McGill University (reviews)

Outstanding education, good faculty, and unquestionably a top university, however… the administration and support services are frequently beyond poor, terrible, and unbelievably bad.
Administrative procedures are tangled and Kafkaesque. It could be related to the Quebec Unions that employ them, and their French legacy of bureaucratic apathy, unhelpfulness, and an unwillingness to accomplish their tasks efficiently.
Also, there is a large party culture in Montreal, which is easy to get lost in, yet living there is inexpensive, as is going out.
I’d go back there for an education.

I am a student at McGill University majoring in Anatomy and Cell Biology. The program is hard but it provides early exposes pre-med students with the necessary anatomy courses. I personally enjoy this program a lot, especially the labs. The cadaver labs are really cool and it’s amazing to have a hands-on experience in undergrad years.

Attending McGill University has been one of my greatest experiences. As a woman of color, choosing the right university was a challenge. I had to think about whether I would be appreciated and respected in the establishment or hated and mocked. Yet, all my fears rapidly disappeared on the first day I had in my program. Studying Sociology has made me acknowledge how wonderful society can truly be. As I also study Psychology, I recognize that people’s behaviour can vary depending on various factors such as childhood, lifestyle, and health. These are simple things that I now think about every day. The truth is I enjoy analysing each circumstance that I find myself in. I have truly become a product of my program!

The program presents a broad curriculum, but their main focus is on finance and strategy consulting. The quality of the professors varies, but you can select the electives that you prefer, therefore you will be able to pick the most accurate for your development.
The campus is located in downtown Montreal, with a green area to relax and an excellent library to study. Montreal has an extraordinary cultural life, with one of the most important jazz festivals worldwide.

McGill University’s Mechanical Engineering Department is an excellent environment for conducting research and collaborating in multidisciplinary teams. I worked for four years in the fluid Dynamics lab, with top facilities for conducting experiments and a helpful network of professors, colleagues and students to discuss topics from each research subject that I was involved with. The student life experience is also really good: many events, clubs, and workshops are offered to build a row bed life beyond academia.

Students are what make McGill so great – the ambience and student life are by far the best in Canada, if not North America, and there is a tremendous diversity of activity that provides a welcoming space for people of all backgrounds and interests. The courses are challenging and there are some supports for students – class sizes are quite large and TAs are underresourced. Many facilities could also use a facelift. However, most professors were quite approachable and interesting to talk to.

As a current Gender Studies and Political Science major student, I am exposed to the various ways in which Gender and Social order interact with so many aspects of our lives. Whereas my political science courses install strong analytical skills, that allow me critically understand these various influences highlighted by my Gendered degree. The professors at my school are also highly skilled at explaining critical concepts and how to make my degree interdisciplinary.

I genuinely appreciate and like what I do. Psychology is a passionating and interesting field for me. Thus, following a psychology programme in a school that is quite renowned for its psychology department and research is something I’m grateful for. McGill had some really good professors in psychology I believe. Although what I am learning may be interesting, and our professors are generally good, I must admit that having started university during a global pandemic made it difficult for me to really have a university student life. And this, of course, is not McGill’s fault, but mental health-wise and socially I believe the school could/can do more for its students. Luckily it is gradually getting better as Covid slowly starts fading and hopefully next year things will feel a bit more casual and social.

There are many courses available in different areas, allowing each to shape their own degree. The generally high achieving student population creates an environment where it is easy to find motivation. Outside of courses, the compact nature of the campus and the pride people take in being part of McGill create a positive energy.

I enjoyed my classes and found most of my teachers to be very effective and helpful. I find the school to be very internationally friendly as there are McGill is a very diverse community, where many students around the world come to study at. I also enjoy the student life as there are many clubs, especially international culture clubs, which personally provided me with a safe space where I could meet people more like me. The classes are evaluation heavy depending on the ones you take, and since McGill is a top school in Canada, it is quite competitive in the application process and in the school environment.