...

You will find many different students at McGill, but mainly the girls wear their leggings and Ugg boots, and the boys wear their jeans or sweats and t-shirts. You can find students who have just about any style at McGill.

All facilities are easily...

All facilities are easily accessible and up-to-date. There are many different libraries and a large gym as well as various buildings dedicated to facilitating students' needs and activities.

The school is aware of...

The school is aware of experimentation, and any illegal distribution is prohibited. However, the school is tolerant of behavior and expects students to be responsible for themselves. In Montreal, the drinking age is 18, so most students are of age by the time they arrive, so on-campus drinking is allowed, and responsible behavior is encouraged, but foolish behavior is not punished in regard to drinking. Events hosted by the school, such as frosh week and snow ap, ask for identification to verify drinking age but are rather lenient.

It's Montreal, 4/20 is practically...

It's Montreal, 4/20 is practically a national holiday. You can find the harder drugs, but you have to look a little deeper and pay a bit more, but there's something for everyone.

Come on, it's Montreal. If you're...

Come on, it's Montreal. If you're 18, you can go anywhere, do anything in this city. It's got loads to offer, tons of students (McGill, Concordia, UQAM, UdeM), and everyone's got their favorite clubs, dive bars, barcrawls, and house parties staked out. But let's not forget TamTams on Mont Royal every Sunday when it's warm.

McGill's campus is small and...

McGill's campus is small and totally walkable. People bike a lot around here. Transportation around Montreal is really easy and cheap for students as well.

Campus is fairly liberal-leaning...

Campus is fairly liberal-leaning in terms of ideologies and politics. I would say that, sexually, campus is pretty diverse and accepting. There are tons of international students, so it's fairly diverse in terms of ethnicity. But you can't really ignore the fact that there is a large population of upper-middle-class white kids. They are kind of everywhere.

It exists, but very few people...

It exists, but very few people know or care about it. We're in the middle of a city where the drinking age is 18, so you don't really need to do keggers in basements of frats to have fun. There are plenty of other things going on socially.

There are computers all over...

There are computers all over campus. Yeah, sometimes it's crowded, but only during really busy times like exam period, and even then it's pretty easy to get one, you just may have to wait a minute.

Its a really diverse student...

Its a really diverse student population in terms of "types" of students. There are hipsters, jocks, nerds, and rich kids, just like anywhere else, but there are more girls than guys, and the girls all tend to be more good-looking.

The Internet at McGill is really...

The Internet at McGill is really fast, so whether you have your own laptop or use the computers at the library, you can rely on getting things done pretty quickly. Most people use their own laptops, especially because they're useful for note-taking in classes where the lecturer goes pretty quickly. There's wireless Internet all around campus, so having your own computer is certainly more convenient. The labs are a very good resource, but it can be hard to find a spot around exam time! Fortunately, McGill also has a laptop lending system where you can borrow a laptop for two or three days from the library. So it's not hard to get by if you don't have a laptop of your own.

I'm not really a good judge of...

I'm not really a good judge of this. Marijuana is really popular---it wafts through the residence halls almost every day. I've heard some stories about people trying harder drugs like mushrooms. Drinking is by far the most popular, though, and a huge part of campus life.

The only places I eat food on...

The only places I eat food on campus are two residence cafeterias: Bishop Mountain Hall and the RVC caf. The food is pretty good, considering it's caf food. There are a lot of options, and a lot of vegetarian choices, too. My favorite part is that, at lunch time, you can have a sandwich made for you or you can get a grilled wrap or panini. You certainly get sick of cafeteria food after a while, but it's definitely better than having to cook on your own during first year!

You're in downtown Montreal! There...

You're in downtown Montreal! There are countless options as to where you can eat. If you're looking to grab a quick lunch, the massive Eaton Centre food court is basically just outside the Roddick Gates. If you want coffee or breakfast, Tim Horton's, Starbucks, and Second Cup are seconds away. But of course there are amazing restaurants as well! Schwartz's is home to the best smoked meat in Montreal, and it's walking distance from campus. There are quite a few places on Crescent Street, just five blocks away from McGill. The list is endless!

Varsity sports are not big at...

Varsity sports are not big at McGill which also means you can handle playing a varsity sport, getting schoolwork done, and having a social life all at once. Intramural sports are big here; there are a lot of opportunities to join teams. They can get pretty competitive!

There are computers everywhere at...

There are computers everywhere at McGill University. You can find them at the gym, cafeterias, libraries, and lecture buildings. At the library, you can always find a spot, but it does get busy at some points during the day. It is not necessary to have a computer, but it definitely helps with taking notes in class, and our Wi-Fi is amazing!

McGill is in Quebec, the most...

McGill is in Quebec, the most liberal province in Canada, and on top of that, the drinking age is 18. You can drink anywhere you want (except out on the street, but nobody really cares), whenever you want, however you want. We have floor fellows (the nice version of an RA), but since we're allowed to drink, they often do it with us. Marijuana use is abundant, and no rules are enforced. One time I went to a bar/club (St. Sulpice, fun place), and someone was actually smoking a joint out on the terrace. Montreal rocks.

Very convenient. There is almost...

Very convenient. There is almost always a metro or bus nearby (as in a five-minute walk) from almost every building on campus.

Last year there were some rumors...

Last year there were some rumors about some muggings just on the border of campus, but I haven't heard of anything since then. There are numbers for security that you can call, and for certain hours during the night, you can have someone walk you home if you live close to campus.

One word: cold. Summer months and...

One word: cold. Summer months and early fall are scorching and very humid, so definitely bring a powerful fan (Vornado, anyone?) and some light clothes, but once the winter hits, it'll snow and snow and snow for months with no respite. For that, bring long underwear, warm boots, a warm coat and layers to wear under it, and other winter-type clothing. For those living in Upper Rez (Douglas, McConnell, Molson, Gardner), the hill gets very icy in the winter, and it's not maintained well, so boots with good traction are a life-saver.

Parking anywhere in Montreal is...

Parking anywhere in Montreal is tough, but since McGill is right in downtown, there's really no need to have a car. Public transportation is easy to use and convenient. I know one guy who brought his car here, and all it does is sit and collect dust (and snow) in the parking lot.

Varsity sports really aren't very...

Varsity sports really aren't very big. I do know a few people that play them, and there were a couple of big football games in the beginning of the year. Other than that, though, sports aren't a huge deal. Coming from an American high school, McGill is pretty low on school spirit. Everyone has a lot of pride because they go here, but it just doesn't manifest itself through sports.

Incredible! It's Montreal, from...

Incredible! It's Montreal, from amazing food courts with everyone's favorites and some new interesting places to places like Au Noir (where you eat entirely in the dark) and Au Pied Du Cochon (Game Meat). There are lots of options. Bring your own wine to a restaurant on a cobblestone street or enjoy a nice meal in Old Montreal with horse and buggies jogging by.

I find the girls at McGill to be...

I find the girls at McGill to be generally much more attractive than the guys. Fashion is a pretty big thing here--lots of hipsters. But if you look closely, there's tons and tons of different types of people here. For such a big school, I do find there to be more cliques than I expected.

There is a Greek life here, but I...

There is a Greek life here, but I have never been to a frat party, and I don't know anyone who has. It's there if you want it but most definitely does not dominate the social scene.