McGill University
Reviews

Montreal Is Incredible

I love montreal. DONT GO TO SCHOOL IN AMERICA TRUST ME IT SUCKS BALLS AND YOU CANT DRINK LEGALLY. you're treated like an adult in montreal because you are an adult.

Eat Off Campus

The on-campus dining options are underwhelming and overpriced. This isn't a big deal, however, since plenty of tastier and more affordable options can be found just outside the campus gates. Also, the McGill experience does a good job of hastening your arrival at adulthood, and a big part of adulthood is making your own food! No meal plans after freshman year; you'll be cooking your own dinner and thinking nothing of it.

Libraries

There are tons of libraries with different studying environments; however, it can be offset by the fact that the student body is so huge and come midterm and finals time, it can be hard to find a spot at a desk.

The Honor Code

McGill has strict policies about plagarism, exams and making sure that students do their own work, in general. I find this very refreshing, as some of the Ivy Leagers only do lip service to such high ideals.

VARIETY.

McGill is such a big school, there seems to be a bit of variety in the 'academics' in general. However, in my experience, all the professors have been very knowledgeable/engaging, the curriculum has been fairly flexible, registration somewhat difficult, and workload difficult but not crushing.

Nice, and Cheap

As soon as you will reach your second year at McGill, you'll need to find a place which will be yours for at least a year, and that won't be a problem. Montreal remains full of opportunities regarding housing, and it's way cheaper that other big North-American cities.

Safer Than Safe

I've been living in NYC & London, but Montreal brings the "s" in "safety". It remains a "hipster-city", with very fashionable students on campus, and a trendy neighborhood that will make you feel at ease in no time.

Non-Existant Strictness

There is no strictness. You are an adult here once you turn 18 and do what you want. You can literally smoke weed outside the dorms and nobody says anything.

Very Diverse

Because it's an international school, people come from all over the world. While the stats say over 70% are from within Canada, many of those are Canadian immigrants and the amount of students from other places in the world is astounding. I've heard that the largest student society at McGill is the Pakistani one and it wouldn't surprise me at all, international students definitely don't stand alone. In residences (namely New Rez) it seems like Canadian students are almost in a minority to American and international students. If you're looking for a diverse experience, McGill is definitely a good place to find one.

Legal Drinking Age = 18!

Quebec's drinking age is 18, so everyone goes out to clubs and bars on the weekends. Especially in the first weeks, expect to get dressed up and hit all the big-name clubs (and see some Americans and Canadians from provinces with higher drinking ages discover their alcohol tolerance), but after a while it settles down; you and your friends will find whatever kind of scene you want.

Pot is cheap and good quality.

Mcgill Cannot Afford to Be Strict Its Too Big

McGill isn't a very strict school in general. It has more of a "figure it out own your own policy." I think it's too big to really worry about strictly controlling its students. On the other hand if you do get into trouble with the authorities you know that you must have done something pretty bad.

All but Some Residences Are Great

Many of the buildings are old, some beautiful and some one can clearly tell were built in the 70's with the time period's atrocious architecture.

I would say depending on what you're majoring in class size varies significantly, but for the most part the classrooms have everything needed to learn.

The Gym facilities are pretty good and interesting classes are offered to lose weight/muscle up

The food quality is not that great....it really depends on where you go

Residences for first years vary. I would say the residences known as Upper Rez and Douglass are probably the best. The newest hotel ones are pretty bad. Even though more student can fit into these it's very hard to develop a close community feeling like are often formed in the upper residences. I would say living in one of the hotel residences last year as a first year was one of my only disappointments with McGill.

Not Strict at All

Nobody will bother you- never heard of police of campus involvement with drugs, yet most people experiment with marijuana frequently without problems.

Montreal Awaits You

In Montreal, there is never a shortage of bar/clubs to jam inside, packed with college aged students blasting (sometimes) deafening music. A typical night out with friends is to head down rue St. Laurent and find a club or bar that is hopping and check it out- if it is lame head down the street and find a better party. Everything is within walking distance.

Amazing City

Montreal is an excellent place to have a university, and a world class university like McGill thrives off of the local culture.

Variety Is Key

McGill is one of the most international North American University. Students from Europe, Asia, Australia and Africa come to either spend a year abroad or complete their studies at the university. It is a great opportunity to make bonds that will never let you down wherever you find yourself in the world!

18 Year Old Drinking Age

Yes, the drinking age in Montreal is 18. While it may seem like an excuse for kids to go wild, it isn't necessarily that. Some people don't know their limits, and go a bit overboard, but for the most part everyone is much better with their alcohol. Its not so much binge drinking but more so drinking socially, i.e. having a drink with dinner or just a few for the night. Also, in Montreal, when you're 18, you are an adult, unlike in the States where you arent really an adult until you are 21. Its nice to have that respect at such a young age.

Also Frosh - the 1st week drinking extravaganza for Freshmen - is essentially school sponsored drinking, which is a great way to meet other people your age with the social lubricant of alcohol permitted and encouraged.

Not Much School Spirit

The school is very big, and while students will run around chanting McGill's battle cry during the first week of Frosh, thats about as good as it gets. I went to one football game last year (the first one that only cost $1), and the seats were barely full, and the game was kind of boring. The games after that were even worse. Hockey games do tend to get more attendance but its not a school wide thing like it is in a lot of American schools.

It Can Be Very Cold

While fall, spring and summer months at McGill are very comfortable the winter can be brutal. It snows very often which eventually turns into slosh. While the streets and sidewalks tend to be clear of snow, there is always the chance of ice on the ground. Also, there is a two week period in february where it can get to -40 degrees farenheit with wind chill, it is brutal without the right gear.

Guys and Girls Like to Party

In Montreal the legal drinking age is 18. Needless to say many students love to take advantage of this fact and party hard from thursday to sunday. As soon as thursday night hits, the weekend starts early and students are running out to house parties, clubs and bars to have a lot of fun.

Off-Campus Housing Is Great

While first year students at McGill tend to stay in dorms, most move out to surrounding off campus housing after the first year. I got my first hint of it recently and I am very excited. The cost is fantastic, much less than the already average McGill housing cost and there are many very close to campus, closer than McGill residences. The freedom and quality of what is around makes off-campus housing at McGill a great option.

Great Party and Academic School

McGill University is in the great city of Montreal, QC. The parties are great because the drinking age is 18, so clubs/bars are free range for all students including freshman. No sneaking or hiding alcohol and parties needed. The academics are also top notch. It is rated the best school in Canada and is deemed the Harvard of Canada. It is a great school and a lot of fun. Great place to be.

Great Facilities but Can Be Crowded

McGill University is a very large school, with a large student population. The facilities are top notch for everything (athletics, libraries, research, and other random activities) but they can get crowded sometimes during busy hours.

Safety Is Taken Very Seriously.

The health and safety of the students at McGill University is very well protected. The security is available for aid at any complex and are very quickly mobilized. There is hardly any campus crime, and I did not hear of anything major during my entire freshman year last year. There are security cameras in all the residence and school building hallways so I feel comfortable leaving my residence room unlocked for I know it is being watched. I feel extremely safe and believe that campus is one of the safest places to be in Montreal.

Of course it’s worth it. You don’t...

Of course it’s worth it. You don’t want to live with a bunch of immature first-year students in your second year. Apartments are not hard to find and can be pretty affordable depending on their location.